Associate Director, Pesticide Safety and Environmental Education (PSEE)

Working Title:            Associate Director and Coordinator, Pesticide Safety and Environmenta Education (PSEE)

Appointment:             Admin Consultant/Analyst 2 (9341A2), Professional and Administrative, Full-time

Location:                    University of Minnesota, St. Paul campus

Program Area:            Extension Center for Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (AFNR)

Reports To:                 Dean, University of Minnesota Extension (or delegate)

Application Review:   March 10, 2019 initial deadline; Open until filled

ABOUT THIS POSITION

As a senior manager of the Pesticide Safety and Environmental Education (PSEE) program, this person is expected to work closely with the Extension administration to strategically integrate the program’s research, Extension, and education activities. Key roles of the position include:

• Providing strategic direction for the PSEE program
• Managing PSEE’s operations, budgets and staff
• Integrating programming with PSEE coordinators and Extension faculty. 

The PSEE program provides statewide education and leadership for pesticide-related topics of safety, health, security and environmental protection using integrated pest management and occupational safety frameworks with substantial economic and quality of life impacts. The PSEE program provides education for Minnesota’s 17,000 certified farmers and other agricultural producers through its Private Pesticide Applicator Training program (PPAT).

The PSEE program is seeking a person capable of working with staff and partners at the University of Minnesota and beyond to provide pesticide safety leadership. This person will also have experience in a discipline that builds on the technical foundation of the program, its staff, and partners. (See qualifications for more specifics.) This position reports to, and is accountable to, the dean (or delegate) of University of Minnesota Extension for program vision and goals, performance evaluation and personnel direction.

For more information on responsibilities and qualifications, see the PSEE Associate Dean-Coordinator full job description

Major Areas of Responsibility

1. Program Direction and Administration (70%)
   1. Provide strategic direction and operational management for the PSEE program.
   2. Build and maintain relationships with key state, regional, and national partners, including at the U of M, industry groups, State of Minnesota, and Environmental Protection Agency, among others.
   3. Serve as the primary program liaison throughout the U of M and to lawmakers and government agencies, pesticide applicator certification and training program partners in other states, industry and special-interest organizations, the media and the general public.
   4. Represent the PSEE program at state, regional, and national meetings.
   5. Provide oversight and guidance in business/fiscal sustainability of this program, which includes seeking appropriate grants, contracts and other sources of funding to support and enhance PSEE’s educational outcomes.
   6. Develop and maintain business and operational plans for each educational enterprise including strategic positioning, stakeholder and learner engagement, operations, marketing, financial management and evaluation for continuous quality improvement.
   7. Supervise up to three full time and part-time administrative and educational staff. 

2. Educational Development, Implementation and Leadership (25%)
   1. Design, develop, deliver and evaluate educational programs based in scholarly/scientific theory and research and that are appropriate to meet PSEE’s diverse learners’ needs.
   2. Lead and support PSEE team to develop, foster and maintain effective partnerships with Extension county, regional, campus and other university faculty and staff in the development and delivery of PSEE education.
   3. Provide leadership to engage PSEE learners, stakeholders, subject matter experts and others interested in pesticide safety education at the state, regional and national levels,
   4. Learn and use technology for educational program design, development, delivery, reporting, communication and marketing.
       
3. Individual Professional Development, Scholarly Work and Service (5%)

APPOINTMENT

This position is a full-time, 12-month, annually renewable, academic professional and administrative (P&A) appointment; reappointment contingent upon successful performance and availability of funding.   Reimbursement for travel and subsistence is available in accordance with University policy. (Must use personal cell phone, provide own means for traveling throughout the state, and legally required vehicle insurance. Salary commensurate with education and experience.