This position is located in Cuyahoga County, Ohio and focuses on urban farming, community gardening, and supporting the progress of local growers.
Job Description
The Urban Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) Extension Educator in Cuyahoga County works collaboratively with county, regional and state teams of The Ohio State University (OSU) Extension, and with local leaders and volunteers to provide needs-based programming. The Educator holds leadership roles and utilizes their urban agriculture specialization in both county, multi-county, and/or state Extension teams. Leadership roles are also utilized with professional associations at state and national level in an effort to further the overall mission, vision and values of both Ohio State University Extension and Agriculture and Natural Resources.
This Educator joins the Area Leader in providing guidance to the Program Coordinators for the Master Gardener Volunteer and Summer Sprout Community Gardening programs. This includes applying agricultural knowledge to answer hundreds of questions received annually via phone, email, and office drop-in.
Utilizing appropriate formal and informal community assessment methods the Educator identifies and addresses educational needs and opportunities of our local community. The Educator will convene and facilitate the Urban Farmer Network, and actively participate with local coalitions, committees, etc. as appropriate. The Cuyahoga County ANR Advisory Committee is regularly convened to share and receive feedback on existing and upcoming programs and funding opportunities.
Coordinating and facilitating Cuyahoga's legacy Master Gardener Basic Training, Dig In! Training and Market Gardener Training provides a foundation of programming. Designing, implementing and teaching additional educational programming, based on needs and interests, to groups and individuals comprised of adults and/or youth is also an important responsibility. Collaborating with internal and external partners to create a pipeline for next generation farmers is a great opportunity for this position to pursue.
The Educator also applies their personal specialty in urban agriculture in the development of publications and research. This position designs and conducts evaluations on program quality and interprets and applies research findings to professional practice.
They will have the opportunity to design new resources to increase impact and dissemination of knowledge. The Educator develops promotional material, leads and develops volunteers, and maintains community partnerships that support building local agricultural capacity.
The Educator actively participates in discussions with partners and elected officials within the county concerning program funding and is responsible for the project budget management and attracting external funds to support local programing.
Supporting the Cuyahoga County office is also integral to this position and includes program promotion, creating a regular urban agriculture newsletter, planning and participating in staff meetings, and offering support to the office team as needed.
Required Experience
10 yrs relevant or 5 yrs direct experience in utilizing a variety of teaching methods to deliver urban agriculture program content to diverse groups of learners. Advanced knowledge of concepts, processes, ideas, and methods of teaching, community relationship building, program promotion, and program evaluation. Considerable experience assessing, designing, developing and teaching educational programs to diverse audiences. A demonstrated ability to build & maintain relationships with various group of individuals, including peers, support staff, volunteers, & local committees, in a effort to achieve common programing goals. 5 years+ experience in leading programs including the leadership of support staff and volunteers. Experience with budget management.
Desired Experience
Experience mentoring and training others. Ability to interpenetrate and apply research findings to personal practice. Experience attracting external funding to support programing.
Ohio State is focused on enhancing the health and safety of our community. Therefore, the university is requiring every student, faculty and staff member to be compliant with Ohio State's COVID-19 vaccine requirement.
By the start of employment, all newly hired employees must receive at least the first dose of a two-dose series or a single dose of a one-dose series COVID-19 vaccination. Individuals who choose a two-dose series vaccination must receive the second dose within 45 days of their start date. Proof of vaccination will be required at time of hire.
Candidates may request a medical or religious exemption from the vaccination requirement. Campus employees may also request an exemption for personal reasons. Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, College of Medicine or OSUP Employees are not eligible for personal exemptions. All exemptions are subject to Ohio State's approval and subject to change, including revocation, due to legal and regulatory requirements.
Regular 40 First Shift