This position will be located at the University of Maryland UMD Western Maryland Research and Education Center in Keedysville Maryland or the Lower Shore Research and Education Center in Salisbury MarylandThe position will support local food systems and entrepreneurship for the Agriculture and Food Systems Extension AgFS Program The Educator will lead and provide programmatic support for local foods entrepreneurship and marketing in collaboration with University of Maryland Extension UME faculty and staff The Local Food Systems and Entrepreneurship Specialist will conduct in person and online entrepreneurship education programs connect entrepreneurs to research based information and assist entrepreneurs through coaching and consultations to strengthen their business models and help implement them The Specialist will assist with the initiation of new local foods and agricultural businesses and develop new curriculum on topics important to rural Maryland entrepreneurs including diverse and underserved populations The incumbent will participate in Northeast Regional Food Business Center NRFBC and Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education SARE collaborative projects that bring additional rural entrepreneur support resources to Maryland The programming performed by the faculty member will encourage increased entrepreneurial activity and commerce in rural areas and create jobs that enhance the local economies Promote cooperation among a variety of partners from the public and private sectors and across geographies