The Northern Region is a 17 county area
stretching east to west from the Kansas and
Nebraska state lines to the foothills of the Rocky
Mountains, and north to south from Wyoming to
1-70. Seventy percent of the states population,
about 3 million people, lives in the area. The
region includes the Denver metro complex and
Colorado State University in Fort Collins. There
are seventeen Extension offices in the region,
eighty extension educators and four regional
specialists. Most of this positions
responsibility will be in the seven counties of Kit Carson,
Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington,
and Yuma which contain nearly 2.8 million acres
of rangeland & pasture (13.9% of
Colorado's total). Total livestock cash receipts
for these counties are a little over $1.4
billion, which is about 43% of the total for Colorado.
Colorado State Extension Agents and Specialists
are working closely with area producers to
develop and implement irrigation and cropping
strategies that sustain profitable farm business
operations. CSU Extension Agents have assisted in
developing dryland crop producers to
become regional leaders in using no-till farming
and integrated cropping systems that optimize the
use of the limited precipitation for this area
as well as enhance net farm incomes. The area
accounts for 35% of Colorados wheat production,
61% of the corn for grain production, 48%
of all sunflower production, 38% of the dry
edible bean production, 32% of the sugar beet
production and 8% of all hay production. Corn and
forage production support a large livestock
production industry that is also a major economic
influence with numerous cow/calf and large
confined animal feeding operations (beef and
pork) located here. Interest In and development
of renewable energy is a growing industry with
corn ethanol and wind energy production currently
in place. The natural resources that support the
agricultural industry also support plentiful
outdoor wildlife and recreational activities.
Sterling, Colorado, located in Logan County
(population 22,000), is a trade center for a
60-mile radius of northeastern Colorado, has a
population of approximately 14,000 and is about a
two-hour drive northeast of Denver. Major
employers are a state correctional facility, city
and county government, school districts and
Northeastern Junior College, the Sterling
Regional Medical Center, technology, manufacturing
and agriculture-related services. The county is
served by public and private schools, two FM
radio stations, 2 AM stations, two weekly and
one daily newspaper. The major highway is US
I-76. Median family income is $32,724, 12% of the
population is Hispanic and the median
age is 35.
Duration: Appropriated funding for this position
is limited in duration and presently is funded for only three years after the
start date. This position has the potential of
continuation only if other funding sources are
procured. Approval of the Extension
Director will be required to continue this
position beyond the three year initial duration. Start date: June 1, 2010.
APPLICATION PROCESS AND DEADLINE: All materials
must be RECEIVED no later than 12 Noon February
24, 2010 [EXTENDED TO 24 MARCH] for
full consideration. Please submit the following via e-mail to apply:
Cover letter
Statement (no more than 5 pages) of how you
meet all the Required and Preferred criteria listed in the Vacancy
Announcement
Resume
Transcripts of college(s) course work showing degrees conferred
Name, address, telephone, e-mail address, and
your relationship to at least four (4) references
(Note: Applicant will be notified PRIOR to references being contacted.)
E-mail all materials to
[email protected]. If you are unable
to e-mail your materials, please call 970-491-1617
for alternate delivery methods.
For questions regarding the application process,
contact 970-491-1617 or [email protected]. For questions
regarding the job vacancy and responsibilities,
please contact JoAnn Powell, 970-491-7887 or [email protected].
PURPOSE OF POSITION: The purpose of this position
is to promote sustainable and productive managed rangeland for
private landowners and the general public. This
includes educating land managers not only about proper management
practices for existing resources, but also
providing technical and educational support to
return previously altered land back to
sustainable, productive rangelands.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND RELATIONSHIPS: The regional
specialist works under the supervision of the CSU Extension
Northern Regional Director, in cooperation with
state and federal agencies, with an adjunct appointment in the Warner College
of Natural Resources. The office is located at
the Sterling Regional Engagement Center; office
facilities may also be available
on the CSU campus. The incumbent will develop and
implement extension programming, in coordination with other extension
and university faculty and NRCS staff focused on
sustainable management of range production on public and private
rangelands, emphasizing ecological services and
watershed and ecosystem levels. It is expected that rangeland monitoring
will be one of the program areas developed. The
position incurs statewide extension responsibilities with a focus on eastern
Colorado. The successful candidate will:
Conduct a systematic analysis of national,
Colorado, and county data, local resources, and historical information in order
to identify community assets, program needs, and teaching opportunities.
Develop education programming directed toward
county/area extension personnel, rangeland livestock producers,
government agency professionals, interest groups,
wildlife enthusiasts, and the general public. Programming may address
statewide needs but should be centered in eastern Colorado.
Conduct creative programming and utilize new
technology, which may include problem solving research, to address
priority needs of the target audiences in the
area of livestock management, livestock/wildlife interactions and wildlife
habitat. Participate in statewide work teams to
develop new and creative programming efforts.
Job Vacancy #05-10:
Regional Extension Specialist, (Range)
Sterling Regional Engagement Center, Sterling, CO
FIXED TERM June 1, 2010 May 30, 2013
RESPONSIBILITIES AND RELATIONSHIPS (Cont.):
Prepare educational material, evaluation
instruments, teaching materials and publicity information in support of state,
county, and community initiatives. Disseminate
educational materials through county, area, and state-wide events,
workshops, field days, websites, newsletters and
other mass media methods, use of volunteers, and other methods.
Identify resources (grants, contracts, in-kind
contributions, cost recovery fees, etc.) to enhance the program. Manage
county, area, state and grant budget allocations where appropriate.
In cooperation with specialists, agents, and
other university faculty, function as a resource for other agencies and
organizations. Promote interaction and
cooperation among commodity groups, local, state and federal agencies. Actively
participate in the Society for Range Management
and other professional organizations.
Promote public understanding and support for
Extension and University programs. Promote CSU Extension as the
outreach arm of the state land-grant university.
Maintain active communication with key stakeholders to increase
awareness and support of CSU Extension programming.
Communicate program results to both
professional peers and clientele through periodic reports, scholarly works, and
various types of publications, including computer
programs, popular articles, bulletins and scientific articles.
Perform appropriate service that contributes to
the effectiveness of the county/area/regional office, CSU Extension,
Colleges, and University. Perform as a collegial member of CSU Extension.
Maintain professional competence through study,
participation in professional activities and the application of knowledge
and skills on the job. Maintain high ethical and
professional standards, and loyalty to CSU Extension and Colorado State
University.
Develop an Affirmative Action plan that
actively solicits and involves minorities and
other protected classes in planning
programs to ensure their participation.
Responsible for compliance with the Colorado Affirmative Action plan.
Provide leadership and assistance with other activities as assigned.
SALARY: Salary will be commensurate with education and experience.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:
REQUIRED
Ph.D. preferred; M. S. required at time of
appointment, in Rangeland Ecology and Management or closely allied field with
training in Natural Resources.
At least one degree in Rangeland Ecology and
Management (Rangeland Science) at time of appointment.
Strong background in Rangeland Plant Ecology
with education and experience (internships, research projects, family or
business enterprise) in rangeland management practices.
PREFERRED
Demonstrated commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity.
Demonstrated knowledge of improved pasture management and grazing systems.
Demonstrated knowledge of current rangeland
science research and application and related land management issues.
Demonstrated knowledge of rangeland pest monitoring and control.
Excellent written, oral, presentation and
technology based communication skills.
Ability to develop web-based education technologies.
Experience in group facilitation.
Demonstrated knowledge of public land agency
procedures regarding grazing permits and other users.
Familiarity with GIS/GPS applications.
Rangeland monitoring at landscape scales.
Demonstrated ability to translate scientific
information into management recommendations.
Proven ability to communicate successfully with
local landowners and stakeholders.
Demonstrated ability to conceive, design and
conduct field research in the areas of herbivory and plant community
dynamics emphasizing the influence of livestock
grazing on plant communities and soils.
Ability to develop ecologically diverse and
economically sustainable integrated production systems.
BENEFITS: Based on full-time employment.
Twenty-four working days vacation each year, 15
days sick leave. Enrollment in group
health, life and accident insurance, various
retirement plans, work injury benefits, and
disability insurance are all available.
Available personal transportation required, travel allowance provided.
Colorado State University is an equal
opportunity/affirmative action institution and
complies with all federal and Colorado State laws,
regulations, and executive orders regarding
affirmative action requirements in all programs.
The Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity is
located in 101 Student Services Building. In
order to assist Colorado State University in
meeting its affirmative action responsibilities, ethnic
minorities, women, and other protected class
members are encouraged to apply and to so identify themselves.
Colorado State University Extension operates in
compliance with the same laws and executive orders as the University as
administered by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture relations. As a part of the USDA
regulations, the Extension Equal Employment
Opportunity representative may be contacted at
1311 South College Avenue, Room 102, Colorado State University.
Under the Colorado Open Records Law in order for
application materials to be treated as
confidential a specific written request that all
materials submitted be held in confidence must
accompany your application. Such confidentiality
cannot be extended to those identified as
"finalists" i.e. selected for interview by the Search Committee.
BACKGROUND CHECK: Colorado State University is
committed to providing a safe and productive learning and living community.
To achieve that goal, we conduct background
investigations for all final candidates being
considered for employment. Background checks
may include, but are not limited to, criminal
history, national sex offender search and motor vehicle history.
Application process and additional information
may be obtained at our Web site: www.ext.colostate.edu or by contacting:
Judith Barth, Ph.D., Assistant Director,
Operations, Colorado State University Extension, 4040 Campus Delivery,
Fort Collins CO 80523-4040
[email protected] (970) 491-1617 #05-10 02/24/10
