"Food Business Specialist (CES 3) Fresno, CA, Job ID 79630"

Job Description

The Food Business Specialist position is integral to the success of the Local Farm and Food Innovation (F3Local.org) Initiative, serving as a catalyst for positive change within the agricultural landscape of the Central Valley Region. This role encompasses a diverse array of responsibilities aimed at supporting small to midsize farmers throughout the Central Valley region. The Specialist will provide hands-on technical assistance directly to farmers, particularly those operating small-scale operations. This involves identifying challenges within the agricultural supply chain, especially as it relates to the in-field/production and helping guide the development of tailored solutions to promote sustainability, profitability, and resilience in the face of climate change. The Specialist will support capacity building through training sessions and workshops, where farmers and growers can acquire new skills and knowledge to enhance their productivity and competitiveness in the market. The Food Business Specialist will coordinate these educational events and initiatives to share valuable insights into the latest technologies and sustainable farming practices. The Food Business Specialist will prioritize the development, design, and evaluation of educational materials, with a particular focus on training opportunities and demonstrations related to production technologies and create and deliver presentations, employing effective methods to enhance outreach and participation.

The Specialist will spearhead program evaluation, needs assessments, and strategic planning efforts, all aimed at scaling up farm and food production training initiatives across the region and will assist their direct supervisor with research activities, data management, program evaluation, and report compilation to demonstrate program reach and impacts across the state. By collaborating closely with the Research-Industry Liaison Coordinator, the Specialist will play a pivotal role in cultivating a strong network of farmers and growers, agricultural organizations and governmental entities, fostering collaboration, inclusion and knowledge exchange. The Food Business Specialist role offers a unique opportunity to effect tangible change within the agricultural sector, driving innovation, fostering sustainability, and empowering local farmers to thrive in an ever-evolving landscape.

This position is a contract appointment that is 100% fixed.

Pay Scale: $49,200.00/year to $66,200.00/year.

Job Posting Close Date: This job is open until filled. The first application review date will be 10/13/2025.

Key Responsibilities:

• 20% Technical Assistance and Solutions Development: Work directly with farmers, providing practical support and guidance. This involves visiting farms, assessing the current practices, and identifying needs and challenges. The focus will be on small-scale operators who might lack access to the latest agricultural research or techniques. Connect farmers and growers to F3Local resources and services, and collaborate with agricultural experts, research institutions, and other stakeholders to provide the most current and useful information.
• 20% Training and Event Coordination: Plan and coordinate educational events, such as field days, farm tours, and workshops, to showcase innovative farming practices and technologies. Develop and design educational materials, deliver and plan presentations at workshops. Develop marketing materials, including flyers, posters, and social media content, to promote upcoming events and attract participants. Evaluate the effectiveness of educational programs through surveys, feedback forms, and participant interviews.
• 25% Outreach and Capacity Building: Engage in outreach efforts to connect with underserved communities and minority-owned farms, ensuring equitable access to resources and support. Assists in developing strategic outreach plans to ensure all ethnic groups are included and have access to the support and services. Develop a curriculum and content for training sessions and workshops covering various aspects of agricultural production with a focus on innovation and sustainable farming methods. Deliver presentations at community meetings, conferences, and industry events to raise awareness about F3local and gather information about needs and challenges in the Central Valley farming industry.
• 15% Collaboration and Networking: Attend meetings and conferences with agricultural stakeholders to build relationships and foster collaboration. Seek out opportunities for partnership and collaboration with local businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, and academic institutions to leverage resources and expertise.
• 15% Assist the direct supervisor with program activities and data management: Gather input from small-scale farmers and growers, manage database and Excel records, assist with tracking of activities, contacts, and expenses, organize information for program evaluation, and prepare reports, summaries, and case studies.
• 5% Other duties as assigned to support the overall success and impact of the F3 Local initiative.

Requirements:

• Minimum of an Associate's degree and / or equivalent experience / training.
• Hands-on experience in agricultural practices, farm management, or in providing technical assistance to farmers.
• Demonstrated skills to communicate and work in large groups, small groups and one-on-one, give presentations.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a range of stakeholders, including farmers, agricultural organizations, and government entities.
• A dedication to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the agricultural sector.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficiency in use of Windows-based computers and Microsoft Office applications.
• Thorough knowledge of current community educational programs and trends.
• Thorough skills to conduct needs assessment and development of new presentations / courses to meet organizational needs.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in developing and implementing educational materials and training programs tailored to adult learners, particularly in the context of agricultural education.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail. Excellent time management skills and the ability to manage multiple project tasks.
• Knowledge of the Central Valley's agricultural landscape.
• Fluency in languages other than English spoken by the farming community in the Central Valley, such as Spanish, Punjabi or Hmong.

Special Conditions of Employment:

• Must possess valid California Driver's License to drive a County or University vehicle. Ability and means to travel on a flexible schedule as needed, proof of liability damage insurance on vehicle used is required.
• Travel including travel outside normal business hours may be requested. Reimbursement of job-related travel will be reimbursed according to University policies.
• Overtime and occasional weekend work as needed, usually on short notice to meet operational needs may be requested.
• The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check. This is a designated position requiring a background check and may require fingerprinting due to the nature of the job responsibilities. UC ANR does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities.
• As of January 1, 2014, ANR is a smoke- and tobacco-free environment in which smoking, the use of smokeless tobacco products, and the use of unregulated nicotine products (e-cigarettes), is strictly prohibited.
• Exercise the utmost discretion in managing sensitive information learned in the course of performing their duties. Sensitive information includes but is not limited to employee and student records, health and patient records, financial data, strategic plans, proprietary information, and any other sensitive or non-public information learned during the course and scope of employment. Understands that sensitive information should be shared on a limited basis and actively takes steps to limit access to sensitive information to individuals who have legitimate business need to know. Ensure that sensitive information is properly safeguarded. Follow all organizational policies and laws on data protection and privacy. This includes secure handling of physical and digital records and proper usage of IT systems to prevent data leaks. The unauthorized or improper disclosure of confidential work-related information obtained from any source on any work-related matter is a violation of these expectations.
• Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct 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. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
• Abusive Conduct in the Workplace