Forever Green Agronomy Associate

Forever Green Agronomy Associate

This is a 75% or 100% appointment.

Location:

This position will be a hybrid work-from-home arrangement with periodic requirements for in-person, on-campus work at the University of Minnesota campus in St. Paul. The nature of this position requires travel for farm visits around the state of Minnesota from March - November and the incumbent must also be available for program needs on-campus for events, meetings, etc. Responsibilities include attendance at local and regional events and occasional travel to regional conferences and events.

Overview

The Forever Green Agronomy Associate will join an expanding team to support growers, with a special focus on EECO program and Go First Farm[1.1] participants who are adopting these crops. This person will work collaboratively and proactively with a wide variety of partners within and beyond the University. This is a temporary (one-year) full-time position, and flexibility exists to offer the preferred candidate a 75% FTE arrangement with the bulk of the duties happening during the agricultural production season.[2.1][3.1][4.1] The Agronomy associate will work within the FGI Commercialization Team, which includes the Forever Green Agronomy Manager, Director of Adoption and Scaling, CAS staff members, and third-party contracted technical assistance providers such as growers, community partners, and collaborating organizations.

The Agronomy Associate will also liaise with R&D Program Manager and FGI researchers working on the specified crops to share knowledge and provide a feedback loop from growers to researchers, helping to identify research needs. The Agronomy Associate will serve as the statewide outreach coordinator for pilot-scale hazelnut production/research sites through the Go First Farm (GFF) network. The Associate will also support collaboration with a diverse array of private, nonprofit, and public partners working together to support the adoption of perennial and winter annual crops and systems across Minnesota.

Responsibilities

The Forever Green Agronomy Associate will expand FGI team capacity by providing in-person technical assistance for growers enrolled in the EECO Program. Travel throughout the state of Minnesota will be required. Specific duties include:

• Support individual growers who are growing the FGI crops covered in the EECO Program by providing one-on-one technical assistance related to soil preparation, planting, fertility, weed management, harvesting, post-harvest handling, crop rotation, and other management concerns (30%)
• Coordinate, with oversight from lead agronomist, FGI technical service offerings to growers for agroforestry crops Hazelnut & Elderberry. Duties include supporting grower pipeline and development, providing technical support, coordinating site planning and logistics, and shepherding growers through the contractual processes (30%)
• Perform field verification and certification on enrolled EECO/GFF[5.1] fields to ensure that planting specifications have been followed, which is required for growers to receive financial assistance (10%)
• Participate in educational and grower-to-grower learning events that may be live and in-person, virtual, or pre-recorded, such as field days, winter meetings, webinars, or call series (10%)
• Assist growers by coordinating the provision of mobile grain drying units and leading grain testing services (5%)
• Assist with and disseminate written grower-focused technical assistance materials. (10%)
• Other collaborative and outreach activities as assigned to support the success of the EECO Implementation Program, similar local and regional projects, FGI Commercialization, Adoption, and Scaling Team and the broader Forever Green Initiative as needed (5%)

Required qualifications

• Work experience in agriculture or a related field
• Experience developing and delivering educational and technical assistance resources to growers
• BA/BS degree plus at least two years of relevant experience or a combination of related education and work experience to equal at least six years

Desired:

• On-farm experience or experience working in the agricultural industry (agronomy services, seed, soil science, machinery, etc.)
• Located outside the Twin Cities metro area to better serve our geographically diverse farmer base
• Advanced knowledge of and experience with one or more of the crops targeted in the EECO program (Kernza perennial grain, winter camelina, winter barley, hybrid winter rye, hybrid hazelnut, elderberry), with a special emphasis on agroforestry crops. Experience with small grains is also relevant.

The Forever Green Initiative (FGI; http://www.forevergreen.umn.edu) is pursuing a unique market-driven strategy for clean water, soil health, and rural economic vitality. The strategy is based on augmenting current crop production systems with economically viable perennial and winter-annual crops. Such crops and systems move agriculture toward continuous vegetative cover of soil across landscapes and watersheds, enhancing production of marketable agricultural commodities while also protecting soil, water, wildlife, and building rural economies. The Forever Green portfolio consists of over 15 perennial and winter-annual crops and cropping systems in varying stages of development and commercialization.

The State of Minnesota has provided funds for several programs designed to de-risk adoption of select crops that are in early commercialization in Minnesota, with a focus on Kernza intermediate wheatgrass, winter camelina, winter barley, hybrid winter rye and agroforestry crops such as hazelnut and elderberry. The Economic & Environmental Clusters of Opportunity (EECO) program provides risk management and incentive payments to growers producing these emerging perennial and winter annual crops in the state of Minnesota while providing on-the-ground verification, technical assistance and in-person agronomy services to maximize grower success. To date, the EECO program has been deployed on over 4000 acres across Minnesota with $1.7 million allocated to growers. More information on the program can be found here.

Pay Range: $28.85 - $31.25 per hour, $58,110 - $62,362/year, depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 75% or 100% Appointment

Position Type: Civil-Service & Non-Faculty Labor Represented Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

Apply through the University of Minnesota online employment system, responding to Job ID, and include (as a single PDF) a cover letter, CV, and names and contact information for three professional references.

For more information about the position, please contact Director of Adoption and Scaling Colin Cureton by email (cure0012@umn.edu) or phone (612-750-4967).

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

Applicants from historically marginalized and underrepresented backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).