Assistant Professor and Extension Agronomist: Emphasis in Rice

Job Title

Assistant Professor and Extension Agronomist: Emphasis in Rice

Agency

Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service

Department

Soil & Crop Science

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

Eagle Lake, Texas

Job Type

Faculty

Job Description

Extension Specialists serve as subject matter experts and use their expertise to fulfill the mission of the Agency, providing support to the Extension network at the county, district, region, and state levels. Extension Specialists both individually and in team settings plan, coordinate, develop, implement, and evaluate curricula extension education programs, and educational resources. Additionally, they are expected to perform scholarly work including, but not limited to, applied research related to their subject matter area.

The Texas A&M Department of Soil and Crop Sciences at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX seeks outstanding applicants for a non-tenure track Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist position in agronomy with an emphasis on rice. This is a 12-month faculty appointment (75% Extension, 25% Research). The position will be based at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Station at Eagle Lake, TX.

Roles and responsibilities of Assistant Professors and Extension Specialists are typically as follows, but can vary depending on the department and expectations of the Associate Department Head, Department Head/Unit Leader and/or Agency leadership:

Position Responsibilities:

• Collect and synthesize information from county, regional, and statewide program development committees, clientele needs assessments, survey data, clientele organizations, and key industry leaders to guide the content, quality, and priority of programming.
• Support agents with programming and content related to the subject matter expertise through program planning meetings, individual consultation, site visits with clientele, speaking at educational programs, and in other educational roles.
• Coordinate with other Extension Specialists/Program Specialists, Regional Program Leaders  (RPLs) and appropriate agent programming efforts, result/demonstrations, and other activities when performed in counties or multi-county programs.
• Provide professional development opportunities and trainings to mentor and support agents as requested by RPLs, District Extension Administrators (DEAs), and Associate Department Heads (ADHs) in subject matter, issues identification, and program planning areas.
• Serve as the principal resource for rice information and problem-solving in region, the State of Texas, and externally to Texas, when multi-state issues that align with the Agency’s mission arise. The areas of Extension engagement will focus on rice production but may also support other crops in the region.

Programs:

• Apply programmatic approaches needed to meet the needs and capabilities of different audiences for effective program planning and implementation.
• Develop and participate in disciplinary and interdisciplinary programming efforts as appropriate to adequately address our stakeholders’ priority issues.
• Coordinate and integrate appropriate programs and, as, that contribute to an Extension Coordinated Program Area.
• Establish and conduct a nationally recognized Extension education program for the rice industries of Texas.
• Develop and implement evaluation strategies to assess outcomes from Extension educational programs and demonstrate evidence of program impacts (i.e., knowledge gain, behavior change, adoption of new technologies and best practices, economic impact) as measured by well-designed program evaluations.
• Participate in program planning at the multi-county or regional level and convey insights to their Associate Department Head, Department Head and agency administration as appropriate.

Partnerships:

• Provide timely and effective coordination, cooperation, and scheduling of activities with colleagues and personnel within and across Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, including but not limited to District Extension Administrators, Regional Program Leaders, Associate Department Heads/Program Leaders, other departmental or unit faculty/staff, County Extension Agents/staff, and Texas A&M AgriLife Research and College personnel.
• Establish strong professional relationships with allied agencies/firms and commodity organizations.
• Engage with external groups including state and federal government agencies and stakeholder organizations and other entities to better understand issues and potential partners in addressing stakeholder needs.
• Seek grants, gifts, fee-based programming opportunities, and other revenue sources to advance and sustain programmatic efforts in the pertinent subject areas supported by the position.
• Hold membership in appropriate professional organizations and societies.
• Demonstrate collegiality by serving on departmental/unit, Extension and AgriLife committees, and building effective working relationships across departments, agencies, and/or colleges.

Scholarly Efforts:

• Develop, implement, and evaluate innovative educational programs resources and materials (e.g., fact sheets, instruction manuals, educational videos, online courses, computer software programs, apps, etc.)
• Conduct applied or translational research that aligns with the Extension programming effort.
• Advise/mentor graduate students to obtain Extension-based research goals.
• Publish creative and scholarly work in refereed journals appropriate to the faculty member’s subject matter area, and present research findings in relevant industry trade publications, or at grower conferences, professional meetings, and scientific symposia.

Administrative Relationships:

Extension Specialists and Program Specialists, depending on their home unit, report to an Associate Department Head and respective Department Head or Unit Leader. As applicable, Regional Program Leaders and Program Area Coordinators will provide input in the specialist’s annual review. The center director and the department head will evaluate the research and service component of faculty members.

Qualifications:  

Required Education and Experience:

• Ph.D. in Agronomy, Plant Science, Soil Science, or closely related discipline.
• Documented experience in rice production.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Published research results in refereed journals.
• Training in Extension or adult education methods.
• Established publication and funding procurement record.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellence in verbal and written communication, including a relevant publication record.
• Team-building skills, collaboration capacity, and project management abilities.
• Experience in area of specialization, ability to write grant proposals to secure external funding; development and implementation of Extension programming; evidence of publishing in peer-reviewed journals; and participation in professional societies.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
•  Advanced knowledge and experience in rice production practices.
• Experience in conducting applied research in rice transferrable to effective Extension programming.
• Ability to travel to work in support of the land grant mission. 
• Ability to multi task and work cooperatively with others.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to communicate and collaborate with various audiences including faculty, stakeholders, and other clientele.
• Expertise in modern communication strategies such as web-based publications and effective use of social media.

Location and Facilities:

The Texas A&M AgriLife Research Station at Eagle Lake is in the heart of the largest rice production area of Texas.  The Research Station is 70 miles west of Houston, 91 miles south of the flagship university, Texas A&M University, and is 106 miles southwest of the state’s capital, Austin. 

The Department of Soil and Crop Sciences in College Station, Texas is a nationally ranked program with a mission focused on continuing sustainability, wellness, and food security to support the economic viability, and national and global competitiveness of Texas rice production, which contributes over $206 million per year to the state economy, develop the next generation of academic and industry professionals and leaders, and ensuring the physical and mental well-being of Texans and Americans through the abundant availability and access to nutritious rice and other crops.

Additional information about Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Extension and Texas A&M University Department of Soil and Crop Sciences is available at:

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/about/who-we-are/

Texas A&M University Department of Soil and Crop Sciences: https://soilcrop.tamu.edu/

Review the most recent edition of the Professorial Career Ladder System for Extension Specialist Faculty for more detailed information. https://faculty.aglifesciences.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/119/2020/03/Specialist-Career-Ladder-Guidelines-2020.1-16-20.pdf

Application Procedure: 

Applicants must upload a

• Cover letter (two-page limit)
• Curriculum vitae including a list of three references and their contact information within the CV
• Vision statements of research and Extension (two-page limit).

To be given full consideration, please submit complete applications by March 1, 2024. The position will remain open until a suitable candidate is identified. The anticipated start date is tentatively May 1, 2024. 

Questions: 

Address inquiries to Search Committee Chair: Dr. Tony Provin, [email protected] 979-321-5962

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer.