Faculty Employment Opportunity!
Revised Announcement

Extension Specialist
Agriculture Economist
Business Development Specialist

WVU Extension Service Community, Economic and Workforce Development Knapp Hall Morgantown, West Virginia
Closing Date: September 15, 2008 or until position is filled

Brief Description:

This position will be responsible for applying agricultural and applied economic concepts, including business and finance, to career interests in agribusiness, financial planning, and community vitality, or environmental policy. The successful candidate will be expected to assist clients in making financial, marketing, management, or public policy decisions that affect households, agribusinesses, communities and the environment.

This position will report to the Program Director of Community, Economic, and Workforce Development.

Major Responsibilities:

• Develop and provide research based educational programs on economic and community development and rural social change. These include the problems and opportunities that arise from social and demographic change and the dynamics of local economies in a global context.
• Conduct community economic and policy analysis, including the ability to perform economic impact analysis, input/output analysis and retail trade analysis. Expertise with IMPLAN desirable.
• Develop and provide educational programs with commercial farms to further understanding and application of economic principles utilizing comparable management information.
• Provide estate planning, business entity structure, and/or tax planning guidance to commercial farm families, and businesses.
• Support county, area, and state research and extension by providing technical expertise in the economic analysis of comparable commercial farm financial and production information.
• Development of educational curriculum on the costs and benefits of options as well as economic implications of agricultural policy.
• Monitor economic changes in agriculture, and develop and use modeling techniques to develop forecasts.
• Understand and interpret economic and marketing data.
• Apply models of economic behavior to agricultural changes and developments.
• Develop and disseminate information on agricultural market trends, including pertinent data.
• Provide an educational program to commercial farms resulting in the development of financial and production information for comparable economic analysis.
• Conduct nationally recognized research with specific application to increasing efficiency and adding value to agricultural enterprises, and publish in regional and national venues.
• Develop an extension program to disseminate research and information to producers
• Publish in recognized peer-reviewed journals, extension publications, and related outlets for professional peers and others.
• Cultivate external support from private and governmental sources.

For West Virginia and the Nation:

• Build relationships with stakeholders
• Provide technical information to the state and to communities
• Collaborate with individuals, groups, and government
• Be 'known' statewide as expert in area
• Operate at "cutting edge" in field
• Provide continuing education in subject area

For WVU Extension:

• Provide leadership to Extension in subject area
• Co-lead program teams
• Support county programming in subject area
• Produce/coordinate educational material
• Develop resources for Extension programs
• Provide in-service training
• Provide leadership in research
• Maintain/continuously improve quality of Extension programs
• Support organizational development

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree (doctorate preferred) from an accredited school or university in agricultural economics or economics with excellent training in microeconomics and quantitative methods is required.
• The successful applicant will have demonstrated the potential to publish research results.
• Effective communication skills, both written and oral, and the ability to interact productively with faculty from many disciplines, government, industry and the public are essential.
• Evidence of leadership and experience in field, plus experience in building and fostering relationships with diverse stakeholders is desirable.

Special Requirements:

• Ability to meet travel demands of position.
• Willingness to work flexible hour including some nights.
• Applicant must demonstrate a combination of strong technical and communication skills.
• Applicant must also demonstrate the ability to work in a team setting on a variety of projects, while completing work in a timely manner.
• Ability to pass a criminal background check.
• Required to take and pass the WVU Driver's Safety Training exam.

Salary:

• Salary range is between $55,000 to $65,000.
• Salary will be commensurate with professional qualifications.
• This is a 12-month, tenure-track position with the West Virginia University Extension Service.
• The successful candidate will be evaluated for providing a significant contribution in teaching and research with reasonable contribution in service.

Benefits:

• 401k Retirement program with employer matching
• Annual Leave (24 days annually)
• Sick leave (18 days annually)
• Paid holidays (12+ days annually)
• Workers' Compensation
• Optional benefits:
  • Group Health, Life, and Accident insurances
  • Disability Insurance
  • Optional pre-tax benefits:
    • Child care
    • Dental care
    • Supplemental retirement programs
    • Vision care
  • Tuition Waiver (6 credit hours per semester)
• Travel expense reimbursement
• Moving expense reimbursement
• There are several additional programs and privileges.

Application Process:

If you meet the stated requirements and would like to be considered for the position, all of the following information must be received by the closing date:

• A cover letter indicating the position that you are applying for outlining experience and qualifications;
• Resume or curriculum vitae of academic training and professional experience of all academic work, must include the following information:
  • Date(s) of employment
  • Supervisor(s) names
  • Contact information
• A list of three references (including address, e-mail, phone, and fax numbers) who can reflect on the applicant's professional strengths.
• All application material must be in electronic submissions in Word format by closing date or the individual will not be considered for the position.
• Transcripts: undergraduate and graduate by hard copy.
• Send to EHRRecruitment@mail.wvu.edu.
• NOTE: All application materials must be received by closing date or the individual will not be considered for the position.

For inquiries, call:

Social Justice:

The incumbent in this position is responsible for fulfilling the legal and moral mandates of appropriate laws and University policies regarding civil rights compliance, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and related social justice issues.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and applicants will be considered solely on the basis of individual qualifications and merit without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. Minorities, persons with disabilities, females and other protected class members are encouraged to apply.

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act, applicants needing reasonable accommodations during the employment process should advise as necessary.

Submitted by Kim Suder.