Job Details

Working/Functional Title

Agricultural and Occupational Health

Position Summary

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 statewide leadership and educational programming expertise regarding assistive technologies and strategies to allow farmers and farm employees with disabilities to continue working. 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 helping members of the farming community with disabilities adopt assistive technologies and alter work habits to improve their work environment and access resources that will allow them to continue working. Through your leadership, you will provide support for the Michigan AgrAbility program and promote education and referrals to assist farmers living with both chronic and acute health conditions. You will develop strategies to reduce the symptoms associated with chronic conditions that can interfere with farm-related work (e.g., arthritis). This will include completing on-farm assessments in collaboration with Easterseals Michigan to determine appropriate assistive technologies, working with appropriate partner agencies to alert farmers regarding assistance of MSU Extension and community-based health programs, helping farmers learn chronic disease health management strategies and, accessing mental health resources from the MSUE and Easterseals Farm Stress programs. Additionally, you will make presentations and host educational displays at public events that are made for on-farm workers, including large groups such as at industry trade shows, and via virtual outreach with a registration process to collect client contact information and to gain referrals to Michigan AgrAbility.

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 public knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors that increase the awareness of assistance for farmers with chronic health conditions and acute disabilities and improve their access to resources they can adapt on their farm. You will also develop, produce, and deliver health outreach 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 colleagues at MSU and MSU Extension, as well as the diverse network of partner groups that include Easterseals Michigan, College of Human Medicine, Michigan Farm Bureau, and several non-profit and state agencies. Acting as a statewide point of contact, you will provide support for AABI in determining research and programmatic needs in farm health and safety 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 campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan.

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

Characteristic Duties/Responsibilities

• Identify, develop, conduct, and evaluate innovative educational programs that meet current and projected statewide needs, and supports growth and understanding of critical issues facing the health and safety of the farm community in Michigan.
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships intra- and inter-organizationally and create and promote positive public relations for MSU Extension and the AABI.
• Understand and support the Agriculture and Agribusiness Institute’s efforts in diversity, equity, inclusion, and Civil Rights, with a special emphasis on removing barriers from participation and reaching diverse populations, including but not limited to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status, socio-economic class, and other human differences.
• Communicate and interact with community groups to evaluate the needs of the clientele. 
• In concert with the MSU Extension work team(s), work with federal, state and county agencies to complete needs assessment of the community and develop effective programming.
• Serve as an information resource to clientele, partners, and Extension staff.
• Develop and utilize appropriate media methods to communicate current and timely information, research results, and relevant industry updates, as well as a schedule of current and future activities.
• Collaborate with MSU Extension staff to gather and report programming outputs and impacts, to demonstrate program effectiveness and to guide future program priorities for MSU Extension, the AABI and work teams. 
• Author, produce, and submit regular research-based educational materials and articles, and create and provide content for websites and social media accounts.
• Actively participate in professional development opportunities.
• Other duties or projects as assigned by the Institute Director.

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 - agricultural engineering, farm safety,

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s degree from an accredited institution in a field of study related to agricultural engineering, farm safety, industrial hygiene, occupational health, or related field must be earned by date of hire.
• Familiarity with agriculture operations on working farms.
• 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.
• 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.
• Ability to create and carryout a project plan from research of initial concept to project completion and follow-up.
• Strong interpersonal, oral and written communication skills.
• Proficiency in use of technology (e.g., web research, Zoom, Qualtrics, Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook for mail/calendaring, distance technology, etc.) for day-to-day work and educational program delivery, record keeping, reporting, team-based communications, and overall management.
• Ability to travel in local and surrounding communities and occasional long-distance travel are required as a regular part of this position.
• Ability to lift and carry educational materials, equipment, etc. up to 25 lbs.
• Transportation is the responsibility of the employee.
• Other skills and/or physical abilities required to perform duties of the position.

Desired Qualifications

• 3-years’ experience in program delivery or demonstrated ability and skill in educational program planning, implementation, and evaluation (relevant experience acquired within the last 5-years, preferred).
• Demonstrated drive and initiative, with proven ability to manage multiple responsibilities and tasks simultaneousy.
• Experience in successful contract and grant writing, including securing and managing grant funds and resources.
• Experience working with AgrAbility programs or programs related to providing support to rural residents with chronic health conditions and/or acute health disabilities.

Required Application Materials

Current resume/CV.

Cover letter.

Four (4) professional references including two (2) current or previous supervisors.

Together-we-will Statement

Special Instructions

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

Website

https://youtu.be/8KBMarSqHos

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.