Climate Smart Agriculture Community Education Specialist

The University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources is seeking a Climate Smart Agriculture Community Education Specialist to coordinate outreach and provide technical assistance to farmers in Fresno, CA. The role involves developing educational materials, delivering presentations, and supporting farmers in adopting climate smart practices related to soil health and water quality. The position requires direct engagement with local coalitions and farmers to enhance agricultural sustainability.
Position: Climate Smart Agriculture Community Education Specialist 3 Fresno, CA, Job ID 76622
Climate Smart Agriculture Community Education Specialist 3 Fresno, CA, Job

University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources

Job Description

As part of a statewide cohort of Climate Smart Agriculture Specialists, the Community Education Specialist 3 (CES
3) will coordinate outreach and education efforts and provide technical assistance to increase farmer adoption of climate smart practices targeted at soil health, manure management, and water quality goals. The CES 3 will provide direct technical assistance to farmers and ranchers, develop, design, and evaluate educational materials, develop, plan, and deliver presentations, develop, and conduct effective methods to increase outreach, and participation in program evaluation, needs assessments, and strategic planning for outreach and extension efforts leading to the increased adoption of Climate Smart Agriculture management practices across the state.

In partnership with local coalitions, the CES 3 will provide technical assistance to growers on irrigation and nutrient management reporting requirements established by the water boards.

The CES 3 will provide direct one-on-one technical assistance and extension support to farmers and ranchers in implementing Climate Smart Agriculture existing and new practices and technologies on farm, including soil health, compost management, and irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer efficiency management practices to mitigate greenhouse gases and adapt to climate change impacts such as droughts while maintaining high environmental quality standards established in the state.

CES 3 will identify one or more areas of content expertise for Climate Smart Agriculture management practices highlighted in California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Office of Environmental Farming Innovation's Climate Smart Agriculture Incentive Programs in which to serve as a subject matter expert and lead worker coordinating the development of educational materials on specialized topics.

The CES 3 will assist their direct supervisor with research activities, data management, program evaluation, and report compilation to demonstrate program reach and impacts across the state.

Pay Scale: $49,200.00/year to $66,200.00/year

Job Posting Close Date:
This job is open until filled. The first application review date will be 3/21/2025.

Key Responsibilities:
• Provide direct one-on-one technical assistance in partnership with local coalitions, to growers on irrigation and nutrient management reporting requirements established by the water boards. Conduct farm visits and meet with clientele individually to assist in meeting requirements.
• As part of a statewide cohort, develop and deliver effective methods to increase outreach and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers for Climate Smart grant programs. Maintain farmer contact lists and coordinate outreach through social media, newsletters, blogs, farm visits, and networking. Provide direct one-on-one technical assistance with quantification methodologies and applications to Climate Smart grant programs. Develop, prepare, amend, and reconcile project budgets with clientele.
• Provide direct one-on-one technical assistance and extension support to farmers and ranchers in implementing new technologies and practices, on farm. As part of a statewide cohort, assist scientists on the evaluation of new technologies and practices that could be incorporated into grant-eligible list of practices.
• Develop and design educational materials, and deliver and plan presentations at workshops and meetings with clientele, partner organizations, regulatory agencies, and policy makers in order to provide research-based information on Climate Smart Agriculture management practices. Serve as a lead worker on development of educational materials where background and expertise are sufficient to serve as a subject matter expert for specialized climate smart agriculture topics.
• Identify and develop effective methods of evaluation for workshops. Collect and organize feedback from participants at workshops and through individual farm visits. Participate in long-range planning and evaluation of outreach, extension, and training methods to increase the adoption of new Climate Smart Agriculture practices.
• Assist the direct supervisor with research activities and data management. Participate in data collection for field research trials, document application and implementation assistance, gather input from farmers and ranchers, manage database and Excel records, assist with tracking of activities, farmer contacts, and expenses, organize information for program evaluation, and prepare reports, summaries, and case studies. Keep accurate records and develop systems to organize reporting data.Requirements:
• Associate degree with coursework in plant science, entomology, plant pathology, soil science, irrigation, agroecology, agronomy, agricultural engineering, agricultural science, agricultural business, agricultural economics, food safety,…