The Urban Agriculture (UA) Professional position is a joint position between the University of Maine Cooperative Extension (UMaine Extension) and the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and will be located at one of NRCS's statewide offices. This position will be responsible for providing technical support, program planning, and delivery to bring about the conservation and wise use of land, water, wildlife, and related resources and promote accelerated delivery of technical assistance and financial assistance through targeted landowner/land manager contracts. This work will result in enhanced protection of land and water resources in Maine, keeping viable working land productive, and demonstrating the benefits of UA conservation with participating private landowners. This work will often be done in partnership with UMaine Extension and NRCS county-based colleagues and statewide commodity (potato, dairy, vegetable) or subject (water quality, pest management, food safety) specialists within UMaine Extension. Typical hiring range for this two-year fixed-length position is $42,000 to $47,500 commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Complete Job Description
About the University:
The University of Maine is a community of more than 11,900 undergraduate and graduate students, and 2,500 employees located on the Orono campus, the regional campus in Machias, and throughout the state. UMaine is a land, sea and space grant university, and maintains a leadership role as the University of Maine System's flagship institution. UMaine is the state's public research university and a Carnegie R1 top-tier research institution, dedicated to providing excellent teaching, research and service for Maine, the nation and the world. More information about UMaine is at umaine.edu .
The University of Maine offers a wide range of benefits for employees including, but not limited to, tuition benefits (employee and dependent), comprehensive insurance coverage including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and short and long term disability as well as retirement plan options. As a former NSF ADVANCE institution, the University of Maine is committed to diversity in our workforce and to dual-career couples.
UMaine is located in beautiful Central Maine. Many employees report that a primary reason for choosing to come to UMaine is quality of life. Numerous cultural activities, excellent public schools, safe neighborhoods, high quality medical care, little traffic, and a reasonable cost of living make the greater Bangor area a wonderful place to live. Learn more about what the Bangor region has to offer here .
Qualifications:
Required:

• Master's Degree with a focus in agriculture, conservation, or closely related discipline.
• Experience in teaching/training with adult audiences.
• Ability to communicate effectively using oral, written, and electronic methods.
• Demonstrated computer and educational technology skills, including the use of NRCS business tools.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks in an autonomous work environment as well work effectively as part of a team, and able to achieve and document measurable results.
• Demonstrated management, organizational, and facilitation skills, including the ability to handle conflict.
• Demonstrated skills at collaborating with other agencies and organizations.
• Ability to travel both in and out-of-state requiring a valid driver's license.
• Ability to occasionally lift 30 to 50 pounds.

Preferred:

• Knowledge of University of Maine Cooperative Extension and its educational programs.
• Knowledge of NRCS
• Demonstrated skills in designing and delivering community-based educational programs with an emphasis on subjects related to agriculture, conservation, or forestry.
• Demonstrated ability to acquire external funding.
• Demonstrated experience in supervision.
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse audiences and knowledge of equal opportunity, affirmative action, and civil rights.
• Experience with computer programs such as Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
• Experience working with diverse audiences and supporting equal opportunity, affirmative action, and civil rights goals.

Other Information:
Materials must be submitted via "Apply For Position" below. You will need to create a profile and application; upload:
1.) a cover letter which describes your experience, interests, and suitability for the position
2.) a resume/curriculum vitae
3.) contact information for three professional references
You will also need to submit the affirmative action survey, the self-identification of disability form, and the self-identification of veteran status forms. Incomplete application materials cannot be considered. Materials received after the initial review date will be reviewed at the discretion of the University.
Search Timeline is as follows:
Review of applications to begin: April 24, 2023
Interviews to begin no earlier than: May 1, 2023
Tentative start date: June 1, 2023
For questions about the search, please contact search committee chair Mark Hutton; mhutton@maine.edu .
The successful applicant is subject to appropriate background screening.
In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 5748 Boudreau Hall, Room 101, Orono, ME 04469-5754, 207-581-1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).
Length:

Fiscal Year (12 Months)
Required Documents:

Cover Letter, References, Resume/CV