What are the responsibilities and job description for the Farm Energy & Agriculture Engineering Specialist position at UMass Amherst?
About UMass Amherst
UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.
About the UMass Clean Energy Extension
The Clean Energy Extension (CEE) at the University of Massachusetts was established in 2015 and is organized under the Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment as part of the extension programs of the University. CEE supports the Commonwealth's clean energy and climate policies and programs through applied research, direct technical assistance, and workforce development. See our statewide initiatives supporting the state's agrivoltaics programs and conducting U.S. DOE agrivoltaic research as an example of our work. CEE offers a small-team environment with a culture of collaboration.
About the UMass Extension Agriculture Program
The UMass Extension Agriculture program extends the research and educational resources of UMass Amherst and the national land grant community to the farms and horticulture-related businesses of Massachusetts. University scientists and educators (whose wide range of expertise includes agronomy, plant materials, integrated pest management, soils and nutrient management) address the needs and concerns of these enterprises through a variety of formal and informal methods, including short courses, workshops, on-farm demonstrations and web-based information.
Job Summary
The Farm Energy and Agricultural Engineering Specialist will serve as an integral part of UMass Extension's clean energy and agricultural teams in providing consulting expertise and technical support across the diversity of Massachusetts agriculture, including effective outreach to and engagement with farmers. Farm energy-related focus areas include Energy Efficient Agriculture Operation, Energy Efficient Building Envelope, and Combustion System Improvement. Conducts farm and stakeholder outreach in coordination with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and our colleagues in UMass Extension, while addressing the needs of diverse stakeholders, including state and federal agency staff, regional or local government officials, farm organizations, community groups, and researchers and Extension staff. The Specialist will be well-integrated with NRCS's energy-related programs and processes and will engage in technical assistance services across the portfolio of services that NRCS offers to its stakeholders.
Essential Functions
- Designs, implements, and oversees new and existing collaborative projects and programs that involve campus-wide, local, regional and national partners in providing technical assistance to farm sector. Organizes and presents online and in-person educational programs, including creating curriculum independently or with CEE staff, co-hosting field days and conferences. Connects and expands networks and collaborations for on-farm technical assistance.
- In coordination with NRCS, identifies and engages opportunities for serving the farm sector. Conducts desk-top evaluations followed by on-farm site visits that involve energy assessments and comprehensive energy improvement plans for interested farms across Massachusetts. Analyses energy usage and energy savings opportunities across farm operations and facilities and prepare reports with key findings and recommendations addressing energy savings strategies and associated economic implications. Energy assessments and energy improvement plans will focus on actionable strategies and plans for farm electrification and energy conservation and efficiency opportunities in applications such as :
Greenhouse heating and cooling (e.g., thermal blankets, high efficiency heating systems).
Other Functions
Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)
Standard Energy Diagnostic and Auditing Equipment
Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)
Additional Details
Work Schedule
Salary Information
Level 28
PSU Hiring Ranges
Special Instructions to Applicants
Along with the application, please submit a resume and cover letter which includes Contributions to Inclusive Excellence Statement (see below). References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references. Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis until the position is filled. Early submissions are encouraged.
At UMass Amherst and in CNS, we strive to be a community where every individual feels a sense of belonging, where every individual is included, and where every individual is valued. You can find these values and goals here : https : / / www.umass.edu / strategicplan / strategic-plan. For this reason, we request that all applicants submit a Contributions to Inclusive Excellence Statement that addresses how you see yourself contributing to our community and campus climate and / or our shared goals of building a more inclusive, equitable, and diverse community.
UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.
