The University of Minnesota is seeking a Horticulture Extension Educator. In this role, the educator will be responsible for promoting managed horticultural landscape systems through multiple perspectives such as; ecosystem support, climate change, clean water (watershed impact), lower input landscapes, native and resilient plants, decorative landscapes, and others in collaboration with property owners, community organizations, urban stakeholders, and others at the University of Minnesota.
Topic areas to include plant selection, landscape maintenance, soil health, climate resiliency, and others. As a Horticulture Extension Educator, you will work closely with the Extension Horticulture team, the Extension Master Gardener team, the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, and other stakeholders to develop and deliver educational programs.
The position will require working with a range of public, private, and non-profit stakeholders who can both inform Extension education programming and amplify messaging in local networks across the state. These stakeholders include diverse property owners and managers including; home scale landscapes, community landscapes (community parks, shared spaces etc), property associations, urban stakeholders and others as identified through audience analysis processes.
The Extension Educator will develop, implement, and evaluate online and in-person educational programs to educate intended audiences. Education formats and forums will include; in-person experiences, distance learning, Extension web pages, print materials, interpretive signage, social media, and emerging education technologies.
Duties & Responsibilities
Lead and contribute to high-quality, research and best practice based, Extension education programs to advance managed horticultural landscape systems:
Identify educational needs and audiences;
Design curricula and materials;
Plan and implement education formats and forums
Evaluate the impact of this work and how it may need to change in the future.
Develop and maintain effective stakeholder collaborations that further the development and delivery of Extension educational programs.
Collaborate with the Extension Master Gardener program and the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
Participate in team meetings and serve on committees
Throughout this work, collaborate with new, diverse, and historically underserved audiences to develop programs that are customized to the needs of different cultural communities.
Education and Experience
Required Qualifications:
A master’s degree in a field relevant to managed horticultural landscape systems.
Documented successful experience communicating educational messages and content in a variety of forums and formats.
Academic or work experience expertise in one or more horticulture/managed landscape content areas such as ecosystem support, climate change, clean water (watershed impact), lower input landscapes, native and resilient plants, decorative landscapes, and others.
A proven ability to develop and sustain working relationships with diverse intended audience stakeholder groups such as; the gardening public, homeowners associations, gardening/growing nonprofit organizations, Master Gardener volunteers and other relevant groups including those that may have diverse missions, goals, and backgrounds.
Preferred Qualifications:
Three (3) or more years of professional work experience relevant to managed horticultural landscape systems.
Portfolio of research and/or best practice driven education program development in horticulture or a related field
Direct experience Experience with plant based research techniques and projects.
Work experience in the green industry
Experience working with diverse populations and communities.
Application Instructions
To apply for this position, search for job # 357641 at https://hr.umn.edu/Jobs/Find-Job
Application Deadline:
21/02/2024