Recruitment/Posting Title Assistant Extension Specialist in Farm Viability (Agricultural Economics) Department SEBS-Agricultural Econ & Mktg Salary Commensurate With Experience Posting Summary Rutgers University invites qualified candidates to apply for a tenure-track faculty position as an Assistant Extension Specialist (equivalent to Assistant Professor) in Farm Viability. This is a 12-month, tenure track position in the Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics and Rutgers Cooperative Extension.

The successful candidate is expected to develop and lead externally funded research and extension programs that support and strengthen the viability of the New Jersey agricultural sector and individual farms. Through active agricultural community engagement, the Specialist will identify existing and emerging opportunities and needs, conduct applied research to assess what technical assistance and policy changes would help farmers take advantage of these opportunities, and provide educational outreach within the agricultural community across different scales of operation, commodities, and production systems. The Farm Viability Specialist will give special attention to identifying and engaging with the needs of marginalized and historically underserved farming communities (defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as “socially disadvantaged, beginning, limited resource, and veteran farmers and ranchers”) to ensure the long-term viability of farms and equitable economic outcomes. Programmatic emphases could include sustainable agricultural production, diversified farming systems, agritourism, climate resilience, feasibility analysis, farm management and business decision-making, state and local agricultural policy, business succession, “next gen” farming, and the development of marketing strategies.

In addition, the Specialist is expected to participate in undergraduate and/or graduate teaching and leading independent teaching and research projects in their field of expertise. Achieving tenure will require scholarship as shown by publications as well as excellence in service to our constituents and teaching.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:· Identify critical needs and areas of concern impacting New Jersey farm viability, including farm financial management, alternative agricultural enterprises, agricultural policy, farm risk management, climate resilience, new/beginning and “next gen” farmer support, and business succession.· Help to fund, lead, and participate in appropriate agricultural research, including programs based at New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station research and extension farms.· Utilize appropriate educational outreach delivery methods to reach a broad base of program beneficiaries, including field visits, newsletters, fact sheets, educational meetings, workshops, short courses, train-the-trainer programs, web-based tools.· Collaborate with county-based Extension faculty staff and Extension Specialists, at Rutgers and throughout the national land grant university system, to build impactful programs to further farm viability objectives.· Contribute to undergraduate and graduate student success through experiential learning opportunities, internships, directed research, and community engagement activities.· Develop working relationships with various external agencies and industry partners.· Document and track program impact based on stated objectives, develop effective evaluation techniques, and provide timely impact reporting to the Rutgers Cooperative Extension state office.

Position Status Full Time Posting Number 24FA1106 Posting Open Date 11/01/2024 Posting Close Date