Horticulture Specialist - Commercial Horticulture

The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) appreciates your interest in employment at our growing institution. We want your application process to go smoothly and quickly. Final applications must be submitted prior to the close of the recruitment.

If you need assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please contact our recruitment helpline at (775) 784-1495 or [email protected].

The University of Nevada, Reno Extension invites applications for a Lecturer II/Teaching Assistant Professor/Assistant Professor, Commercial Horticulture Specialist position (full-time) serving Southern Nevada's dynamic and growing commercial horticulture industry. This position is located in Las Vegas, NV and reports to the Southern Area Director. 

This faculty position provides an exciting opportunity to develop and deliver impactful educational programs, conduct applied research, and collaborate with industry professionals to advance sustainable landscape management in arid environments. The successful candidate will play a vital role in strengthening workforce knowledge, enhancing plant health, and supporting the long-term economic viability of Southern Nevada's commercial horticulture sector.

About the Position

The Commercial Horticulture Specialist will develop and deliver research-based educational programming and applied research that addresses current and emerging needs of the commercial horticulture industry. Programs will focus on:

• Workforce development and training

• Plant health and integrated landscape management

• Integrated pest management

• Sustainable landscape practices for arid environments

• Best management practices for commercial horticulture operations and food production

This position serves a diverse clientele including commercial landscape professionals, arborists and urban forestry professionals, irrigation specialists, nursery and greenhouse operators, municipal and institutional landscape managers, industry organizations and stakeholders, and community members.

Position Responsibilities

• Extension Programming and Outreach (70%): Develop and deliver research-based educational programs that support Southern Nevada's commercial horticulture industry and promote sustainable landscape management in arid environments.

• Applied Research (25%): Conduct applied research and demonstration projects that address industry needs related to workforce development, water-use efficiency, and plant health. Identify and pursue extramural funding opportunities to support commercial horticulture education and research initiatives. Publish peer-reviewed articles, Extension bulletins, and other scholarly and educational materials.

• Service and Professional Engagement (5%): Contribute to university, Extension, and professional service activities while maintaining strong industry partnerships.

Lecturer Statement

The University of Nevada, Reno reserves the right to hire at any level of Lecturer (I-IV) or Teaching Assistant/Associate (terminal degree candidate) that is appropriate for the hire. If you have questions about the title, please inquire during the interview process.

Required Qualifications

• Lecturer II - Master's degree in horticulture, plant sciences, agronomy, agriculture, natural resources, environmental sciences, Extension education, or a closely related field.

• Teaching Assistant Professor / Assistant Professor - Ph.D. degree in horticulture, plant sciences, agronomy, agriculture, natural resources, environmental sciences, Extension education, or a closely related field.

• Demonstrated knowledge of commercial horticulture, landscape management, irrigation systems, plant health, or related disciplines.

• Experience developing and delivering educational programs, training, outreach, or technical assistance to diverse audiences.

• Effective written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.

• Ability to work collaboratively with industry professionals, community partners, and stakeholders.

This position requires candidates to complete a fingerprinting/background check.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in horticulture, plant sciences, agriculture, natural resources, Extension education, or a related field.

• Experience in Extension, outreach, applied research, or other non-formal educational environments.

• Knowledge of horticultural production, food production, integrated pest management, and landscape management practices in arid and desert environments.

• Experience with irrigation efficiency, water conservation, urban horticulture, arboriculture, or sustainable landscape management.

• Demonstrated ability to secure external funding and build partnerships with industry, government agencies, and community organizations.

Licensure

A valid Class “C” driver’s license or higher operator’s license within 30 days of appointment.

Schedule and Travel

Work a flexible schedule, with periodic evening and weekend work.

Occasional travel throughout the state to assist with multi-county or statewide efforts related to subject matter expertise or attend area and statewide Extension meetings.

This position involves both office and field environments.

Compensation

Lecturer II / Teaching Assistant Professor (Non-tenure track)

Assistant Professor (Tenure track)

To view the salary schedule for this position, please visit: Salary Schedules and select Academic Faculty. Salary is competitive and commensurate with related education and experience. The University provides a clear promotion pathway for teaching faculty that includes regular review, and base salary increases upon promotion.

Remarkable Retirement

Our retirement plan is beyond compare. Your 19.25% contribution is generously matched by the University. With the faculty retirement plan, you are 100% vested your first day. Sit back and watch your retirement dollars grow!  All permanent employees on an annual "A" or "B" contract who are employed at least 50% full-time are eligible to participate in the NSHE retirement program unless they are members of PERS of Nevada. 

Perks of Working at UNR

• Health insurance options including dental and vision - Health Insurance

• Sick leave, long term disability and life insurance – Faculty Benefits

• Mountain EAP supports employees (and eligible dependents) through life's difficult moments. Mountain EAP is located in Reno and specializes in counseling and advising services for personal or interpersonal issues.

• Faculty Senate is the principal representing body for faculty. Its membership includes representatives from each academic and administrative major unit of the University. Faculty Senate

• No state income tax!

Grants-in-Aid for Faculty Employees

The University is proud to provide a reduced-rate tuition benefit to faculty and qualified dependents. Faculty can take up to six credits per semester at a reduced rate. Dependents of faculty have unlimited credits, but in order to be eligible children must be unmarried and under the age of 24 and must receive at least 50% of their financial support from the employee and/or employee’s spouse or domestic partner.  Faculty Grants-in-Aid

Faculty Dual Career Assistance Program

The University of Nevada, Reno recognizes the importance of addressing dual-career couples’ professional needs. We offer a dual career assistance program to newly hired faculty spouses/partners that provides resources and assists them to identify career opportunities in Northern Nevada. Dual Career Assistance Program

College/Department Information

UNR Extension has a long-standing commitment to providing practical, research-based education that improves lives and strengthens communities throughout Nevada. As part of Extension, you will have the opportunity to:

• Make a meaningful impact on a critical industry sector.

• Lead innovative programs.

• Collaborate with university researchers, public agencies, and industry leaders.

• Serve as a trusted resource for Southern Nevada's commercial horticulture community.

• Advance workforce development and environmental stewardship in one of the nation's most unique growing environments.

To learn more about Extension, please visit: https://extension.unr.edu/default.aspx

Search Contacts

Search Coordinator: Cinnamon Banda, [email protected]

Hiring Manager: Eric Killian, [email protected]

Please note that once you submit your application, the only attachments viewable to you will be the attachment/s to the resume/CV section of the application. Any additional required attachments to the cover letter, references, and other documents sections of the application will not be viewable to you after you submit your application. All uploaded attachments will be on the application for the committee to review. To request updates to attachments before the committee review of applications, please contact the candidate helpdesk at [email protected].

Attach the following attachments to your application
1) Resume/CV
2) Cover Letter
3) Contact Information for Three Professional References
 

Full Consideration

For full consideration, applications must be received by end of business, Friday, September 25, 2026.

This posting is open until filled.
Qualified individuals are encouraged to apply immediately. This search will close without notice when a sufficient number of applications are received or a hiring decision has been made.

A background check will be conducted on the candidate(s) selected for hire.

HR will attempt to verify academic credentials upon receipt of hiring documents. If the academic credentials cannot be verified, HR will notify the faculty member that an official transcript of their highest degree must be submitted within thirty days of the faculty member’s first day of employment.

References will be contacted at the appropriate phase of the recruitment process.

Applicants hired on a federal contract may be subject to E-Verify.

As part of the hiring process, applicants for positions in the Nevada System of Higher Education may be required to demonstrate the ability to perform job-related tasks.

For positions that require driving, evidence of a valid driver's license will be required at the time of employment and as a condition of continued employment.

Schedules are subject to change based on organizational needs.

The University of Nevada, Reno is committed to providing a place of work and learning free of discrimination on the basis of a person’s age (40 or older), disability, whether actual or perceived by others (including service-connected disabilities), gender (including pregnancy related conditions), military status or military obligations, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, race (including hair texture and protected hairstyles such as natural hairstyles, afros, bantu knots, curls, braids, locks and twists), color, or religion (protected classes). 

About Us

The University of Nevada, Reno is a leading public research university committed to the promise of a future powered by knowledge. Founded in 1874 as Nevada’s original land-grant university, the University serves more than 23,000 undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and 63 countries.

Classified by the Carnegie® Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as an R1 (“Very High Research”) university, it is also recognized in the Carnegie® Community Engagement classification. The University is also ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the “Best National Universities” and “Best National Public Universities.” It also ranks in the top tier of the WSJ/Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the New York Times’ “Top Colleges for Economic Diversity.”

Since 2009, nearly $1 billion has been has invested in advanced labs, facilities, and residence halls on the main campus. The University is home to Nevada’s first medical school – the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine and the Wayne L. Prim Campus at Lake Tahoe, where education, research, and creative work thrive in a stunning mountain setting. The University delivers on its original land-grant mission with outreach across the state through the University of Nevada, Reno Extension, Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Nevada Small Business Development Center, the Nevada Seismological Laboratory, and Wolf Pack Athletics.

The main campus is in Reno, Nevada, a burgeoning global technology hub with a vibrant midtown and downtown. Found where the high desert of the Great Basin meets the High Sierra and Lake Tahoe, the beautiful, 290-acre main campus is also a Nevada State Arboretum. The University’s physical infrastructure is expanding with ongoing construction of the newly named John Tullock Business Building, set to open in fall 2025. Groundbreaking is also planned for a new State Public Health Laboratory Building on campus, alongside the recent acquisition of 16 parcels near campus, known as “University Village,” to provide affordable housing for graduate students and early career faculty.

Collaborating with world-renowned organizations, the University fosters innovation through initiatives such as the Digital Wolf Pack partnership with Apple, which ensures equitable access to technology for students, providing new incoming freshman or transfer students with an iPad Air and accessories. Google’s TechWise initiate is an 18-month program that fully supports undergraduate students in becoming entry-level software engineers by graduation.

In 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced that Nevada – led by the University of Nevada, Reno – was named one of the inaugural 31 Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (TechHubs). Nevada was selected from a competitive pool of 489 applicants from across the United States and its territories. Nevada’s Tech Hub will strengthen America’s lithium batteries, critical elements and other electric vehicle materials industry sectors within the state.

Through its commitment to high-impact education, world-improving research and creative activity, and outreach that’s transforming Nevada’s communities and businesses, the University continues its 150-year tradition of benefitting our state, nation and world.

The University recognizes that diversity promotes excellence in education and research. The inclusive and engaged community on campus recognizes the added value that students, faculty, and staff from different backgrounds bring to the educational experience.

Today, the University delivers on its original land-grant mission of access to education and knowledge by investing in the academics, facilities, support, engagement and vibrant campus life that promote our diverse students’ cognitive growth and academic achievement – all while remaining one of the best values in American higher education.

For more information, please visit the University’s website.

University of Nevada, Reno