Job Description
The Area Specialized Extension Agent (ASA) for Farm Innovation and Agribusiness Management is responsible for providing leadership, guidance, and expertise to producers, Extension agents, and the agricultural community in Virginia Cooperative Extension's (VCE) Northwest District. The position's home office location may be a unit office within the district or based at the Northwest District Office of VCE in Mt. Crawford, VA. The position will provide services throughout the 20 counties and…
independent cities within the district. As producers face increasingly complex decisions about land use, technology adoption, new crops, new nutrients, and the processes for using them, many find they need tools and access to faculty to support quality decision-making. The position will further economic and business decision-making (i.e., enterprise budgets, profit/loss analysis, financial crisis management, farm labor, economics of improvements, land lease rates, etc.). The ASA will be expected to evaluate the economic efficacy of new technologies and the technology's ability to contribute to the profitability and sustainability of producer operations in their unique contexts. This position will play a key role in enhancing agricultural sustainability, economic viability, and community well-being to the area farming communities. The ASA will work closely with Extension agents and specialists in delivering educational programming that enhances the agricultural productivity and sustainability of producer operations, with specific emphasis on livestock production.
Required Qualifications
A master's degree in agricultural economics or a related discipline. Strong knowledge of applied agricultural economics, livestock production, and agricultural technology. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Experience working collaboratively with a wide variety of stakeholders, including businesses, community organizations, and/or Extension agents and staff. Demonstrated ability to plan, implement, facilitate, teach, and evaluate educational programs. Knowledge and use of computer technology in educational programming and management. Strong presentation skills. Able to work independently and as part of a team. Strong desire to help clients succeed.
The person in the position is expected to travel to provide in-person leadership and to build community partnerships with few exceptions for telework.
Virginia Tech is unable to sponsor applicants for work visas for this vacancy.
Preferred Qualifications
Strong knowledge of livestock, agronomy and local cropping systems. Prior experience as an Extension agent.
Overtime Status
Exempt: Not eligible for overtime
Appointment Type
Regular
Salary Information
$70,000 - $90,000
Hours per week
40
Close Date
October 16, 2026
Additional Information
The successful candidate will be required to have a driver's license check with an acceptable and safe driving record.
The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.
About Virginia Tech
Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.
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Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.
If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact John Thompson at jthomp75@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.