Area Educator of Horticulture II/Business and Marketing - Lincoln University of Missouri

Purpose:

This is a full time, benefit eligible position at the Horticulture Program, College of Agriculture, Environmental Sciences, Lincoln University of Missouri that is located at Jefferson City Missouri. This position is grant funded and its purpose is to implement the deliverables of the grant project titled "Heartland USDA Regional Food Business Center." The successful candidate is expected to work closely with and report to the State Horticulture Specialist, recruit 30 horticulture growers/businesses into the program, assess their needs and determine their goals to success. The candidate is expected to conduct site visits to the businesses, coordinate one tour/year for the beneficiaries to successful businesses and USDA offices, develop an educational program to help farmers and producers grow their businesses, publish educational materials in marketing of Horticultural crops, business development, and USDA programs that help small businesses. The successful candidate will also develop and publish a monthly newsletter, determine the areas of concerns that keep farmers from growing their businesses, collaborate with colleagues from Lincoln University, the University of Missouri, and USDA, contribute to the Missouri Agricultural Statistics Census, and develop reports on the extension activities of the Horticulture Program.

Essential Job Functions:

• Report to the State Horticulture Specialist.
• Identify horticulture producers in the state of Missouri, determine their needs and concerns, and develop a database for Missouri producers.
• Recruit a core group of 30 farmers/businesses into the program to work with them one-on-one.
• Conduct site visits, phone calls, and emails for technical support.
• Conduct educational events.
• Conduct conferences on Marketing and Business development. Develop publications to help farmers/producers learn and grow their businesses.
• Develop and publish a monthly newsletter.
• Collaborate with colleagues from Lincoln University, the University of Missouri, and USDA, and contribute to the Missouri Agricultural Statistics Census.
• Develop reports on the extension activities of the Horticulture Program.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities:

• Ability to use Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to develop publications, review and edit documents, develop spreadsheets, and develop presentations.
• Ability to use computer in all its functions, send and receive emails and attach and receive attachments.
• Ability to connect on zoom and present and meet on zoom.
• A background in Crop Production, food businesses, and Technology is highly desirable.
• Effective oral and written communication skills and willingness and ability to work in a team-oriented environment with a diverse group of faculty, staff, and students are essential.

Qualifications:

• Ability to use Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to develop publications, review and edit documents, develop spreadsheets, and develop presentations.
• Ability to use computer in all its functions, send and receive emails and attach and receive attachments.
• Ability to connect on zoom and present and meet on zoom.
• A background in Crop Production, Crop Protection, Marketing, and Farming Technology is highly desirable.

Effective oral and written communication skills and willingness and ability to work in a team-oriented environment with a diverse group of faculty, staff, and students are essential.

Certifications, Licenses, Registrations:

• Master's degree (required) in Horticulture, Management of Business Administration or closely related fields.
• Technical experience in Horticulture, Food Business, or related field is required.
• Driver licenses is required.

Physical Demands:

• Light sedentary office work.
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Ability to lift up-to 25 lbs.
• Ability to sustain work outside with the farmers at the field.

This job description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of Lincoln University. Since no job description can detail all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time in the performance of a job, duties and responsibilities that may be inherent in a job, reasonably required for its performance, or required due to the changing nature of the job shall also be considered part of the jobholder's responsibility.

All grant-funded positions are contingent upon receipt of funding specifically for that purpose. Note that grant funding positions terminate upon:

• completion of the term of the grant
• early termination of the grant by Lincoln University or the funding agency
• exhaustion of the available funding for the position provided for under that grant, whichever occurs first.