Outreach Specialist

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Job Category:

Academic Staff

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Outreach Specialist

Job Summary:

The UW Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences is seeking an Outreach Specialist to develop and facilitate educational outreach programs related to the SnapPlus software and related software tools used by the agricultural and conservation community throughout Wisconsin. Come join our team of researchers and software developers building and maintaining software tools used by thousands of farms in the state. Our tools help farms effectively manage crop nutrients while protecting soil and water quality.

The outreach specialist will work with the SnapPlus team (https://snapplus.wisc.edu) and have a lead role developing outreach materials and programs to help a wide range of users learn how to effectively use SnapPlus software for nutrient management planning. SnapPlus users include farmers, agronomists, agency staff, and conservation professionals.  In addition, the outreach specialist will help to improve SnapPlus by testing new features and facilitating an iterative feedback process between users and the SnapPlus team. The outreach specialist will take a lead role in facilitating the SnapPlus user support process and collaborate with other team members to respond to user support requests via email, phone, and a combination of virtual and in-person meetings.

This is a full-time, partial remote, ongoing/renewable position. Normal hours are 7:45am-4:30pm, Monday through Friday. Occasional nights and weekends may be required.

Additional Information

• Criminal Background Check may be required

• Evaluation/Probationary Period may be required

• Driver’s authorization is required for this role.

• Work Authorization:

-The successful applicant will be responsible for ensuring eligibility for employment in the United States by the start of the appointment.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• 5% Schedules and secures resources and communicates logistics in support of an outreach program

• 10% Facilitate SnapPlus user support process and collaborate with team to respond to user support requests.

• 5% May assist with the monitoring of outreach program budget spending

• 10% Develops and evaluates curriculum and programs and provides recommendations for improvement

• 10% Identifies, promotes, and maintains external partnerships to support the outreach program

• 25% Researches, develops, and facilitates outreach program content and materials

• 10% Perform quality control and user testing for the SnapPlus software and related software tools.

• 25% Delivers outreach program content and materials to community members

Department:

Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences

Compensation:

The anticipated salary range for this position is $60,000 - $75,000. However, final salary will depend on experience and qualifications. Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. Additional benefits information can be found at: https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/download/fasl.pdf

Required Qualifications:

• Relevant professional experience in agriculture or a closely related field.
• Experience communicating in both verbal and written formats with a broad audience such as farmers, agronomists, researchers, and government agency partners.
• Hands-on experience developing, coordinating, and delivering educational programs or curriculum.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, manage multiple tasks, establish priorities, and organize varied tasks in a complex environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certification as a Certified Crop Advisor, Certified Professional Agronomist, or Certified Professional Soil Scientist

• Experience using SnapPlus or other nutrient management software
• Experience writing or reviewing nutrient management plans
  
  

Education:

Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture, Natural Resources, Soil Science, or related field preferred. 

How to Apply:

Click on the "Apply Online" button to start the application process. You will be prompted to upload the following documents/application materials:

Resume (required) - Detail your educational and professional background

Cover letter (required) – Refer to your related work experience

There is only one attachment field; please upload all application materials here. All listed application materials must be submitted for your application to be considered. Please submit only the materials specified; additional materials will not be reviewed.

Finalists will be asked to provide contact information for three (3) references, including your current/most recent supervisor. References will not be contacted without prior notice.

It is important that your cover letter and resume reflect your experience for this position related to the Qualifications section. Your application materials will be used during our evaluation to determine your qualifications as they relate to the job. The most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process.

Contact Information:

College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), Human Resources Manager, Erin Cook at [email protected]

College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), HR Generalist, Carla Boe at [email protected]

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment. 
 
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7). 
 
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.