The Senior Associate Vice-President for Agriculture – Extension is a faculty and executive member of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture providing leadership for the Cooperative Extension Service and its mission. In this role, the SAVP Extension serves as Director, with responsibilities for operations, management, programs, stakeholder relations and services involving about 600 appointed full-time and 150 part-time personnel. This includes management of federal, state, and county appropriated funds along with grant and gift resources, and an annual budget of $59 M. The position directly supervises executives including Associate Directors, an Assistant Director, District Directors and certain other administrative staff. Cooperative Extension is headquartered in Little Rock with outlying Centers in Lonoke and Newport, with county agents and staff in all 75 counties, faculty and staff on seven Experiment Station Centers and two University campuses.
Oversees education, service and applied research program creation, implementation and adoption in the areas of Agriculture/Natural Resources; Family and Consumer Sciences; 4-H Youth Development; and Community/Economic Development.
Responsible for all financial activities of the organization including the management of federal, state and county appropriations as well as numerous annual grants and gifts. Currently, the Cooperative Extension Service has an annual budget of $59 M per year.
Leadership for efficient operations of the organization including coordination of a fully autonomous Division support system including Financial Services, Grants and Gifts, Information Technology, Extension Communications, Human Resources, Facilities Management, Printing and Warehouse Services, and three facility complexes – CES Headquarters in Little Rock, the Lonoke Extension Center near Lonoke, AR and the Newport Extension Center near Newport, AR.
Responsible for all policy implementation and management, including contributions to policy development affecting Division missions.
Responsible for legal and policy compliance to Federal, State and Local law as well as USDA and other governmental or official bodies, the Division of Agriculture and the UA System.
Responsible for all annual and strategic reports for Extension along with stakeholder relations.
Represents the Division, Cooperative Extension and the UA System to local, state and national stakeholders and/or collaborators as need and opportunity dictate.
Knowledge of the history, philosophy, objectives & methods of Cooperative Extension Service work. Knowledge of the social, economic, political & cultural factors effecting Extension work. Ability to develop & manage innovative programs in Extension. Ability to work effectively as a member of an administrative team. Ability to speak & write clearly & to convey ideas effectively to faculty, staff & stakeholder groups. Physical & mental ability to effectively perform duties & responsibilities of the job, including long & irregular hours & extensive travel.
This position requires a Doctorate in the Agriculture Sciences, Family/Consumer/ Human Environmental Sciences, or related fields. Documented experience in administration, financial management and leadership for Cooperative Extension at the Department Head or higher level required. Excellent and documented oral, written and interpersonal skills required. Physical and mental ability to effectively perform all responsibilities including long and irregular hours and extensive travel. Demonstrated ability to coordinate Extension and research efforts as well as effectively interact with stakeholder groups.
Knowledge and broad experience in extension, research, teaching and the Land Grant University mission strongly preferred.
Knowledge of the history and philosophy of Cooperative Extension with an appreciation for traditional local, state, and national extension work along with efficiency of operations and communication of impact preferred.
Understanding of county, state, regional and national extension programs and practices strongly preferred. Broad knowledge and experience of agriculture, family science, youth education, environmental education and community/economic development preferred.
Knowledge and appreciation of the essential linkages with research and teaching missions and ability to create and nurture new partnerships including non-traditional ones preferred.
Knowledge and appreciation of different administrative structures within land-grant university systems that enhance and preserve local and state relevance of research and extension missions preferred.
Knowledge and experience in social media, changes in audience and culture, diversity and inclusion preferred.
This position is subject to a pre-employment criminal background check. Screening information will be used in a confidential, non-discriminatory manner consistent with state and federal law. A criminal conviction or arrest pending adjudication alone shall not disqualify an applicant in the absence of a relationship to the requirements of the position.
Employment is contingent upon availability of funding and satisfactory performance.
A resume, cover letter, transcript, and three letters of recommendation are required for consideration for this position. A valid email address for a minimum of three (3) references must be provided at the time of application. An email collecting the reference will be sent directly to the reference provider upon completion of your application. Additional reference letters or documentation can also be sent directly to Human Resources at jobs@uaex.edu
REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS WILL BEGIN ON DECEMBER 1, 2019, AND WILL CONTINUE UNTIL A QUALIFIED APPLICANT IS IDENTIFIED.
For questions, contact Human Resources at 501-671-2219 or email jobs@uaex.edu
FOR CONSIDERATION, all applicants must certify and submit an application on our organization’s job portal at http://jobs.uaex.edu
References
Applicant Documents
- Resume or CV
- Cover Letter
- Unofficial Transcripts
Optional Documents
- Other Document 4
- Other Document 1
- Other Document 2
- Other Document 3
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