Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist

Job Title

Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist

Agency

Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service

Department

Poultry Science

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

College Station, Texas

Job Type

Faculty

Job Description

Extension Specialists serve as subject matter experts and use their expertise to fulfill the mission of the Agency, providing support to the Extension network at the county, district, region, and state levels. Extension Specialists both individually and in team settings plan, coordinate, develop, implement, and evaluate curricula extension education programs, and educational resources. Additionally, they are expected to perform scholarly work including, but not limited to, applied research related to their subject matter area.

This faculty member will develop programs to disseminate information, provide educational training opportunities for stakeholders, and conduct applied research to assist small flock and niche producers, as well as the commercial poultry industry, with challenges related to quality and safety of poultry products.  Potential research could include but is not limited to, poultry processing methods and equipment, value-added consumer poultry products, poultry product quality, microbiology and food safety, sustainable production practices, organic poultry, small scale poultry management, and other areas of critical importance to the future of the poultry sector. Extension outreach could include, but is not limited to, processing workshops and/or small flock workshops, trainings, publications, manuals, and certification programs in areas such as HAACP and best management practices for processing sanitation and food safety.  The faculty member will also be expected to conduct an applied research program to support their outreach programs.

Roles and responsibilities of Assistant Professors and Extension Specialists are typically as follows, but can vary depending on the department and expectations of the Associate Department Head, Department Head/Unit Leader and/or Agency leadership:

Position Responsibilities: 

• establish and conduct effective extension education programs for the poultry industry and the people of Texas.
• establish strong professional relationships with allied agencies/firms.
• serve as a principal resource for interpreting policy concerning the poultry industry. 
• establish a nationally recognized, extramurally funded extension-based research program in Poultry Science. 
• graduate student mentoring to obtain these extension-based research goals is essential.  
• expected to effectively communicate pertinent scientific knowledge to poultry industry stakeholders, regulatory officials, and other related clientele.
• publish in peer reviewed journals.
• actively participate in national and regional professional organizations. 
• expected to participate in youth related extension programming in support of the department’s mission in youth education. 
• expected to serve on departmental, college, and university committees. 

Responsibilities:

People

• Collect and synthesize information from county, regional, and statewide program development committees, clientele needs assessments, trend data, clientele organizations, and key industry leaders to guide the content, quality, and priority of programming
• Support agents with programming and content related to the subject matter expertise through program planning meetings, individual consultation, site visits with clientele, speaking at educational programs, and in other educational roles
• Coordinate with RPLs and appropriate agents programming efforts, result/demonstrations, and other activities when performed in counties
• Provide professional development opportunities and trainings and mentor and coach agents as requested by Regional Program Leaders (RPLs), District Extension Administrators (DEAs), and Associate Department Heads (ADHs) in subject matter, issues identification, and program planning areas
• Work with Agents and Agency leadership to develop and implement volunteer training activities.

Programs

• Understands the type of programmatic ap