University of California Agriculture and Natural ResourcesCounty Locations: Marin County, Mendocino County, Napa County, Sonoma County
Location: UC ANR – DavisClosing Date: July 25, 2023Job Description: Download
Position Overview
The University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) offers a unique recruitment opportunity for a UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Area Water and Soil Resources Advisor. UC ANR operates a statewide network of researchers and educators dedicated to the development and application of knowledge to address local agricultural, environmental and health issues. Over 150 UC ANR UCCE advisors conduct research, outreach and education from locally based CE offices serving all 58 counties from 70+ locations throughout the state. Our mission is to bring the University of California directly to Californians through research, extension and education programs that support:
- Sustainable, safe, and nutritious food production and delivery
- Economic success in a global economy
- A sustainable, healthy, and productive environment
- Science literacy and youth development
By working and living among those we serve, UC ANR expands the University of California’s reach to engage all people and communities in California, ensuring equal access to the UC system.
Location Headquarters: UCCE Sonoma County, Santa Rosa, CA.
Purpose: The Area Water and Soil Resources Advisor will serve as an expert for issues related to water management and soil, focusing on strategies to meet agricultural and ecosystem water demands while stewarding soil health. This position will support agriculture production, incentivizing practices that will result in net benefit for the environment through innovation, efficient management, and science. The advisor will assist agricultural producers and natural resource managers to meet water demands through innovation. The candidate will conduct research to understand and develop solutions to increase the resilience of agriculture and natural ecosystems to extreme weather and climate change. This position can expand public awareness of climate risks and effective adaptation strategies.
The Area Water and Soil Resources Advisor will develop a research and extension program to increase water use efficiency in agricultural operations such as through improved understanding of seasonal plant water demand, irrigation systems and strategies, including regulated deficit irrigation. This may include research and extension of cost-effective remote sensing tools that capture real-time plant, soil and atmospheric data to enable agricultural producers to address increasingly variable weather conditions. The advisor can also validate innovative practices such as precision irrigation, and study plant response and adaptation to prolonged drought or other extreme climatic conditions.
The position will support assessments of the impacts of irrigated agriculture on the environment and help growers modify practices to enable compliance with regulations associated with agricultural water use, such as the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program (ILRP) and the Sustainable Groundwater Water Management Act (SGMA). A diverse clientele base with different interests in the use of and policies associated with water resources exists in this region and the Advisor will be an important part of the team to implement strategies that will help growers meet new requirements.
Wine grape vineyards comprise majority of the irrigated acreage in agriculture production in the four-county area, with significantly fewer acres in other agricultural crops receiving applied water. The Area Water and Soil Resource Advisor is expected to develop an outreach program to encourage adoption of sustainable practices that improve water use efficiency, increase soil water storage and holding capacity in irrigated agriculture, and/or develop groundwater recharge opportunities. The candidate will work with growers and industry organizations in each county to disseminate information and work across disciplines with campus faculty, CE Specialists, and CE advisors in Land, Air and Water Resources, Plant Sciences, and Natural Resources.
There are numerous opportunities for extension and research partnerships with a variety of stakeholders and partnerships, including the North Coast, Central Valley, and San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Boards, California Department of Water Resources, and the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Programs in each region. Additional agencies include the Sonoma Water, the Napa County Groundwater Sustainability Agency and Watershed Information Council, Marin Water, North Marin Water District, Russian River Flood Control & Water Conservation Improvement District, and others, as well as local USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), Resource Conservation Districts (RCD), and industry groups, such as Farm Bureaus and others.
The Area Water and Soil Resources Advisor joins a team of highly motivated UCCE colleagues who are passionate about their work and are dedicated to making a difference within the communities and throughout California. The potential for collaborative projects within the UC ANR system is nearly limitless.
Counties of Responsibility. This position will be headquartered in the UCCE Sonoma County Office and serve Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, and Marin Counties.
Reporting Relationship: The CE Advisor serves under the administrative guidance of the UCCE Sonoma County Director with input from the UCCE County Directors for Napa, Mendocino, and Marin Counties.
Qualifications and Skills Required
Required Qualifications
Education: A minimum of a master’s degree in disciplines such as hydrologic sciences, soil science, agronomy, water resources, agricultural engineering or other closely related fields is required at the time of appointment.
Additional Requirements
- Coursework or experience is desired in irrigation systems, groundwater systems, experimental design, statistical analysis, soil science, water quality, agricultural engineering, geographic information systems, and remote sensing.
- Ability and means to travel on a flexible schedule as needed, proof of liability and property damage insurance on vehicle used is required. Must possess valid California Driver’s License to drive a County or University vehicle.
- The ability to work with clientele across a wide range of socio-economic classes and ethnicities is
- This is not a remote position. The candidate must be available to work onsite.
Skills Required
To be successful, the CE Advisor requires skills in the following area:
Technical Competence and Impact
The candidate should be able to design and implement a program that leads to positive change and impact within the community and beyond. There is an expectation that advisors evolve and grow across their career and respond to changes in the industry and by clientele.
Communication
Demonstrated excellence in written, oral, and interpersonal and information technology communication skills. Public speaking to stakeholders is a routine part of this position.
Demonstrated ability to share complex information in a manner tailored to the audience.
Collaboration, Teamwork and Flexibility
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as a team member with the agricultural industry, natural resource professionals, and other stakeholders. Able to adapt as circumstances warrant.
Aware and willing to actively promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Lifelong Learning
Demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional improvement. Ability to grow new competencies, adapt programs, and shift focus over time in response to changing stakeholder priorities and organizational needs.
Learn more about Skills and Areas of Programmatic Review (including Professional Competence, University and Public Service and Affirmative Action and DEI) at: https://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/files/319460.pdf
Desired Experience
- Passion and desire to pursue a career in Cooperative Extension.
- Experience in education and outreach.
- Experience building partnerships and working in multidisciplinary teams.
- Demonstrated ability to effectively plan projects, manage teams, and implement an applied research and outreach program, including setting measurable goals and objectives.
About UC ANR
The University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) consists of a network of scientists and educators working in partnership across California. We are committed to developing and supporting practical, science-based solutions that contribute to healthy food systems, healthy environments, healthy communities, and healthy Californians. UC ANR administers UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE), which is responsible for program development and delivery in the counties throughout the state of California.
