About Extension:
UW-Madison's Division of Extension serves the people and communities of Wisconsin by addressing local, statewide, and national issues, improving lives through research-based education, fostering partnerships and action, and facilitating positive impacts.
About the Dairy and Livestock Program:
Dairy and Livestock Program is part of the Division of Extension's Agriculture Institute and provides timely resources and information to help Wisconsin producers and their consultants manage livestock and dairy more efficiently and profitably. While the Program area is both Dairy and Livestock, this position will focus on dairy production education. You will join a team of one outreach specialist and nine educators.
About this Position:
Extension has been working with farmers for more than 100 years, and we're diversifying our staffing portfolio to meet the evolving needs of our clientele. The Dairy Outreach Specialist position is designed to work with dairy producers and agribusiness professionals to solve production challenges and incorporate new research findings into outreach and educational materials that improve the efficiency and profitability of dairy production. Internal partners will not only include Dairy Program colleagues, but also internal Farm Management colleagues such as Farm Labor Outreach Specialist whose target audience includes dairy managers.
The Outreach Specialist will:
-Collaborate with Extension colleagues to identify needs and develop and maintain robust, high-quality outreach education programs to find solutions to critical challenges within production management for Wisconsin dairy producers;
-Develop and maintain an expertise related to dairy production and management that could include nutrition, reproduction, animal welfare, etc. - the position's focus will be determined by the successful candidate's expertise area;
-Build trust-based relationships with stakeholders;
-Work with the Program Manager to facilitate programmatic efforts, maintain strategic direction, build partnerships, and seek a diverse funding portfolio to support the work.
The ideal candidate will have experience with developing and evaluating educational programming and a track record of building positive relationships.
The Division of Extension has a deep and profound commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity, believing that these values are foundational elements to eliminate disparities and expanding access for all. As Extension, we acknowledge the need for strategic and coordinated actions that help us form a more equitable, anti-racist, non-biased, and inclusive organization. ( As such, all Extension employees are expected to foster and promote the values of diversity and inclusion.
Delivers and assists with planning outreach program activities, strengthens partnerships, ensures adherence to policy, and assists with program administration to promote stable and productive relationships between the university and local community. Strives to expand and ensure access to programs, facilities, and educational services to diverse audiences. May assist with tracking and managing the outreach program budget.
- 25% Identifies, promotes, and maintains external partnerships to support the outreach program
- 10% Schedules and secures resources and communicates logistics in support of an outreach program
- 20% Delivers outreach program content and materials to community members
- 10% Researches, develops, and facilitates outreach program content and materials
- 20% Develops and evaluates curriculum and programs and provides recommendations for improvement
- 5% May assist with the monitoring of outreach program budget spending
- 10% Communicate plans, activities, and achievements to Program Managers, partners, and relevant stakeholders
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.
For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion
Required
Bachelor's Degree
In a field related to the position's focus
Preferred
Master's Degree
In a field related to the position's focus
Required:
-Three or more years relevant professional experience
-Demonstrated skills in interpreting, utilizing, and applying evidence-based information and research findings
-Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both written and verbal, through a variety of technologies
-Demonstrated ability to effectively work with people from different cultural backgrounds, including those associated with race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, socioeconomic status, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, and other aspects of human diversity
Preferred:
-Strong interpersonal relationship and problem-solving skills in a team setting
-Demonstrated experience with building diverse, collaborative partnerships
-Demonstrated ability to communicate scientific materials in written and verbal forms for a variety of lay and other audiences
-Demonstrated ability to write grants and establish partnerships that pool or leverage public and private funds in support of the Institutional mission
Full Time: 100%
It is anticipated this position requires work be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location.
Ongoing/Renewable
Salary:Minimum $60,000 ANNUAL (12 months)
Depending on 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. Benefits information can be found at (
Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.
Position Location: Division of Extension headquarters are located within Madison, WI but the position location is flexible and will be determined based on programmatic needs, successful candidate's preferences, and availability of suitable space.
Travel: It is expected that employees will make individual arrangements for transportation adequate to meet position responsibilities and essential job functions. Information about UW-Madison Driver Authorization can be found at
Applicants are required to have a valid driver's license and a reliable source of independent transportation for periodic in-state work travel, and/or comply with requirements for UW-Madison vehicle use authorization.
We are eager to learn more about how your experience and passion may align with this position. Please submit a cover letter referring to your related work experience; a resume detailing your educational and professional background; and a writing sample.
Your cover letter should communicate your interest in the position and how your skillset aligns with the role. Your writing sample (approximately 500 - 1,200 words) should utilize research-based information to practically address a pressing issue you believe faces the dairy industry today with producers as your target audience. While the sample should utilize research-based information, it should be written for popular press platforms. The application reviewers will be relying on written application materials to determine who may advance to preliminary interviews.
Megan Nelson
608-282-5572
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.
Outreach Specialist(OE009)
Department(s):A47-EXTENSION/ANRCD/AGR/DAIRY&LIVESTOCK
Employment Class:Academic Staff-Renewable
Job Number:305795-AS
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer.Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, 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 through diversity and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, click here
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Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require you and your references to answer questions regarding 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).
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