"Assistant Extension Agent (Food Safety Maui County)"

Job Details

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement an extension program of impact in Maui County (including the islands of Maui, Molokai, and Lanai) to address the needs of Maui County’s agricultural industries, food processers/manufacturers, and consumers in the area of food safety education. The position will support statewide programming as required.
• Document and demonstrate the impact of extension programs using appropriate methodology, reporting, and program evaluation tools.
• Work with and disseminate technical information to farmers, processors, food manufacturers, consumers, and other relevant stakeholders statewide (including private and non-governmental organizations) using appropriate extension methods. Contribute to relevant scholarly work at the county, state, and national levels.
• Develop and deliver a research-informed Extension education program, prepare educational materials, conduct workshops and conferences, respond to inquiries from the public, and serve as a resource in the areas of farm, processing, and consumer food safety. Issues that may be addressed include: Consumer Food Handling, Farm Food Safety, and Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) education for stakeholders to meet government regulations.
• Develop multi-disciplinary and collaborative partnerships with fellow CTAHR faculty, governmental agencies, industry associations, other land grant institutions/universities, community organizations, and the general public.
• Obtain extramural funding and pursue opportunities to provide program sustainability in support of Extension education goals.
• Participate in Department, College, and University service/governance.
• Must be able to travel as needed to the different locations within Maui County (including the islands of Maui, Lanai and Molokai) as needed to meet with stakeholders.
• Work with stakeholders. This involves conducting programming and attending appointments outside of regular working hours and/or on weekends at off-site locations.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree from a college or university of recognized standing in Food Science, Microbiology, agricultural or family and consumer sciences, or a closely related field, or in addition to a Bachelor's degree, 30 credit hours of post-baccalaureate academic work in the above-mentioned fields.
• At least 3 years of successful experience in Cooperative Extension work or equivalent in closely related fields.
• Demonstrated ability to obtain external funding or other in-kind program resources.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment and to assume responsibility for developing an Extension program.
• Ability to work harmoniously with other agents in an integrated Extension system and with related agencies.
• Ability to travel independently to various geographical locations in a timely manner. The requirement may be fulfilled by a valid Hawai‘i Driver’s License (class 3), comparable driver’s license, or other means of transportation that meets position needs.

Desired Qualifications

• Coursework or experience in education/adult education or project management.
• Demonstrated experience with delivering a food safety education program.
• Experience developing educational materials for websites or using social media for educational purposes.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively through oral, written, and visual channels using traditional educational tools.

Company

The College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR) at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has a mission and vision that reflect its commitment to education, research, and community service, with a focus on resilience in the face of contemporary challenges.

CTAHR Mission

CTAHR's mission is to create and deliver knowledge that supports and strengthens families, agricultural and food systems, and the natural environment. The college educates and serves the people of Hawaiʻi and those from around the world with integrity and excellence.

CTAHR Vision

The college provides exceptional education, research, and extension programs in tropical agriculture and food systems, family and consumer science, and natural resource management. It aims to cultivate innovative scientific inquiry, solve real-world challenges, and provide experiential learning in an interdisciplinary setting with global impacts.

Company info

Website: https://cms.ctahr.hawaii.edu/