Job Details

Working/Functional Title

Consumer Horticulture Educator

Michigan State University Extension is committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive organization, which requires all staff to contribute towards a vision for success. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to our work, regardless of title or position within the organization. This means that all staff at MSU Extension are dedicated to the following:

• We work together to ensure that programming is delivered to diverse audiences, produces equitable impacts for all participants, and demonstrates partnership and inclusion for all groups.
• We embrace that it is everyone’s job to create a culture that promotes diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
• We ensure that every team member is prepared with the skills and resources to contribute to our welcoming and inclusive culture.
• We foster inclusion by recognizing and valuing diverse perspectives, skills, experiences, and work to create equal access to programming for communities.
• We commit to continuous learning for diversity, equity, and cultural competency, in order to achieve inclusive excellence.
• We understand that diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential elements to our work and are vital to the organizational culture and programmatic success of MSU Extension.
• We embrace a culture of understanding, coaching and feedback towards achieving a vision of success for the entire organization and its staff.
• Together we will achieve success and we commit to these goals in our work, continued education, and ongoing efforts.  

Position Summary

As part of MSU Extension (MSUE) and the Agriculture and Agribusiness Institute (AABI), this position provides local as well as statewide leadership and educational programming expertise in alignment of home and community gardeners and will lead the local Extension Master Gardener Program in Southwest Michigan. In addition, this position will provide general oversight to the on-going development of a community garden space known as the Veterans Therapy Garden in Paw Paw, Michigan. This position will have statewide responsibilities and will collaborate across work teams, Institutes, and community groups, working with faculty, specialists, and educators for overall advancement of the needs of the Institute clientele.

In this position, you will identify, design, implement, and evaluate research-based educational programs that meet current and projected outreach needs related to the Consumer Horticulture program. Through your leadership, you will develop and deliver science-based information for home and community gardeners and support the local Extension Master Gardener volunteers and supervise a part-time extension master gardener program coordinator. You will work with lawn and garden hotline volunteers to address home gardening questions from across the state and will serve as an information resource for lawn and garden questions. You will develop entrepreneurial programs to help support the local consumer horticulture program. You will also plan, organize, and carry out educational programs held at the garden in partnership with the local veterans service office and other community partners and provide supervision for Veterans Garden Extension workers.

You will be expected to be an effective communicator and ensure dissemination of research- based information through various methods, including multi-media, distance education technologies, social media, written articles, and in-person meetings, and will provide clientele knowledge to grow their gardens, shrubs, trees, etc, while minimizing environmental impact. Additionally, you will serve as an informational resource for MSU personnel and clientele.

Through collaboration in research, engagement with community members, and dissemination of research-based information through various methods, including in-person and multimedia programming and written communications, you will explore and implement programs that lead to

healthy foods and landscapes while protecting the environment. You will also develop, produce, and deliver Consumer Horticulture  materials with messaging and content that is accessible and inclusive and is consistent with the Agriculture and Agribusiness Institute messaging.

Your work will include close collaboration with the existing core of Consumer Horticulture educators and Specialists and campus-based faculty to provide education and service to Michigan’s home and community gardeners. Your work will include close collaboration with colleagues at MSU and MSU Extension, as well as the diverse network of partner groups that include Extension Master Gardener volunteers and community groups. Acting as a statewide point of contact, you will provide support for AABI in determining research and programmatic needs across the state and will communicate and interact with community groups to evaluate the needs of the clientele.

Although negotiable, there will be space available for this position to work from the Van Buren County MSU Extension office, Hartford, MI.

This position may be eligible to utilize a flexible work environment, however, there is an expectation to work from a MSU Extension county office. The needs, responsibilities, and opportunities of an individual’s position and office location drive the ability and amount of work-location flexibility.

This position is a full-time, fixed term end-dated appointment, renewable annually based upon successful performance and continued funding.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Masters -Horticultural

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s degree from an accredited institution in a field of study related to horticulture, ornamental horticulture, landscape management, or related field must be earned by date of hire.
• Familiarity with adult volunteers.
• Demonstrated ability and skill in educational program planning, implementation, and evaluation.
• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity, knowledge, and use of appropriate approaches, skills, and techniques, which reflect an understanding and awareness of social, cultural, and economic diversity of the target population served.
• Demonstrated success in program development and delivery to diverse audiences/communities, and proven ability in establishing and working with a diverse network of constituents and community members across race, color, gender, national origin, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, veteran status, socioeconomic class, and other differences.
• Ability to create and carry out a project plan from research of initial concept to project completion and follow-up.
• Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Experience and proven ability working productively with a team serving in both leadership and contributor roles.
• Self-motivated with demonstrated ability to work independently in an office environment without daily supervision and/or coaching.
• Proficiency in use of technology (e.g., web research, Zoom, Qualtrics, Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook for mail/calendaring, distance techno