Extension Specialist II, Ornamental Horticulture

Please note that priority review will be given to candidates who apply on or before December 12 2025. The position will remain open until filled.

Context of Job:
Cooperative Extension is an informal educational nationwide network that combines the expertise and resources of federal state and local governments to improve peoples lives. For over a century University of Delaware Cooperative Extension has made a difference in the First State by providing quality educational programming to individuals and communities based on university research and aimed at meeting the expressed needs of our constituents. The outreach arm of USDA and the American land-grant university system Cooperative Extension takes the University to the people with programming that includes food safety; nutrition diet and health; water quality; 4-H youth development; sustainable agriculture; natural resources and environmental management; agricultural competitiveness and profitability; home gardening; family development and resource management; leadership and volunteer development; and personal safety-on the road in the home on the farm and much more.

Under the general direction of the New Castle County Extension Director and the Agriculture Program Leader the Extension Specialist II has statewide responsibilities delivering non-formal educational programming to agriculture producers industry and the general public and is part of a team of professionals delivering programming to the citizens of Delaware. Additional program support is provided by personnel on the Ag program team.

Cooperative Extension Responsibilities (65%):
Plan coordinate (in concert with the DNLA) promote present and evaluate educational conferences and multiple workshops open to all green industry professionals. Examples include the Horticulture Industry Expo Summer Turf and Nursery Expo and the Ornamental and Turf Workshop.
Work with Delaware Nursery and Landscape Association (DNLA) Board of Directors Ornamental Horticulture industry and Horticulture Extension program team to plan publish promote and co-lead Cooperative Extension professional courses and events to expand industry reach and ensure educational and recertification requirements are addressed.
Partner with Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) Plant Industries to educate and inform Delawares green industry.
Coordinate edit and contribute content to weekly Ornamentals Hotline newsletter (26 issues/year).
Coordinate content of Certified Nursery Professional Manual update with team as needed.
Coordinate with the Faculty advisory to University of Delaware Botanic Gardens (UDBG) and the Extension Horticulture and other educational teams in the state to advise and educate the general public.
Serve as active member of Extension Horticulture program team. This includes but is not limited to Master Gardener and Master Naturalist volunteer core and advanced training professional short course instruction and teaching/presentations in various conferences and expos and workshops.
Support the Delaware Livable Lawns program a statewide multi-agency (Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) Delaware Department of Transportation (DELDOT) and University of Delaware) initiative/campaign through the implementation of the most up-to-date nutrient management BMPs (best management practices) for turfgrass systems and proper nutrient management.
Periodically review yearly audits of Audit certified commercial applicators and homeowner participants to ensure program compliance.
Appointed to and serve on internal/external committees as needed. This has included committees like the Delaware Native Species Commission Governors Water Supply Coordinating Council and Urban Community Forestry Board.

Research Responsibilities (35%):
Successfully fund extramurally an impactful applied research program on nursery and landscape issues important to the Delaware green industry.
Publish in refereed journals such as HortScience HortTech and Journal of Extension; publish and update research reports factsheets grower guides and websites to reach and train clientele in the latest ornamental horticulture best management practices.
Serve on graduate student committees as requested.

Qualifications:
Masters degree in horticulture plant sciences environmental sciences or a closely related field and 6 years of experience in Extension/outreach and applied research or Ph.D. and 2 years of experience.
Bachelors degree with 10 years of high-level Extension and/or public education outreach programming will be considered.
Excellent communication skills written and verbal with the ability to engage with a wide range of stakeholders.
Excellent organizational management and human relations skills. Ability to plan and report an individual work plan.
Ability to lead others at state regional and national levels to plan and implement programs.
Ability to apply knowledge of ornamental horticulture via evidence-based science to inform Extension programming needs of clientele.
Ability to develop and administer innovative and appropriate delivery methods to teach clientele best practices and skills based on the latest research findings at the county state and regional level.
Ability to identify plan and execute research in issue areas needing specialized applied research demonstrations or programs for statewide and regional situations.
Coordinate and collaborate with relevant faculty and staff in Extension and academic departments.
Ability to obtain external resources and funding for program development and expansion; provide for supervision of personnel and manage funds as a Principal Investigator (PI) or co-PI.
Ability to bend and lift heavy items.
Drivers license required.