Extension Food Safety Specialist

Position Title:
Extension Food Safety Specialist

Job Group:
Professional & Scientific

Required Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree

Special Required Qualifications
Drivers License

Preferred Qualifications:
Preferred Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Horticulture or a closely aligned discipline by the appointment start date. Experience that demonstrates excellent leadership, organizational, and communication skills.
Experience with growing and/or manufacturing of fruit and/or vegetable products
Experience with state and/or federal food safety regulations related to growing and/or processing fruits and vegetables.
Experience developing and delivering educational content for distance education audiences. 
Demonstrated knowledge of extension and/or extension programming.
Demonstrated knowledge on grant writing and obtaining funding to support programs. 
Experience which demonstrates a working knowledge of technology such as WebEx, Zoom, online database management, Qualtrics and electronic delivery of newsletters.  

Job Description:

Summary

The Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition and ISU Extension and Outreach at Iowa State University invites applications for a 12-month, full time Extension Food Safety Specialist position who will develop and teach food safety programs related to fruit and vegetable growing, harvesting, holding, processing, and distributing.  Applicant will work alongside current Food Safety Extension and Outreach Faculty and Staff members to conduct, support and develop food safety programming.  This position will support fruit and vegetable entrepreneurs who are farmers, food hubs, farmers markets, retailers, processors of produce (such as fresh-cut produce, juices, canned produce, etc.), and/or community partners. Duties will include developing, delivering, and coordination of programming, and investigating innovative ways to expand and enhance the program.

The successful candidate will have a food microbiology background, previous experience working within the food industry, have excellent communication skills (speaking and writing) along with the ability to communicate and interact with a wide variety of clients including students, fellow faculty members and staff, extension professionals and other interested citizens. The candidate will be a motivated, self-starter with previous teaching experience and a clear understanding of experiential learning. The position requires travel within Iowa and to adjacent states.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop an Extension program that will enhance and expand the food safety programs in Iowa.
• Identify critical areas of concern related to fruit and vegetable food safety.
• Employ a variety of educational delivery methods to help clientele (fruit and vegetable industry) understand and adopt new practices, procedures, and skills based on current science. Delivery methods include on-site visits, newsletters, fact sheets, educational meetings, workshops, short courses, and the ISU Extension website.
• Collaborate with county-based Extension staff and with Extension Specialists in Iowa and the region to answer research questions and deliver educational programs at outreach events.
• Develop relationships and work closely with various external agencies such as Iowa Department of Inspection and Appeals, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, FDA, and USDA.
• Document and track program impact based on stated objectives, develop effective evaluation techniques, and enter this information into internal tracking software.
• Continue to develop professional expertise.
• Ensure equal opportunity and access to Extension programs for all individuals.
• Perform miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

This position will cover the state of Iowa in programming and the position’s main office location will be based in a county office in central Iowa. The Food Safety Specialist position will be filled at the Education Extension Specialist I or II level. The level II position has minimum required qualifications of Bachelor’s degree and 2 years of related experience and is a PS807 pay level.

Example of Duties
• Functions as an effective educator.
• Responds to programming and information using routine sources and materials, matching relevant information and programs with audience needs.
• Provides subject-matter support to local networks and coalitions to build community capacity (brings added value to producers, addresses environmental issues, and improves education and service for youth, community or families).
• Participates in needs assessment activities; evaluates major program efforts; and completes system reports when due.
• Sets goals related to reaching targeted under-served and under-represented audiences.
• Secures resources (volunteers, contracts, and grants) to support identified needs at a county level.
Level Guidelines
• Individual contributor position with developing professional and/or technical skills working under immediate to general supervision
• Grasps professional-level knowledge and concepts of field while working in a progressive learning mode
• Works on problems and issues of somewhat limited scope
• Follows standard practices and procedures in analyzing situations or data for which answers are available or can be obtained
• Responds to inquiries and issues, escalating to manager or higher level workers as appropriate
• May lead projects of limited scope and complexity
• May provide guidance to students

Appointment Type:
Regular with Term Appointment (Fixed Term)

Proposed End Date or Length of Term:

June 30, 2023

Number of Months Employed Per Year:
12 Month Work Period

Time Type:
Full time

Pay Grade:
PS806

Application Instructions:
To apply for this position, please click on “Apply” and complete the Employment Application. Please be prepared to enter or attach the following:
1) Resume/Curriculum Vitae
2) Letter of Application/Cover Letter
If you have questions regarding this application process, please email [email protected] or call 515-294-4800 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485.

Original Posting Date:
July 15, 2021

Posting Close Date:
August 24, 2021

Job Requisition Number:
R5575

Position Information:

Position Title:
Extension Food Safety Specialist

Job Group:
Professional & Scientific

Required Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree

Special Required Qualifications
Drivers License

Preferred Qualifications:
Preferred Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Horticulture or a closely aligned discipline by the appointment start date. Experience that demonstrates excellent leadership, organizational, and communication skills.
Experience with growing and/or manufacturing of fruit and/or vegetable products
Experience with state and/or federal food safety regulations related to growing and/or processing fruits and vegetables.
Experience developing and delivering educational content for distance education audiences. 
Demonstrated knowledge of extension and/or extension programming.
Demonstrated knowledge on grant writing and obtaining funding to support programs. 
Experience which demonstrates a working knowledge of technology such as WebEx, Zoom, online database management, Qualtrics and electronic delivery of newsletters.  

Job Description:

Summary

The Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition and ISU Extension and Outreach at Iowa State University invites applications for a 12-month, full time Extension Food Safety Specialist position who will develop and teach food safety programs related to fruit and vegetable growing, harvesting, holding, processing, and distributing.  Applicant will work alongside current Food Safety Extension and Outreach Faculty and Staff members to conduct, support and develop food safety programming.  This position will support fruit and vegetable entrepreneurs who are farmers, food hubs, farmers markets, retailers, processors of produce (such as fresh-cut produce, juices, canned produce, etc.), and/or community partners. Duties will include developing, delivering, and coordination of programming, and investigating innovative ways to expand and enhance the program.

The successful candidate will have a food microbiology background, previous experience working within the food industry, have excellent communication skills (speaking and writing) along with the ability to communicate and interact with a wide variety of clients including students, fellow faculty members and staff, extension professionals and other interested citizens. The candidate will be a motivated, self-starter with previous teaching experience and a clear understanding of experiential learning. The position requires travel within Iowa and to adjacent states.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop an Extension program that will enhance and expand the food safety programs in Iowa.
• Identify critical areas of concern related to fruit and vegetable food safety.
• Employ a variety of educational delivery methods to help clientele (fruit and vegetable industry) understand and adopt new practices, procedures, and skills based on current science. Delivery methods include on-site visits, newsletters, fact sheets, educational meetings, workshops, short courses, and the ISU Extension website.
• Collaborate with county-based Extension staff and with Extension Specialists in Iowa and the region to answer research questions and deliver educational programs at outreach events.
• Develop relationships and work closely with various external agencies such as Iowa Department of Inspection and Appeals, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, FDA, and USDA.
• Document and track program impact based on stated objectives, develop effective evaluation techniques, and enter this information into internal tracking software.
• Continue to develop professional expertise.
• Ensure equal opportunity and access to Extension programs for all individuals.
• Perform miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

This position will cover the state of Iowa in programming and the position’s main office location will be based in a county office in central Iowa. The Food Safety Specialist position will be filled at the Education Extension Specialist I or II level. The level II position has minimum required qualifications of Bachelor’s degree and 2 years of related experience and is a PS807 pay level.

Example of Duties
• Functions as an effective educator.
• Responds to programming and information using routine sources and materials, matching relevant information and programs with audience needs.
• Provides subject-matter support to local networks and coalitions to build community capacity (brings added value to producers, addresses environmental issues, and improves education and service for youth, community or families).
• Participates in needs assessment activities; evaluates major program efforts; and completes system reports when due.
• Sets goals related to reaching targeted under-served and under-represented audiences.
• Secures resources (volunteers, contracts, and grants) to support identified needs at a county level.
Level Guidelines
• Individual contributor position with developing professional and/or technical skills working under immediate to general supervision
• Grasps professional-level knowledge and concepts of field while working in a progressive learning mode
• Works on problems and issues of somewhat limited scope
• Follows standard practices and procedures in analyzing situations or data for which answers are available or can be obtained
• Responds to inquiries and issues, escalating to manager or higher level workers as appropriate
• May lead projects of limited scope and complexity
• May provide guidance to students

Appointment Type:
Regular with Term Appointment (Fixed Term)

Proposed End Date or Length of Term:

June 30, 2023

Number of Months Employed Per Year:
12 Month Work Period

Time Type:
Full time

Pay Grade:
PS806

Application Instructions:
To apply for this position, please click on “Apply” and complete the Employment Application. Please be prepared to enter or attach the following:
1) Resume/Curriculum Vitae
2) Letter of Application/Cover Letter
If you have questions regarding this application process, please email [email protected] or call 515-294-4800 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485.

Original Posting Date:
July 15, 2021

Posting Close Date:
August 24, 2021

Job Requisition Number:
R5575