Assistant/Associate Agent, Commercial Horticulture (Phoenix, AZ)

Assistant/Associate Agent, Commercial Horticulture (Phoenix, AZ)

Posting Number
req25033

Department
Maricopa County Office

Department Website Link
extension.arizona.edu/Maricopa

Location
Greater Phoenix Area

Address
4341 E Broadway Road, Phoenix, AZ 85040 USA

Position Highlights
The Assistant/Associate Area Agent, Commercial Horticulture is a faculty position that delivers research-based, objective, informal education to stakeholders in Maricopa County. The Agent's extension efforts focus on challenges in commercial horticulture and food production, covering nursery, vegetable, and fruit cultivation. The program emphasizes science-based approaches in topics like plant science, soil health, irrigation, and pest management.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!

The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs. For more information about working at the University of Arizona and relocations services, please click here .

Duties & Responsibilities

The purpose of the Commercial Horticulture Extension
Assistant/Associate Agent is to conduct applied research, deliver educational opportunities, and provide technical support
to the consumer and commercial horticulture sectors, as well as production
assistance for urban landscape systems in Maricopa County. The agent collaborates with the commercial horticulture sector,
like retail and wholesale nursery industry leaders,
commercial fruit, vegetable and flower producers, and commercial landscape
suppliers to identify research and education needs to benefit the industry and
promote environmentally responsible practices in the desert southwest. Research
and Extension program outcomes are presented at conferences and state,
regional, and national meetings of professional organizations. The agent
communicates with clientele and peers through
a variety of means, including print publications, peer reviewed journal
articles, emails, and social media.
Educational opportunities are offered through formal and non-formal classes, clinics, and workshops in plant
biology, pest management, soil science, water, and other
relevant topics, as needed for entities such as professional and urban
horticulture and food producers. On-site
support Is provided through visits to
identify problems and offer practical solutions. Oversight and guidance is
provided to clientele across Maricopa County. The agent works with diverse
clientele as well as other University of Arizona agents, specialists, researchers,
programmatic staff, volunteers, and governmental agencies
and nongovernmental organization representatives.

Major Responsibilities and
Duties:

A. Program Development
1. Conducts a systematic analysis of national, Arizona, and county
data, local resources, and historical information in order to identify
community assets, program needs, outreach, and teaching opportunities.
2. Identifies resources (grants, contracts, in-kind contributions,
etc.) to enhance programs.
3. In cooperation with community groups, local leaders, Extension
advisory groups, and other Extension professionals, develops an annual Plan of
Work.
4. Consults with Extension faculty, Experiment Station researchers,
and other experts in the development of educational programs, applied research,
and scholarly works.

B. Program Implementation
1. Conducts creative programming and utilizes new technology that
may include problem solving research, to address priority needs of the target
audiences.
2. Participates in statewide working groups to develop new and
creative programming efforts.
3. Prepares educational material, evaluation instruments, teaching
materials and publicity information in support of state, county, and community
initiatives.
4. Functions as a resource for other agencies and organizations.
Promotes interaction and cooperation among various groups.
5. Disseminates educational materials through county-wide and/or
multi-county events, workshops, websites, newsletters and other mass media
methods, use of volunteers, and other methods.
6. Promotes communication and teamwork with county and state
Extension, other faculty and professionals.
7. Promotes Cooperative Extension as the outreach arm of the state
land-grant university.

C. Program Results
1. Evaluates and documents results and impacts of educational
programs.
2. Communicates program results to both professional peers and
clientele through periodic reports, scholarly works, and various types of
publications (e.g., bulletins/fact sheets, popular articles, state
publications, scientific articles, social media, video and computer programs).
3. Counsels with the County Extension Director to evaluate program
effectiveness and personal achievements as an Extension faculty member.

D. Professionalism
1. Maintains professional competence through study, participation in
professional activities and the application of knowledge and skills on the job.
2. Maintains high ethical and professional standards, and is loyal
to Cooperative Extension and the University of Arizona.
3. Promotes public understanding and support for Extension and
University programs.
4. Performs as a collegial member of Arizona Cooperative Extension.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
(KSAs):

• Skill in identifying and obtaining grants, contracts, and other financial resources to enhance programming.
• Knowledge of designing, implementing, and evaluating educational programming.
• Knowledge in the subject matter of commercial commercial horticulture and food production.
• Ability to work with community stakeholders and volunteers.

Physical Requirements
and Environmental Demands:

• Employee is frequently
  required to safely lift/move/transport up to 50 pounds.
• Employee may have to perform work outdoors and may not be protected from weather conditions. Temperatures above 100 degrees for more than an hour.
• Employee may have to experience high levels of noise, vibration, hazards including a variety of physical conditions, such as proximity to moving mechanical parts, moving vehicles, electrical current, working on scaffolding and high places, or exposure to chemicals in a work setting.
• There is air or skin exposure to oils or other cutting fluids.
• Employee may be exposed to atmospheric conditions that affect the respiratory system, such as fumes, odors, dust, mists, gases, or poor ventilation.

Flexible Work Arrangements:

• Flexible schedule.

Minimum Qualifications

• A master's degree or an equivalent
  qualification in Horticulture, plant science, pest management, soil health,
  plant pathology, or a related field of study.
• Two
  years of applicable professional experience.
• Must have a valid driver's license and ability to drive according to the University Fleet Safety Policy .

Preferred Qualifications

• Program and personnel management experience.
• Experience planning programs and working with community engagement.

Rank
To be Determined

Tenure Information
Continuing-Eligible (CE)

FLSA
Exempt

Full Time/Part Time
Full Time

Number of Hours Worked per Week
40

Job FTE
1.0

Work Calendar
Fiscal

Job Category
Agriculture and Extension

Benefits Eligible
Yes - Full Benefits

Rate of Pay
$57,000 - $62,000

Compensation Type
salary at 1.0 full-time equivalency (FTE)

Type of criminal background check required:
Fingerprint criminal background check (security sensitive due to title or department)

Number of Vacancies
1

Target Hire Date

Expected End Date

Contact Information for Candidates
Vanessa Parra,

View email address on click.appcast.io

Open Date
3/2/2026

Open Until Filled
Yes

Documents Needed to Apply
Curriculum Vitae (CV), Cover Letter, and One Additional Document

Special Instructions to Applicant

For your application to be considered, please submit a Cover letter, Curriculum Vitae, and official transcripts. Finalists will need to provide three written professional references upon request.

Notice of Availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report
In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act), each year the University of Arizona releases an Annual Security Report (ASR) for each of the University's campuses.Thesereports disclose information including Clery crime statistics for the previous three calendar years and policies, procedures, and programs the University uses to keep students and employees safe, including how to report crimes or other emergencies and resources for crime victims. As a campus with residential housing facilities, the Main Campus ASR also includes a combined Annual Fire Safety report with information on fire statistics and fire safety systems, policies, and procedures.
Paper copies of the Reports can be obtained by contacting the University Compliance Office at View email address on click.appcast.io.