Climate-Smart Ag Coordinator

Academic Coordinator II

Serving California

Position Overview

The University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), a statewide program with local development and delivery, is seeking the following UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Academic Coordinator.

Location Headquarters: UCCE Yolo County Office, Woodland, CA

Purpose:  The Academic Coordinator (ACII) will be responsible for coordination and management of the California Institute for Water Resources’ (CIWR) Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) Program

As such, the Academic Coordinator will:

• Supervise 10 Community Education Specialists (CESs) that are in county offices across the state.

Note: The CESs work with county Advisors to recruit growers in their region to adopt climate smart agricultural practices. The CESs assist growers with applying to the CDFA climate smart agriculture cost share programs. They then work with growers on project implementation, budgeting, invoicing, and reporting. The CESs also promote program practices through outreach, e.g. publications, demonstrations and workshops. 

• Provide leadership, coordination, and organizational support; supervise the CESs, arrange training of the CESs. As time permits, the ACII will also recruit growers in their home region for the CDFA climate smart agriculture cost share programs.
• Prepare the CDFA grant reports and proposal and budgets to continue funding of the program. Coordinate development of additional proposal for external funding.
• Responsible for reviewing budgets, invoices, and tracking expenditures in a way that promotes efficiency, effectiveness and accountability as needed to maintain account balances and ensure that funds are spent appropriately and according to the funders’ regulations.
• Provides technical support on irrigation system design and management to the entire CSA team.
• Draft high quality written and attractive materials including: proposals and grant reports; program and project impact statements; reports, briefings, executive summaries, and brochures; quarterly newsletters; and posters and presentations.

Counties of Responsibility: The position will be providing support for Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) Program throughout the State of California.

Reporting Relationship: The Academic Coordinator serves under the administrative guidance of the Director of the California Institute of Water Resources.

Qualifications and Skills Required 

Required Qualifications

Education:  A minimum of a master's degree is required in agricultural, environmental or social sciences, or related areas at the time of employment.

Additional Requirements

• Specific knowledge of irrigation systems design (including use of variable frequency drive pumps), management and maintenance is required.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively plan, manage teams and implement a program, including setting measurable goals and objectives.
• Successful grant writing experience.
• Live within a daily commutable distance of the position headquarters.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license to drive a county or university-owned vehicle.
• Ability and means to travel on a flexible schedule, as needed.

Desired Experience

• Knowledge of the power usage of such systems and the ability to use CDFA’s quantification methodology to estimate greenhouse gas savings from systems improvement is required.
• Passion and desire to pursue a career in Extension.
• Experience in successful Extension programming.

Skills Required:   To be successful, Academic Coordinators require skills in the following:

Technical Competence and Impact

The candidate should understand key sustainability concepts and current issues affecting the sustainability of climate smart agriculture in California. The candidate will be comfortable working with collaborators across a broad range of academic disciplines and taking leadership in synthesizing and communicating key concepts drawn from different disciplines.

Communication

Demonstrated excellence in written, oral, interpersonal and information technology communication skills.

Collaboration, Teamwork and Flexibility

Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as a team member with others.  Able to adapt as circumstances warranted. 

Aware and willing to actively promote diversity, equity and inclusion.

Lifelong Learning

Demonstrated commitment to ongoing self-improvement - both professionally and as a person.

About UC ANR

The University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) consists of a network of scientists and educators working in partnership across the California. We are committed to developing and supporting healthy food systems, healthy environments, healthy communities, and healthy Californians. UC ANR administers UC Cooperative Extension UCCE), which is responsible for program development and delivery in the counties throughout the state of California.

Learn more about

• UC ANR at https://UCANR.edu
• UC ANR CIWR at https://ciwr.ucanr.edu/
• Our Strategic Initiatives http://ucanr.edu/sites/StrategicInitiatives/
• Our Public Value statements at  https://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/2016-2020_Strategic_Plan/Goal_5__Prioritize_programs_and_services/Public_values_statement/
• Affirmative Action: Further to the above, advisors are expected to share and exhibit UC ANR’s commitment to affirmative action. Learn more of UC ANR Affirmative Action policy: http://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/Diversity/Affirmative_Action/

Salary & Benefits

Salary: The beginning salary will be in the Academic Coordinator II series and commensurate with applicable experience and professional qualifications.  For information regarding the Academic Coordinator series salary scales, please refer to: https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2022/july-2021-scales/t36-ii.pdf

This definite term position is funded for two years, with the possibility of renewal.  The performance in the position will be evaluated annually.   The merit cycle for this position will be evaluated every two (2) years.  Continuation beyond the initial two years is contingent upon a review of continuing need and the availability of funding.    

Benefits: The University of California offers comprehensive benefits including two days per month paid vacation, one day per month paid sick leave, and approximately thirteen paid holidays per year. ANR is part of UC’s Family-Friendly Policies. For more information, refer to the UC Benefits website at: http://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/

How to Apply

If interested in this position, please visit: https://recruit.ucanr.edu/ and choose “applicants” (refer to position #21-46).

Closing Date: To assure full consideration, application packets must be received by January 30, 2022 in the UC Recruit system.

Questions?

Contact Alma Jackson; email: ajackson@ucanr.edu

Applicants may wish to explore the UC Davis Services for International Students and Scholars web page at https://siss.ucdavis.edu/ as a resource.

University of California Cooperative Extension

Please note the UC Policy on COVID vaccination and working for UC:  For the safety and well-being of the entire university community, the policy will require, with few exceptions, that all students, faculty and staff be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus before they will be allowed on campus or in a facility or office." Please visit https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/2021/07/ucs-covid-19-vaccine-policy.html for more information.
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status.

As of January 1, 2014, ANR is a smoke- and tobacco-free environment in which smoking, the use of smokeless tobacco products, and the use of unregulated nicotine products (e-cigarettes), is strictly prohibited.