Director, Agriculture Programs (Yuma, AZ)

The University of Arizona seeks a qualified applicant for the position of Career Strategies Manager II, Director of Agriculture Programs - Yuma for our Yuma area campus. Duties include: Play an active leadership role working with the CALS academic unit leaders and UA Yuma faculty and staff who offer multiple degree programs to students in the region using the knowledge of Project Management; Program Evaluation; Student Mentoring & Support; and Teaching. The position requires a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture Education or related field or foreign equivalent and five (5) years of experience in Agriculture Education, Marketing, Business, Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, or Consumer Behavior, including 2 years of managerial experience, or equivalent combination of education and work experience. This position is non-security sensitive and requires a name-based criminal background check.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!

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Director of Agriculture Programs - The Director Of Agriculture plays an active leadership role working with the CALS academic unit leaders and U of A Yuma faculty and staff who offer multiple degree programs to students in the region. A key leadership task is to guide development of innovative research, teaching, and student support programs that address the present and future needs of the agricultural, natural resource, and urban communities in the region. The Director of Agriculture reports administratively to the CALS-Associate Dean for Career and Academic Services (CAS) and programmatically to the U of A Yuma Regional Academic Programs Manager. This position builds and maintains relationships with various audiences, such as agricultural commodity and support organizations, regulatory agencies, environmental groups, local and statewide governmental agencies, members of urban and rural clientele groups, and consumers. The Director of Agriculture supports recruitment of professors of practice to the Yuma campus, and plays a critical role to ensure alignment of course curriculum, ALVSCE strategic objectives, and University learning outcomes. The Director of Agriculture will also support large Agriculture/Educational/ Community events such as Southwest Ag Summit, Transfer Conference, Ag Discovery Camp, STEAM Academy, MANRRS events, etc.

Bridging Classroom & Careers - The Director of Agriculture Programs will engage students and employers to establish the Southwest Desert Region as a top talent pipeline. The Director of Agriculture will manage CALS STEM Outreach Coordinators and work directly with Yuma programs Academic Advisors. Specific projects that require leadership include:

• Expand educational career advisory boards for students in grades 5-20. Industry and public-sector employers serve on advisory committees to help connect shape curriculum and other aspects of academic programs to meet workforce readiness needs.
• Cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset in all students, changing the culture mindset from "get a job" to "create a job."
• Create exceptional new opportunities in STEM experiential education through student career experiences. Build on the region's existing collaborative environment to support and develop internships, mentoring, industry projects, apprenticeships, and co-ops for students with community employers.
• Create regional STEM career resources (e.g., websites that lists jobs, internships, and other STEM opportunities)
• Identify regional workforce needs based on industry demand. The region needs a balanced workforce (entry-level through post-graduate level). Work with regional industry/agencies to define the skills gap priorities for education to align student credential opportunities with employers' needs.
• Develop a resource center to help first generation/Hispanic students to overcome academic obstacles such as: transportation, education costs, mental health, childcare, lack of resilience, language, and self-efficacy.

Agriculture Systems Management Bachelors Degree Delivery:

The Director of Agriculture will be actively engaged as part of the Agriculture Education, Technology & Innovation department team, managing the BS Agriculture Systems Management program which is offered only at the U of A Yuma campus. This degree offers specialized training at the University of Arizona-Yuma Academic Center in the agriculturally rich region of Yuma & Imperial Counties. The curriculum of the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Systems Management prepares students for careers that integrate agronomy, precision agriculture engineering technology, biological sciences, leadership, and business. The selected individual will teach undergraduate and graduate courses, advise and mentor undergraduate and graduate students, and serve the department, college, university, and professional community. Additional expectations may include supervision of undergraduate senior projects, advising student clubs and national competition teams, and teaching in a professional development or certificate program that caters to the agricultural industry. The successful candidate is expected to participate in scholarly activities (i.e., research, grant writing, publications, presentations) as part of their professional development. Research collaborations with undergraduate students are particularly valued. The successful candidate is also expected to provide service on committees for the department, college, and university, as well as service to state, national, and professional organizations.

Grants & Other Funding Opportunities:

The Director of Agriculture Programs will work with U of A Yuma staff and faculty and CALS department leadership to explore, identify and apply for external funding opportunities and initiatives from state and national sources, including state and federal agencies (e.g., Dept. of Education and USDA training grants) and other government funded opportunities, as well as economic development organizations. Grants will fund both student support programs and capital needs for the continued expansion of infrastructure. The Director of Agriculture will oversee and work with the grant coordinator tasked with the planning and implementing of the grants awarded including the supervision of grants involving interns, monitoring of expenditures, working with support agencies, schools, and industry partners, tracking results, and analyzing data which will be used in generating both grant status and final reports.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Candidates must demonstrate excellence in teaching, effective communication, interpersonal skills, and the ability to be a productive team player.
• Demonstrated ability to interact effectively and build relationships with peers, students, industry partners, and the general public is essential.
• Demonstrated commitment to teaching, scholarly activity, and or student-involved research that would strengthen current department activities.
• Candidates must have demonstrated grant writing and management experience.
• Excellent bi-lingual written and oral communication skills.
• Strong interest in undergraduate teaching.
• Demonstrated experience and commitment to student-centered learning and teaching, as well as the ability to collaboratively work in multidisciplinary settings is required.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced, multi-tasking environment; prioritize tasks and responsibilities; respond positively to unanticipated changes; make sound decisions; and meet deadlines.
• Work independently with attention to detail.

This job posting reflects the general nature and level of work expected of the selected candidate(s). It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The institution reserves the right to amend or update this description as organizational priorities and institutional needs evolve.

• Must have a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture Education or similar field.
• Minimum of 5 years of related work experience,
  including 2 years of managerial experience, or equivalent combination of
  education and work experience.
• Must have a valid driver's license and ability to drive according to the University Fleet Safety Policy.
• Must be able to travel to Imperial Valley College, Yuma and Imperial Valley High Schools, and Tucson on a regular basis.

• An earned doctorate in Agriculture Education or related fields Marketing, Business, Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Consumer Behavior, or related field.
• Candidates must demonstrate excellence in teaching, effective communication, interpersonal skills, and the ability to be a productive team player.
• Productive records of teaching, scholarly activity, and student-involved research that would strengthen current department activities.
• Experience in planning and coordinating activities and programs at a post secondary level.
• Broad experience in U of A systems and policies and experience working in student services or educational setting.
• Experience with classroom smart board and zoom technology, as well as asynchronous online teaching.
• Experience, both lived and academic, in or with Hispanic communities.