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Job Category:
Academic Staff
Employment Type:
Regular
Job Profile:
Outreach Specialist
Job Summary:
Are you passionate about bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world farming? As the Soil Fertility Outreach Specialist, you will play a pivotal role in advancing the sustainability and profitability of Wisconsin's diverse agricultural landscape.
The Soil Fertility Outreach Specialist will address high priority issues related to implementation and adoption of research based soil fertility management practices. On-farm research and educational outreach will advance practices that result in positive economic, agronomic, and environmental outcomes. Practices of particular importance may include routine soil fertility testing and interpretation, "4-R" fertilizer management, precision and/or variable rate nutrient applications, and nutrient cycling from non-fertilizer nutrient sources. The position is intended to extend research findings related to practices that improve the sustainability of Wisconsin soil fertility management via outreach and educational programming to producers and agribusiness professionals across Wisconsin, including contributing to the Nutrient Management Farmer Education curriculum.
Desired areas of expertise include: agronomy, plant nutrition, nitrogen management, soil pH and lime management, soil macro- and mirco-nutrient cycling and management, soil sampling and testing, soil biology, and general crop management.
The Outreach Specialist is expected to utilize excellent collaboration, problem solving, prioritization, and communication skills to work closely with farmers, technical advisors, and colleagues to develop and implement collaborative on-farm research and other outreach activities to increase adoption and implementation of soil fertility practices on Wisconsin farms. Extension Outreach Specialists collaborate with a team that includes UW-Madison Extension and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) colleagues, industry partners, farmers, and other collaborators to develop robust, high-quality educational programs that deliver research-based solutions towards more efficient and sustainable cropping systems.
The Soil Fertility Outreach Specialist will:
- Collaborate with farmers and colleagues to develop and implement on-farm research, demonstrations, and outreach activities that engage the community in exploring innovative practices.
- Design and maintain high-quality outreach programs that translate research findings into actionable solutions for the field.
- Develop and maintain expertise related to soil fertility management.
- Build trust-based relationships with stakeholders, technical advisors, and Extension colleagues to inform priorities and increase program impact.
- Work with the Program Manager to facilitate programmatic efforts, maintain strategic direction, build partnerships and seek a diverse funding portfolio to support the work.
The ideal candidate will have experience with developing and evaluating educational programming and a track record of building positive relationships.
Statewide Location
Division of Extension headquarters are located within Madison, WI but the position location is flexible and will be determined based on programmatic needs, successful candidate's preferences, and availability of suitable space.
Partial Remote
This position may require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location. Remote work requires an approved remote work agreement (RWA). A RWA requires successful candidates to possess their own high-speed internet and phone to perform the work on a university provided computer. Per University policy, transportation between home and assigned work location is not payable/reimbursable and will be at the expense of the employee.
This position has the possibility of working up to 2 days remote per Extension's Remote Work Policy.
Evening/Weekend Work
This position may be required to work occasional nights and weekends to meet the program needs and priorities of the communities served.
Travel Expectations
It is expected that employees will make individual arrangements for transportation adequate to meet position responsibilities and essential job functions. Read more about UW-Madison Driver Authorization.
Applicants are required to: Have a valid drivers license and a reliable source of independent transportation for periodic in-state work travel, and/or comply with requirements for UW-Madison vehicle use authorization.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to walk on uneven ground in the course of farm visits or field work
- Ability to lift 25 pounds
- Ability work outside in inclement weather
Key Job Responsibilities:
- May assist with the monitoring of outreach program budget spending
- Schedules and secures resources and communicates logistics in support of an outreach program
- Delivers outreach program content and materials to community members
- Communicates plans, activities, and achievements to Program Managers and relevant Stakeholders through the reporting portal and verbal updates
- Leads the implementation of programs, policies, and procedures through oversight of day-to-day activities for program staff and student and community volunteers
- Researches, develops, and facilitates outreach program content and materials
- Develops and supports on-farm research including building collaboration with growers and industry partners, implementing on-farm trials, data collection and sharing results
- Identifies, promotes, and maintains external partnerships to support the outreach program
- Develops and evaluates curriculum and programs and provides recommendations for improvement
Department:
Division of Extension, Agriculture Institute, Crops & Soils Program is looking to hire a Soil Fertility Outreach Specialist.
Extension embodies the Wisconsin Idea by developing and connecting the research and educational resources of UW-Madison with residents and communities to address local, statewide, and national issues. We teach, learn, lead and serve, transforming lives and communities.
About the Institute
The UW-Madison Division of Extension Agriculture Institute addresses emerging issues related to Wisconsin's agriculture and horticulture systems with research-based outreach to advance economically sustainable, socially responsible, and environmentally sound practices.
About the Program
The Agriculture Institute's Crops and Soils Program works hand-in-hand with row crop, forage, fruit and vegetable producers to implement best practices for every aspect of the growing phase. The Crops and Soils program provides timely resources and information to help crop producers and their agricultural consultants manage crops efficiently and profitably.
Crops & Soils
Compensation:
The expected salary for the position is $70,000.
This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax-advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund. Please review the summary of benefits for more information.
Required Qualifications:
- Three or more years relevant professional experience
- Education or experience with soil fertility
- Strong interpersonal relationship and problem-solving skills in a team setting
- Demonstrated skills in interpreting, utilizing, and applying evidence-based information and research findings
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both written and verbal, through a variety of technologies
- Demonstrated ability to effectively work with people from a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives
Preferred Qualifications:
- Demonstrated educational program development skills which include planning and implementing programs; evaluating learning experiences; and communicating program impact and value, in both written and verbal formats, for a variety of lay and other audiences as well as stakeholders
- Demonstrated experience in understanding experimental design, statistical analysis and interpreting research data
- Experience collaborating with growers in on-farm research
- Demonstrated experience with building diverse, collaborative partnerships
- Demonstrated ability to communicate scientific materials in written and verbal forms for a variety of lay and other audiences
- Demonstrated ability to write and manage grants and establish partnerships that pool or leverage public and private funds in support of the Institutional mission
- Ability to work independently and as a member of a team
Education:
Required Education
Master's degree in a field related to this position's focus
Preferred Education
PhD in a field related to this position's focus
How to Apply:
We are eager to learn more about how your experience and passion may align with this position. To begin the application process, click the "apply now" button. You will be prompted to upload the following documents:
- Resume
- Letter of Qualifications (cover letter)
Please note when applying, there will be
only one attachment field. You must upload
all your documents in the attachment field. Please submit a cover letter referring to your work experience and a resume detailing your educational and professional background as it relates to this position. Your cover letter should communicate your interest in the position and how your skillset aligns with the role. The application reviewers will be relying on written application materials to determine who may advance to preliminary interviews.
Failure to upload all required materials may result in your application not being considered.
For additional guidance and resources on how to tailor your application materials to the job posting, please click https://extension.wisc.edu/careers/.
Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.
Application Deadline is August 2, 2026 at 11:59pm (CDT).
Contact Information:
Sara Dawson
sara.dawson@wisc.edu
608-890-2629
Anne Pfeiffer
Anne.pfeiffer@wisc.edu
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.
Institutional Statement on Diversity:
Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.
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Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).
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