Program Extension Aide III- Veteran Program Assistant- SIPS- Horticulture Section- CALS

As a university founded to be a place where “…any person can find instruction in any study,” diversity and inclusion are at the core of our values and mission. We strive to be a welcoming, caring, healthy, and equitable community where students, faculty, and staff with different backgrounds, perspectives, abilities, and experiences can learn, innovate, and work in an environment of respect, and feel empowered to engage in any community conversation. As a member of the Cornell University community, it is important to recognize our shared responsibility to each other to cultivate a culture of inclusion for all.  Cornell Core values 

As an individual contributor you will model and support a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and wellbeing and continually seek to understand how your role, behaviors, and actions impact the success of this culture.    

Department Background:

About SIPS: The CALS School of Integrative of Plant Science (SIPS) encompasses five fields: Horticulture, Plant Biology, Plant Breeding & Genetics, Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, and Soil and Crop Sciences. Combined there are 100+ faculty, ~200 undergraduate majors, 200+ graduate students in six fields, and 600+ other employees located in Ithaca, Geneva, and other satellite locations across New York State. The School offers the multidisciplinary undergraduate major in the Plant Sciences and is also home to the Agricultural Sciences major. School faculty also contribute to the Biology, Global Development, and Viticulture & Enology majors.

The Cornell Small Farm Program (SFP) engages in research and extension projects and collaborations that support and enhance the viability of small farms in New York. This position will support the Farm Ops Project, a SFP effort focused on supporting military veterans pursuing agricultural careers through beginning farmer training, support networks, and informational resources. 

Reward and Benefits:

Cornell receives national recognition, as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, sustainability, and diversity initiatives. Our benefits program includes comprehensive health care options, access to wellness programs, employee discounts with local and national retail brands, and generous retirement contributions. Our leave provisions include three weeks of vacation and 12 holidays: e.g., an end-of-year winter break, from December 25th through January 1st. Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, Tuition Aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance program.  More on Cornell Benefits

Position Summary:

This Veteran Program Assistant will support the Project Manager in all aspects of related to the aims of the Cornell Small Farms Program and Farm Ops, the veterans in agriculture project, towards facilitating military veterans entering into farming as a career. Essential duties include:

• Assist in extending our resources to support those on active duty, who want to farm after their service commitment.

• Support development of resources and veteran training available to meet the needs of veterans who have an interest in pursuing careers in agriculture.

• Develop connections to establish collaborations with agricultural and non-agricultural veteran groups to create pathways that link veterans to broad agricultural support.

• Support the implement new farm training and educational resources that address specific needs of veterans and complement existing, established resources.

• Demonstrate support and understanding of the veteran audience through furthering development of existing communications platforms and messaging.

• Facilitate communications to attract veterans to project activities.

While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a psychologically healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

This position is one-year term appointment with the possibility of extension dependent on funding and performance.  The position is part- time 30 hrs. per week.

VISA SPONSORSHIP IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THIS POSITION.