Farm Management Extension Educator

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POSITION SPECIFICS ​

The College of Agricultural Sciences is seeking an entrepreneurial-minded Farm Management Extension Educator , with the drive to make a positive difference, technical proficiency in economics or business management, and a passion for agricultural science, education, and research, to join the Penn State Extension Business, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Development Team.

• Overview:
• The Extension Educator in Farm Management develops, delivers, and evaluates research-based educational programs that strengthen the financial, operational, and strategic management capacity of agricultural producers and agribusinesses. This role supports Penn State Extension’s mission by improving economic and community outcomes through applied research, outreach education, and stakeholder engagement. The educator serves a statewide audience, leads program development, collaborates across disciplines, and demonstrates measurable program impacts using a variety of delivery methods. Educational programs and applied research activities should result in measurable improvements for agricultural producers and businesses in terms of sustainable growth and profitability of Pennsylvania’s diverse agricultural sectors. Improvements will be measured in terms of positive practice changes made by stakeholders in efficiency, growth, competitiveness, innovation, and job creation.

Key Job Duties:

Develop, deliver, and evaluate research-based educational programs in farm financial management, business planning, risk management, and strategic decision-making using diverse delivery methods.

Conduct needs assessments, define program objectives, and evaluate outcomes to ensure relevance, effectiveness, and measurable impact.

Translate and disseminate applied research into practical tools, educational materials, and technical assistance for producers and agribusinesses.

Coordinate and manage educational events, workshops, and outreach activities that enhance learning and engagement.

Build partnerships and collaborate across Extension teams and external stakeholders to address complex agricultural business challenges and expand program reach.

Conduct applied research, report program impacts, and secure and manage external funding to support program sustainability.

Contribute to team initiatives, professional development, and organizational goals within Penn State Extension.

Program & Program Leadership Responsibilities:

Major responsibilities will include planning, implementing, conducting, and evaluating for impact, a broad array of educational programs for commercial agricultural enterprises of any size, especially initiatives that can increase profitability, enhance farm sustainability. Of particular need is assisting livestock and plant industry enterprises with the financial implications associated with managing health, disease, and weather-related issues. In support of program planning and development, the individual will work both individually and collaboratively across teams to conduct needs assessment, establish learning objectives, develop educational materials, host educational events, utilize evaluation to measure program success, and develop appropriate impact documentation to illustrate the value and relevancy of quality programming. Team members are expected to work closely with university faculty and other Extension units to develop educational programs and products and conduct applied research relevant to stakeholder needs.

The successful candidate serves as a key member of the financial team with current and future state projects and programs potentially including, farm finance, enterprise budgeting, ratio analysis, federal programs, contracting, and more. To grow and support the unit, the successful candidate will be expected to develop a robust and diverse external funding portfolio (e.g., grants, contracts, program revenue, development, etc.) in support of the unit programs.

Qualifications:

Required:

Candidates must possess effective communication skills (verbal and written), interpersonal skills, and the ability to build effective working relationships.

The candidate must be very organized and able to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

The successful candidate must be proficient in the use of modern computer software packages, such as Microsoft Office, proficiency in standard financial software packages, and/or statistics software is preferred.

Preferred:

Degree(s) in agricultural economics, economics, business administration, business, agricultural business management, finance or related disciplines, and those that have related work experience and interest in agricultural business management.

Desirable experiences include teaching, facilitation, curriculum development, evaluation, grant management, project management, research, business management, or involvement in agricultural production and processing.

Superior Microsoft Excel skills and fluency in Spanish are a plus and highly encouraged.

Relational & Pedagogical Responsibilities:

The successful individual will work both independently, and across multiple program teams. Successful educators must engage effectively with diverse and underserved audiences across the Commonwealth. To develop and conduct educational programs and applied research, the candidate should be comfortable with innovative and/or entrepreneurial team collaborations that reach across multiple stakeholders, disciplines, departments, colleges, institutions, non-governmental organizations, independent businesses, and possibly state and local governments. To accomplish team and individual goals, the candidate must utilize educational tools such as online courses, videos, mobile apps, and electronic publications, in addition to traditional publications and in-person presentations.

Location and Travel:

While the successful candidate will be based western Pennsylvania, they will be part of a state team and thus expected to participate and deliver programs statewide. The home base will be based in a western PA county Extension office with a flexible work agreement allowing the educator to work from home for a portion of their week. The specific county office will be discussed with the successful candidate to determine a mutually agreeable location. Travel (including some overnight trips) may be required, as program, project, and applied research activities may occur at various locations across the Commonwealth. As such, the job responsibilities require the candidate to possess a valid driver's license and have use of a private vehicle. The diverse program locations and materials needed for program delivery and potential research require the candidate to be able to carry equipment and educational materials and supplies, with or without accommodation.

Penn State Extension is an organization on the move and a leader in research and engaged learning. We welcome all applicants interested in working together to create new and innovative programs capable of making a lasting and positive difference for the residents of Pennsylvania and beyond.

MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS

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