UC Master Gardener Program Community Education Specialist 3

Program volunteers, developing and implementing yearly work plans (inclusive of outreach and parity goals), evaluating work plan goals and objectives, ensuring compliance with all policies and procedures (including risk and safety, accessibility, branding, and administrative), participating in statewide program evaluation, and writing reports. This person will coordinate efforts and serve as a liaison with other agencies providing related services in Marin County, build and maintain formal and informal coalitions of partners, and volunteer engagement skills and competence. This person will coordinate with UC Master Gardener Program colleagues at statewide and local levels to strengthen community engagement approaches and interventions and develop new strategies to meet program goals.

Department Summary

Since 1980, the UC Master Gardener Program has helped deliver University of California research directly to Californians who share a passion for gardening and environmental stewardship. More than just a gardening program, UC Master Gardener is an education and outreach statewide program of the University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR). Our mission is to extend research-based knowledge and information on home horticulture, pest management and sustainable landscaping practices to the residents of California.

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

The home department is the UCCE Marin County. While this position normally is based in Novato, CA, this position is eligible for hybrid flexible work arrangements for applicants living in the State of California at this time. Please note that hybrid flexible work arrangements are subject to change by the University.

Pay Scale: $60,300.00/year to $81,200.00/year

Job Posting Close Date:
This job is open until filled. The first application review date will be 9/24/2026.

Key Responsibilities

25% Program Coordination and Leadership

• Coordinate research-based garden education efforts across Marin County with a focus on community needs including food gardening, sustainable landscaping, integrated pest management, fire and waterwise landscaping, and other topics.
• Represent UCCE and the UC Master Gardener Program in a professional manner.
• Engage with the UC ANR Advisor network as subject matter and academic experts contributing to the UC Master Gardener Program.
• Develop, maintain and oversee local operating procedures and safety protocols in compliance with UC policies and procedures as needed.
• Oversee the full range of program implementation duties for the UC Master Gardener Program within statewide and division-wide guidelines.
• Maintain and or oversee an accessible digital presence which may include a website, social media, blogs, newsletters, listservs, and other tools.
• Manage and maintain Marin County volunteer management software instance.
• Perform clerical tasks as necessary to prepare and deliver workshops and training. This may include duplication of materials, maintaining filing systems, organizing and purchasing program related materials and supplies.
• Seek and participate in fund development opportunities as needed.
• Manage budgets across multiple accounts to ensure program fiscal responsibility.

35% Volunteer Engagement

• Foster a positive programmatic environment that promotes volunteer learning and leadership and cultivates successful working relationships with volunteers.
• Mentor and train UC Master Gardener Program volunteers toward the implementation of impact-focused projects and opportunities.
• Coordinate, conduct, and/or oversee delivery of UC Master Gardener Program volunteer training utilizing research-based curricula, materials, forms, and UC ANR content experts.
• Progress UC Master Gardener Program volunteer recruitment efforts through utilization of statewide volunteer identification and selection materials, volunteer and county demographic data, and division-wide tools to ensure that core training program benefits are accessible to all.
• Develop systems and structures that promote programmatic sustainability through facilitating delegation of tasks/functions to volunteers.
• Utilize a developmental approach to volunteer-related conflict. This includes applying mediation techniques, UC ANR policy, and coaching skills to address volunteer-related disputes.
• Identify volunteer skills and competencies in order to match volunteers with roles that meet program/community needs.
• Develop and maintain volunteer communication systems.
• Ensure a strong volunteer appreciation program inclusive of statewide and local recognition.
• Develop continuing education and workshops to meet the educational and cultural needs of volunteers (and residents).

25% Public Outreach and Partnership Development

• Actively promote and market the UC Master Gardener Program to schools, partners, community organizations, and agencies.
• Oversee the preparation of lesson materials, and delivery of garden education lessons and demonstrations which respect participants' cultural and ethnic backgrounds and accessible gardening infrastructure.
• Maintain regular, successful communication with partner organizations including agencies, schools, community-based organizations, etc.
• Develop liaisons with and between other garden-based learning, environmental education, natural resource, community wellbeing programs and organizations to coordinate outreach efforts. Maintain appropriate records tracking the partnership network.
• Develop and implement culturally relevant garden education, project development and partnership strategies.

10% Evaluation and Quality Control

• Ensure collection of volunteer and public participant data (program enrollment, activity tracking, and statewide program evaluation data) using UC ANR approved technologies to measure program delivery and effectiveness.
• Work with Advisor, County/Area Director, and UC Master Gardener Program statewide team to analyze evaluation data, generate and contribute to statewide/local reporting, and utilize findings to improve community impact and outcomes.
• Ensure quality control and compliance with established standards and procedures for assigned programs.
• Assign, monitor and review progress and accuracy of work.
• Prepare and provide summaries of evaluation results and progress toward goals.

5% UC ANR Collaboration and Innovation

• Maintain team collaboration through meeting/training attendance and consistent written and verbal communication including, but not limited to, weekly schedule, program objectives, and team projects.
• Collaborate with other UC ANR programs to coordinate and enhance outreach efforts.
• Participate in piloting new curriculum, statewide projects, materials, delivery modes, or evaluation and/or methods.

Requirements

• Associate's degree in environmental education, agriculture education, adult education, community development, human development, or other related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• Continuing education in related field required.
• Experience managing, training, resourcing and overseeing volunteers.
• Experience creating infrastructure to support volunteerism and community engagement while overseeing multiple program components.
• Experience overseeing community outreach programming, and assistance with designing educational outreach programming for adults.
• Demonstrated leadership skills by inspiring and motivating individuals, modeling and supporting a good teamwork environment by encouraging and fostering new ideas and innovative changes.
• Experience facilitating people with diverse views and values while motivating and adapting to changing situations.
• Strong relationship and partnership development skills and ability to serve as a reliable point of contact with local partners, schools and community agencies / coalitions.
• Thorough skills to evaluate programmatic needs, opportunities and reach.
• Thorough written (newsletters, correspondence, reports) and verbal (giving and receiving feedback, active listening, de-escalation) communication skills, and ability to make data- and policy-driven decisions.
• Thorough and effective public speaking skills to present ideas and information clearly and concisely to small and large groups.
• Working knowledge of office procedures and experience using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Publisher, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access), internet, email, database and customer management software.
• Ability to plan and manage budgets.

Preferred Skills

• Bachelor's degree in environmental education, agriculture education, adult education, community development, human development, or other related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• Experience with garden-based learning, environmental education, sustainable landscaping / design.
• Bilingual communication / translation abilities in English and Spanish / Hmong / Mandarin / Vietnamese or other language spoken in the community.

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. Reimbursement of job-related travel will be reimbursed according to University policies.
• This position will require working in both office and field environments.
• Travel including travel outside normal business hours may be required.
• 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.
• As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs, as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.
• 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 an 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; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer.
  1. "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies governing employee conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, or discrimination, 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

To apply, please visit: https://careerspub.universityofcalifornia.edu/psc/ucanr/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&JobOpeningId=88726&PostingSeq=1&SiteId=17&languageCd=ENG&FOCUS=Applicant