Extension Educator II - Food Safety

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450 acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Summary

The Food Safety Extension Educator develops and delivers Extension educational programs, publications, and services and conducts applied research to meet the needs of food processors with an emphasis on improving food safety practices related to food product development, food processing, and food safety management.

Essential Functions

• Develops, organizes, and teaches educational programs and provides research-based information to food processors and other clientele regarding food safety management practices and risk management, as well as related or emerging topics. Responds to food safety management inquiries from producers and other stakeholders regarding GMPs and process controls, sanitation programs and related production and business issues. Works directly with processors to teach and evaluate food safety skills and to improve understanding and implementation of GMP and food safety management plans. Participates with Extension and other staff and clientele in cross-commodity collaborative programming with state and regional impact.
• Collaborates in the preparation, editing, layout, and publication of research-based educational materials such as newsletters, management guides, fact sheets, and articles. Develops and implements experiments, demonstration trials, and projects related to food safety and risk management factors in collaboration with the supervisor and other extension faculty or staff. Communicates with and visits growers to manage on-farm projects. Manages data collection and analysis and prepares related reports, articles, and educational materials for Extension and scholarly publications.
• Plans and conducts applied research and/or scholarly or creative activity to meet emerging needs of commercial processors statewide related to best practices for food processing applications.
• Conducts needs assessment, develops program objectives, designs delivery methods, and develops evaluation procedures in collaboration with supervisor and other Extension Faculty and Staff. Conducts periodic evaluations of program effectiveness. Uses evaluation to inform future programs. Develops relationships with agricultural businesses, producers, consumers, advisory committees, research centers, non-profits, and related agencies to assess conditions, needs, and strategies to achieve program goals and measure desired outcomes.
• Seeks out and applies for external funding, including public grants. Coordinate with appropriate University entities and comply with relevant fundraising and grant-related policies.
• Participates in overall program management, including staff coordination and evaluation, reporting, and financial administration. Participates in short- and long-range planning.
• Collaborates in recruiting and training.
• Supervises, supports, evaluates, and recognizes volunteers and/or student and paraprofessional employees.
• Maintains and increases personal and professional competence through participation in in-service training, professional association activities, and continuing education.
• Prepares and implements professional development plan. Represents UMass Extension at the campus, regional, or state level in routine matters of organization and procedure relating to the Food Science Extension Programs.

Other Functions

• Works collaboratively and effectively to promote teamwork, diversity, equality, and inclusiveness.
• Works with colleagues within the CNS community and across the campus to support the Dean's strategic priorities.
• Performs other duties as assigned in support of the mission and goals of the College of Natural Sciences.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Completed B.S. in food science, biological science, agricultural science or closely related field.
• Must have a valid US driver's license.
• Ability to maintain a diverse schedule of local, regional, and statewide activities.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to interact effectively and work productively in establishing and maintaining harmonious working relationships with a diverse population of staff, students, and stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently to organize multiple tasks and set priorities for action, take initiative, be creative, and operate with self-direction in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Experience in extension or public outreach.
• Experience with industrial applications of food science.
• Trained in food safety management systems such as Preventive Controls for Human Food, Seafood HACCP, Juice HACCP, or Meat & Poultry HACCP.
• Potential to cooperate with diverse stakeholder groups.
• Potential to teach and engage in public education.
• Proficiency with data analysis and/or layout and publication software (e.g., SAS, In-Design, Drupal).
• Demonstrated ability to use current electronic media for education and outreach.
• Demonstrated ability to implement effective educational programs with diverse audiences.

Additional Details

• This is a grant-funded, 18-month position that may be extended pending additional funding.
• By default, this position is located at the UMass Amherst campus.

Work Location & Schedule

• Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm or as required to carry out program activities.

Salary Information

Level 25

PSU Hiring Ranges

Special Instructions to Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume and cover letter. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references. Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis until the position is filled. Early submissions are encouraged.

At UMass Amherst and in CNS, we strive to be a community where every individual feels a sense of belonging, where every individual is included, and where every individual is valued. You can find these values and goals here: https://www.umass.edu/strategicplan/strategic-plan.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.