Cranberry Outreach Specialist

About this role

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Job Category: Academic Staff

Employment Type: Regular

Job Profile: Outreach Specialist

Job Summary: As the Cranberry Outreach Specialist, you will play a pivotal role in supporting the sustainability and profitability of Wisconsin's largest fruit industry. The Cranberry Outreach Specialist will connect Wisconsin cranberry producers and industry professionals with research-based best practices for production and weed, pest and disease management through outreach and educational programming. The Outreach Specialist is expected to utilize excellent collaboration, problem solving, prioritization, and communication skills to work closely with producers, industry professionals, technical advisors, and colleagues to respond to timely management questions, implement collaborative outreach and grower education, and facilitate two-way communication between the cranberry industry and University researchers that will shape future research to respond to emerging industry needs. Extension Outreach Specialists collaborate with a team that includes UW-Madison Extension and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) colleagues, industry partners, producers, and other collaborators to develop robust, high-quality educational programs that deliver research-based solutions towards more efficient and sustainable cropping systems.

Specific roles of the position will include: • Collaborate with Extension colleagues, industry, and other stakeholders to identify needs and develop and maintain robust, high-quality outreach programs that address solutions to the most critical cranberry issues facing Wisconsin agriculture.

• Provide input to UW researchers to guide research and expertise in cranberry management.

• Develop outreach programs to highlight research findings and support on-the-ground implementation of innovative approaches and best practices.

• Build trust-based relationships with stakeholders and a strong technical understanding of cranberry production systems to assess needs within the state and develop programming to meet those needs.

• Work with the Program Manager to facilitate programmatic efforts, maintain strategic direction, build partnerships, and seek a diverse funding portfolio to support the work.  

The ideal candidate will have experience with developing and evaluating educational programming and a track record of building positive relationships.

Statewide Location

The position will be located in a cranberry-producing county of Wisconsin, and rotation between offices in cranberry production regions may be required. The exact headquarter location is flexible and will be determined based on programmatic needs, successful candidate’s preferences, and availability of suitable space.

Partial Remote

This position may require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location. Remote work requires an approved remote work agreement (RWA). A RWA requires successful candidates to possess their own high-speed internet and phone to perform the work on a university provided computer. Per University policy, transportation between home and assigned work location is not payable/reimbursable and will be at the expense of the employee.

This position has the possibility of working up to 2 days remote per   Extension's Remote Work Policy .

Evening/Weekend Work

This position may be required to work occasional nights and weekends to meet the program needs and priorities of the communities served.

Travel Expectations

It is expected that employees will make individual arrangements for transportation adequate to meet position responsibilities and essential job functions.   Read more about UW-Madison Driver Authorization.

Applicants are required to: Have a valid drivers license and a reliable source of independent transportation for periodic in-state work travel, and/or comply with requirements for UW-Madison vehicle use authorization.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to walk on uneven ground in the course of farm visits or field work.

• Ability to lift 25 pounds.

• Ability to work outside in inclement weather.

Key Job Responsibilities: • Communicates plans, activities, and achievements to Program Managers and relevant Stakeholders through the reporting portal and verbal updates

• Researches, develops, and facilitates outreach program content and materials

• Delivers outreach program content and materials to community members

• Schedules and secures resources and communicates logistics in support of an outreach program

• Leads the implementation of programs, policies, and procedures through oversight of day-to-day activities for program staff and student and community volunteers

• Identifies, promotes, and maintains external partnerships to support the outreach program

• May assist with the monitoring of outreach program budget spending

• Develops and evaluates curriculum and programs and provides recommendations for improvement

Department: Division of Extension, Agriculture Institute, Crops & Soils Program is hiring for a Cranberry Outreach Specialist.

About Extension

Extension embodies the Wisconsin Idea by developing and connecting the research and educational resources of UW–Madison with residents and communities to address local, statewide, and national issues. We teach, learn, lead and serve, transforming lives and communities.

About the Institute

The UW-Madison Division of Extension Agriculture Institute addresses emerging issues related to Wisconsin’s agriculture and horticulture systems with research-based outreach to advance economically sustainable, socially responsible, and environmentally sound practices.

About the Program

The Agriculture Institute’s Crops and Soils Program works hand-in-hand with

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