Career Center

The Penn State Extension Horticulture Unit is looking for an Extension Educator, an urban
agriculture professional with a passion for education and outreach to join their Vegetable and
Small Fruit Team. The successful candidate for this position will develop and lead an Extension,
and applied research program in Philadelphia addressing the needs of urban farmers,
community organizations, and decision makers in the city’s well-established urban agriculture
community.

City decision makers and community organizations require research-based information specific
to the unique challenges of urban horticulture/ agriculture to inform support for successful
food production and distribution meeting the challenge of unequal food access in urban areas,
and to craft agriculture and food security policies supporting these goals. The City of
Philadelphia’s recent creation of a Director of Urban Agriculture and the development of a city-
wide Urban Agriculture Plan, create a unique opportunity to strengthen linkages between Penn
State Extension, urban farmers, community organizations, City of Philadelphia urban ag
initiatives and agencies, urban farmer education networks, food policy councils, and
underserved communities around the production of healthy food and support for small farms
and beginning farmers.

What You Will Do
The successful candidate for this position will provide research-based education and outreach
to Philadelphia growers through a variety of methods, including:
* Leading the development, implementation, management, and evaluation of research-
based, culturally relevant programs to support and enhance urban agriculture in
Philadelphia
* Developing training, outreach, and educational materials for urban growers, including
small, beginning, limited resource, and not-for-profit farms and community gardens
* Visiting Philadelphia farms and community gardens as needed to help farmers
troubleshoot pest, disease, and site problems
* Building and maintaining collaborative relationships between Penn State Extension and
Philadelphia’s urban agriculture community, including underserved audiences
* Working both individually and collaboratively to assess the effectiveness of Extension
programs relating to urban agriculture
* Collaborating with the City of Philadelphia Urban Agriculture Director, the Food Policy
Advisory Council, and grower groups and networks to support priorities outlined in the
City of Philadelphia’s forthcoming Urban Agriculture Plan
* Delivering urban agriculture training and educational support materials for fellow Penn
State Extension Educators
* Collaborating with Philadelphia-based Penn State Extension colleagues to develop
programming addressing food production, nutrition, community and youth
development, integrated pest management, watershed protection, and soil testing
* Provide support for the Penn State Master Gardener Program in Philadelphia

What We Need
A strong candidate for this position will have demonstrated experience in these areas:
* Growing vegetables and small fruit in urban environments

* Writing, presenting, and teaching horticultural science for diverse and non-academic
audiences in urban settings
* Working with urban farm communities
* Collaborating with various stakeholders including local governments, food policy
councils, non-profits, and fellow Extension professionals to meet the needs of urban
growers

Specific qualifications:
* This job will be filled at the  Extension Educator level 3 or 4, depending upon the
successful candidate's competencies, education, and experience. Extension Educator
level 3 typically requires a Master's degree plus two years of related experience or an
equivalent combination of education and experience. Additional experience and/or
education and competencies are required for higher level jobs. A degree with
coursework in plant science, plant pathology, entomology, soils, and plant nutrition is
preferred
* Moderate computer literacy, including proficiency in Microsoft Office; experience with
media editing is a plus
* Preference will be given to candidates bilingual in Spanish
* Ability to carry equipment, educational materials, and supplies with or without
accommodation
* Ability to travel, and a valid driver's license and use of a private automobile. This
position requires operating a motor vehicle as part of the job duties. Successful
completion of a motor vehicle records check is required in addition to standard
background checks