Assistant in Extension, Specialty Crops IPM (Extension Professional III)

The goal of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is to optimally combine diverse control tactics to manage pests sustainably thereby minimizing the harm they cause and control costs while maximizing benefits for safety, human health, environmental protection, and economic returns. We have strong IPM programs for agriculture, the urban environment, and for protection from diseases vectored by insects and ticks.

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

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• Serve as point of contact for and work with clientele and other stakeholders to identify IPM information needs to inform the program planning process and work with the Specialty Crops IPM Leader to identify and prioritize work tasks and duties.
• Develop, implement, deliver and evaluate relevant Extension programs for Specialty Crops IPM target audiences using diverse methods including growers/PCAs meetings, field days, workshop, fact sheets and phone calls and media such as YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, audio newsletters, and podcasts, and including presentations to colleagues and stakeholders using electronic and print media.
• Creatively apply own knowledge, skills, and experience in IPM to solve problems and deliver solutions for Specialty Crops IPM end-users in collaboration with IPM and related faculty in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
• Organize, develop, and assist in on-farm participatory research and demonstration of IPM tactics and strategies in collaboration with IPM faculty and other staff and engage the APMC and relevant teams of faculty and staff to address IPM priorities in Arizona.
• Stimulate, lead, and participate in new and existing efforts to secure competitive funds including grant-writing, budgeting and reporting with assistance and input from other IPM faculty and staff.

Knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Ability to communicate and educate in a manner appropriate for comprehension and use by a wide variety of audiences; write for clear comprehension by both program clients and academicians; and collaborate productively with peers and professionals both within and outside the University system.
• Ability to work independently, to interact effectively and directly with stakeholders and team members, and to travel throughout the state and region.
• Ability to be responsive to changes in the competitive climate of grant-funding.
• Proficiency in use of computers and related technology, including but not limited to word processing, Powerpoint, Excel, desktop publishing software.
• Broad interest in Integrated Pest Management.

• Bachelor's degree in Entomology.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience.
• Ability to drive according to the Fleet Safety Policy.

• Master's degree in Entomology, IPM, or related field and 2 or more years of experience with Extension programming.
• Experience in grantsmanship, program assessment, stakeholder interaction, problem-solving research and leadership.