Extension Specialist II, Ornamental Horticulture

The University of Delaware seeks an Extension Specialist II in Ornamental Horticulture to deliver educational programming statewide. Responsibilities include planning and coordinating workshops, collaborating with industry groups, and contributing to newsletters. The position is full-time and based in Newark, DE, with a focus on enhancing the green industry through educational outreach and support.
University of Delaware

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of Delaware is an Equal Opportunity Employer which
encourages applications from Minority Group Members, Women,
Individuals with Disabilities and Veterans. The University's Notice
of Non-Discrimination can be found at http://www.udel.edu/aboutus/legalnotices.html

Job No: 502562

Work Type: Staff

Location: Newark, DE

Categories: Full Time, Extension and Outreach

Please note that priority review will be given to candidates
who apply on or before December 12, 2025. The position will remain
open until filled.

Context of Job:

Cooperative Extension is an informal, educational, nationwide
network that combines the expertise and resources of federal, state
and local governments to improve people's lives. For over a
century, University of Delaware Cooperative Extension has made a
difference in the First State by providing quality educational
programming to individuals and communities, based on university
research and aimed at meeting the expressed needs of our
constituents. The outreach arm of USDA and the American land-grant
university system, Cooperative Extension takes the University to
the people with programming that includes food safety; nutrition,
diet and health; water quality; 4-H youth development; sustainable
agriculture; natural resources and environmental management;
agricultural competitiveness and profitability; home gardening;
family development and resource management; leadership and
volunteer development; and personal safety-on the road, in the
home, on the farm and much more.

Under the general direction of the New Castle County Extension
Director and the Agriculture Program Leader, the Extension
Specialist II has statewide responsibilities, delivering non-formal
educational programming to agriculture producers, industry and the
general public and is part of a team of professionals delivering
programming to the citizens of Delaware. Additional program support
is provided by personnel on the Ag program team.

Cooperative Extension Responsibilities (65%):

• Plan, coordinate (in concert with the DNLA), promote, present and
evaluate educational conferences and multiple workshops open to all
green industry professionals. Examples include the Horticulture
Industry Expo, Summer Turf and Nursery Expo, and the Ornamental and
Turf Workshop.

• Work with Delaware Nursery and Landscape Association (DNLA) Board
of Directors, Ornamental Horticulture industry, and Horticulture
Extension program team to plan, publish, promote, and co-lead
Cooperative Extension professional courses and events to expand
industry reach and ensure educational and recertification
requirements are addressed.

• Partner with Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) Plant
Industries to educate and inform Delaware’s green industry.

• Coordinate, edit, and contribute content to weekly Ornamentals
Hotline newsletter (26 issues/year).

• Coordinate content of Certified Nursery Professional Manual –
update with team as needed.

• Coordinate with the Faculty advisory to University of Delaware
Botanic Gardens (UDBG), and the Extension Horticulture, and other
educational teams in the state to advise and educate the general
public.

• Serve as active member of Extension Horticulture program team.
This includes but is not limited to Master Gardener and Master
Naturalist volunteer core and advanced training, professional short
course instruction, and teaching/presentations in various
conferences and expos and workshops.

• Support the “Delaware Livable Lawns” program, a statewide
multi-agency (Department of Natural Resources and Environmental
Control (DNREC), Delaware Department of Transportation (DELDOT),
and University of Delaware) initiative/campaign through the
implementation of the most up-to-date nutrient management BMP’s
(best management practices) for turfgrass systems and proper
nutrient management.

• Periodically review yearly audits of Audit certified commercial
applicators and homeowner participants to ensure program
compliance.

• Appointed to and serve on internal/external committees as needed.
This has included committees like the Delaware Native Species
Commission, Governor’s Water Supply Coordinating Council, and Urban
Community Forestry Board.

Research Responsibilities (35%):

• Successfully fund, extramurally, an impactful applied research
program on nursery and landscape issues important to the Delaware
green industry.

• Publish in refereed journals such as HortScience, HortTech, and
Journal of Extension; publish and update research reports,
factsheets, grower guides, and websites to reach and train
clientele in the latest ornamental horticulture best management
practices.

• Serve on graduate student committees, as requested.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in horticulture, plant sciences, environmental
sciences, or a closely related field and 6 years of experience in
Extension/outreach and applied research or Ph.D. and 2 years of
experience.

• Bachelor’s degree with 10+ years of high-level Extension and/or
public education outreach programming will be considered.

• Excellent communication skills, written and verbal, with the
ability to engage with a wide range of stakeholders.

• Excellent organizational, management, and human relations skills.
Ability to plan and report an individual work plan.

• Ability to lead others at state, regional, and national levels to
plan and implement programs.

• Ability to apply knowledge of ornamental horticulture via
evidence-based science to inform Extension programming needs of
clientele.

• Ability to develop and administer innovative and appropriate
delivery methods to teach clientele best practices and skills based
on the latest research findings at the county, state, and regional
level.

• Ability to identify, plan, and execute research in issue areas
needing specialized applied research, demonstrations, or programs
for statewide and regional situations.

• Coordinate and collaborate with relevant faculty and staff in
Extension and academic departments.

• Ability to obtain external resources and funding for program
development and expansion; provide for supervision of personnel and
manage funds as a Principal Investigator (PI) or co-PI.

• Ability to bend and lift heavy items.

• Driver’s license required.

Notice of Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity

The University of Delaware does not discriminate against any person
on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity
or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital
status, disability, religion, age, veteran status or any other
characteristic protected by applicable law in its employment,
educational programs and activities, admissions policies, and
scholarship and loan programs as required by Title IX of the
Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act
of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other applicable statutes and
University policies. The University of Delaware also prohibits
unlawful harassment including sexual harassment and sexual
violence.

PI280083337