Cooperative Extension - Area Integrated Pest Management Advisor for Field and Vegetable Crops in the San Joaquin Valley (26-06)

Position Overview

The University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) invites applications for a UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Area Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Advisor for Field and Vegetable Crops at the Assistant rank serving the San Joaquin Valley.

The Area IPM Advisor will implement an innovative multi-county extension education and applied research program that addresses insect and mite pest issues affecting field and vegetable crops in the San Joaquin Valley, specifically in Fresno, Kings, Madera, and Tulare counties.

UCCE Advisors are responsible for conducting applied research and extending knowledge. Research activities are applied and mission-oriented, focused on addressing challenges in our communities. Extension activities are the educational methods that advisors use to share research results directly with clientele and communities, increasing knowledge and understanding of science-based research that promotes the adoption of practices and technologies to solve local problems. Extension activities may include individual farm consultations, presentations, or organizing educational workshops, short courses, and field demonstrations. Information may also be disseminated through various channels, such as radio, webinars, fact sheets, policy briefs, news blogs, social media, and other outlets. Publications are expected in various formats, including newsletters, popular press articles, curricula, conference proceedings, and peer-reviewed journals.

Successful research and extension programs result in new information that improves knowledge or understanding, and the eventual adoption of new skills or practices, changes in attitudes or policies, and improved environmental, economic, or social conditions. UCCE Advisors are evaluated through an academic advancement system based on four criteria: 1) extending knowledge, 2) applied research and creative activity, 3) professional competence and activity, and 4) university and public service.

Location Headquarters: This position will be based at the UC ANR West Side Research and Extension Center, located at 17353 W. Oakland Avenue, Five Points, CA 93624.

Position Details

This advisor will provide research-based management recommendations for key insect pests in field and vegetable crops, resulting in substantial positive impacts for consultants and growers. The needs addressed by this position will be diverse and dynamic but will fall into three distinct areas.

1. Field and vegetable crops in the region are attacked by a wide variety of endemic and invasive pests, which cause yield losses, increased management costs, and non-target effects. New management strategies must be developed to adapt to and match the current production environment and pest situations. Additionally, there is a need to evaluate and implement novel tools and technologies for pest management.
2. Regulatory changes that reduce insecticide availability require adaptation of integrated pest management approaches. For example, recent regulatory restrictions on neonicotinoid insecticides will change key pest management programs in field and vegetable crops. Any promising management approaches resulting from the advisor's research activities will be quickly adopted by pest control advisers who recognize the challenges posed by regulatory changes.
3. Management plans for key pests must also adapt to challenges at the landscape scale, arising from changes in cropping patterns or other influences such as climate change. Variations in temperature from the historic average influence the overwintering capacities of cold-sensitive pests and alterations in degree-day accumulation in-season, which drive population density development, resulting in a changing pest dynamic. Factors further complicating the situation include rapid changes in cropping patterns and the percentage of the landscape that is fallow. Systems-based approaches to pest management are needed that consider the impact of the pest on multiple crops, and the influence of the crops and natural environment on the pest. Environmental and economically sustainable approaches to pest management while protecting human health are vitally important to the communities of this historically disadvantaged region of California.

The primary clientele for this position includes growers and consultants for field and vegetable crops. The advisor, through a variety of educational approaches, including one-on-one consultations, presentations, field days, grower meetings, and webinars, will provide information on pest identification and management. They will publish in outlets that may include but are not limited to UC ANR blogs, newsletters, ag trade magazines, technical reports, and peer-reviewed journals. The advisor will work closely with a network of UC ANR academics, including other UCCE Advisors and CE Specialists, focused on IPM and crop production. They will also work with external collaborators, including USDA scientists and personnel from agencies such as county agricultural commissioners' offices and the California Department of Food and Agriculture. They will collaborate closely with key stakeholder groups, such as members of the CA Cotton Growers and Ginners Association, the CA Garlic and Onion Research Advisory Board, the CA Melon Research Board, the CA Tomato Research Institute, the CA Association of Pest Control Advisors, and the CA Specialty Crop Council.

The advisor, working with collaborators, will conduct applied research on topics including:

• Improving early detection of arthropod pests through monitoring, assessment, and mitigating damage through the development of integrated management strategies and refining of IPM systems
• Responding to endemic and invasive threats by developing immediate and long-term programs
• Evaluating integrated pest management strategies as needed, with the inclusion of biological, cultural, plant resistance, and chemical controls

Pests of economic importance in this area include lygus bug and stink bug in cotton and tomatoes; thrips vectors of serious virus diseases in tomato, alfalfa, melons, and peppers; whitefly and aphid potential to cause degraded fiber quality in cotton; sugar cane aphid in sorghum; mites in corn; and other pest impacts on economic yields and quality in seed production in multiple field and vegetable crops.

Counties of Responsibility: This position will serve Fresno, Tulare, Kings, and Madera counties.

Reporting Relationship: The advisor will report to the Directors of the West Side Research and Extension Center and the UC Statewide IPM Program, with input from the area directors of the counties of coverage. This is not a remote position; the advisor must be available to work onsite at the headquarters location and travel to and be present in the assigned counties. Specific expectations for maintaining office hours and fieldwork in the geographic area covered by this position will be outlined by the supervisors upon hire.

Qualifications and Skills Required

Required Qualifications

Education: At the time of appointment, a minimum of a master's degree in entomology, pest management, or other closely related field is required.

Key Qualifications

• A broad understanding of IPM, including knowledge of crop production, biocontrol, pesticide use, and insect identification and biology.
• Skills to design and implement a program that leads to positive changes and impact within the four-counties served and beyond.
• Technical competence in experimental techniques.
• The ability to work with a diverse range of clientele.
• Must possess or obtain a Qualified Pesticide Applicator Certificate (QAC) or a Qualified Applicators License (QAL).
• Applicants need to meet appointment criteria for the respective University of California academic title series per the UC Academic Personnel Manuals. Applications need to document research, extension, and/or teaching experience applicable to the academic title and document appropriate scholarly achievements relevant to this position.
• Ability and means to travel on a flexible schedule as needed, proof of liability, and property damage insurance on the vehicle used is required. Must possess or obtain a valid California Driver's License to drive a county or university vehicle.
• Applicants must have unrestricted and permanent work authorization in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time. Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. at the time of hire, without additional sponsorship. Internal ANR applicants with questions may contact Katie Kilbane at klkilbane@ucanr.edu.
• This is not a remote position.

Additional Skills Required

• Interest in and a desire to pursue a career in UC Cooperative Extension.
• Technical Competence and Impact: The candidate should understand the key concepts of vegetable crop production and pest management to design and implement a program that leads to positive change and impact within the community and beyond.
• Communication: Demonstrated excellence in written, oral, interpersonal, and information technology communication skills. Ability to share complex information in a manner tailored to the audience.
• Collaboration, Teamwork, and Flexibility: The candidate should demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively with key external stakeholders and county-based staff, as well as with colleagues within UC ANR.
• Lifelong Learning: Advisors are expected to evolve and grow throughout their careers and respond to changes in the industry, clientele, and organizational structure.
• As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer. 'Misconduct' means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.

Desired Experiences

• Experience in successful extension programming and applied research.
• A deep understanding of cropping systems, weed science, and pest management.
• Bilingual in Spanish or another language common in the region served.

Salary & Benefits

Salary: The salary range for this Cooperative Extension Advisor position is Assistant Rank, Step I ($85,600) to Step VI ($108,600). Step placement in the Advisor series is based on applicable experience and professional qualifications. For information regarding Cooperative Extension Advisor salary scales, please refer to the University of California website

Benefits: The University of California offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance, retirement plans, two days per month paid vacation, one day per month paid sick leave, and paid holidays. This position is eligible for sabbatical leave privileges as per the terms of the University policy. For more information, refer to the UC Benefits website