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Extension Associate - Integrated Pest Management Tick and School IPM Coordinator

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is a pioneer of purpose-driven science and Cornell University’s second largest college. We work across disciplines to tackle the challenges of our time through world-renowned research, education, and outreach. The questions we probe and the answers we seek focus on three overlapping concerns: we believe that achieving next-generation scientific breakthroughs requires an understanding of the world’s complex, interlocking systems; we believe that access to nutritious food and a healthy environment is a fundamental human right; and we believe that ensuring a prosperous global future depends on the ability to support local people and communities everywhere. By working in and across multiple scientific areas, CALS can address challenges and opportunities of the greatest relevance here in New York, across the nation, and around the world.

Position Function

The Tick and School IPM Coordinator will provide statewide leadership in advancing sustainable, science-based pest management practices in schools and community environments, with a specific focus on tick awareness and pests affecting school grounds and athletic fields. This position plays a key role in expanding public understanding of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) by developing and delivering unbiased, research-informed education, demonstrations, and outreach. The coordinator will work collaboratively across disciplines and with a wide range of stakeholders to promote practical and effective IPM strategies that protect human health and the environment. The successful candidate will be an innovative and engaging educator, passionate about extension, outreach, and applied research. They will build trusted relationships with people from various socioeconomic backgrounds and stakeholder groups to identify needs and deliver impactful solutions that foster inclusive, safe, and sustainable environments.

The coordinator will be part of a nationally recognized team of IPM professionals and will contribute to the mission of Cornell IPM program through leadership, program development, implementation, evaluation, and applied research. This is a non-tenure track Research, Teaching, and Extension (RTE) faculty position with an appointment split of 80% Extension and 20% Applied Research.

The position reports directly to the Cornell IPM Associate Director for Community IPM, with additional input from the Program’s Director, Cornell faculty, Extension colleagues, practitioners, and stakeholder organizations across New York State.

This is a full-time (40 hours/week) position that will be housed at the office of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Albany County, located in Voorheesville, NY. Flexible working arrangements are permitted. This is non-tenure track position with an initial three (3) year appointment. Reappointment is contingent upon available resources and successful performance.

Anticipated Division of Time

Program Development and Implementation: 30%

• Develop innovative outreach tools and materials to promote IPM adoption, including physical demonstration and digital resources.
• In collaboration with IPM educators, stakeholders and CCE partners organize workshops and training sessions for municipal and school grounds managers, outdoor workers, green industry workers, farm workers and the interested public.
• Lead demonstration projects to validate and promote IPM strategies.
• Participate in meetings, trade shows and other professional and public gatherings to promote community IPM.
• Communicate IPM messages effectively to the perspectives of multiple audiences/communities through written and verbal formats.
• Evaluate outreach activities to measure outcomes and impacts, such as the adoption of IPM policies and recommendations, reduction of pesticide use, satisfaction of stakeholders or reduction of tick exposures or vector-borne disease occurrence, in line with the Strategic Plan performance measures.
• Provide statewide leadership for efforts that develop, demonstrate, and evaluate educational programs with emphasis on IPM. The program will emphasize using methods and materials that minimized use of pesticides while still safeguarding human health and environmental quality.
• Deliver research-based knowledge through educational activities for members of Cornell Cooperative Extension teams and other extension staff, green industry workers, school and state agency officials and others through a variety of means including but not exclusive to direct teaching through group experiences (meetings, workshops, etc.) and mass media (webinars, podcasts, print, etc.).
• Ensure a strong program emphasis on the demonstration and encouraging the adoption of IPM principles and practices. Develop programs that allow for impact evaluation and make necessary improvements based on findings.

Applied Research: 20%

• Conduct applied, integrated research to address IPM knowledge gaps, ensuring alignment with program priorities and stakeholder needs, in collaboration with appropriate faculty and extension field staff, and/or independently.
• Lead and cooperate on grant and funding proposals with agencies, organizations, faculty and extension personnel to support IPM applied research and program sustainability.
• Collect, analyze and interpret data as needed, and present results in extension and peer-reviewed publications.
• Prepare reports for granting agencies, NYSIPM publications, social media, and other extension outlets to disseminate research outcomes effectively.

Program Evaluation: 10%

• Evaluate the impact of major program efforts, ensuring performance measures align with the strategic plan and program goals. Assess outcomes such as reduced pesticide use, lower pest activity, improved public health, and enhanced turf/landscape quality.
• Document and report on impacts and outcomes resulting from the work, including surveys of behavior change, improvement of turf or building quality, and reduction of pests and pesticide risks.
• Write and prepare reports for granting agencies.
• Regularly communicate area program activities and impacts to IPM Program colleagues, faculty, off-campus extension staff, program advisory committee members, funders, agency cooperators and other stakeholders.
• Share results in quarterly and annual reports with the IPM Program; and local, state and federal partners and agencies.
• Identify and report IPM knowledge gaps and information transfer problems.
• Present results of IPM implementation and research projects at appropriate local, regional, state, and national meetings.
• Ensure evaluation efforts contribute to measurable progress toward reducing environmental, health, and economic risks. Consult with the respective NYSIPM specialists (i.e. Pesticide Risk Assessment, Economist) to assist with the evaluation process.

Professional Development: 5%

• Participate in professional development opportunities, conferences and workshops appropriate to program and personal skill enhancement.
• File professional improvement plan and constructively evaluate self-performance for improvement and subject matter excellence.
• Stay informed of advances in community and public health IPM topics.
• Participate in related regional, statewide, and national professional organizations as appropriate.

Supervision: 5%

• Provide respectful, supportive, and inclusive supervision and guidance for technical support staff, as needed.
• Provide guidance to IPM extension educators on tick and School IPM and the development of educational materials.
• May provide direct supervision for project personnel.

Requirements

M.Sc. degree required in entomology, plant pathology, weed science, horticulture, ecology, science communication, or a closely related field with eight or more years of related work experience. Strong background in integrated pest management. Be able to design, execute and analyze field experiments. Fundamental competence utilizing current technology to communicate to the perspectives of multiple audiences/communities using a variety of formats. Minimum of four years of experience in Extension education and/or research in IPM (which could include time spent pursuing a graduate degree). Must possess or have the ability to acquire a New York Driver’s License.

Preferred

Ph.D. degree in entomology, plant pathology, weed science, horticulture, science communication, or a closely related field. Work experience in conducting, interpreting, evaluating, and communicating the results of applied research. Extensive professional work experience in turfgrass management, tick management, general pest management, Cooperative Extension, or in developing informal educational programs.

Bilingual in English and Spanish is desirable.

Must possess or have the ability to acquire a New York State Certified Pesticide Applicators License.

Supervision Exercised

Supervision and guidance for technical support staff, as needed. Supervision to IPM extension educators on tick and School IPM and the development of educational materials. May provide direct supervision for project personnel including technicians, and students.

To apply:

Please apply via Academic Jobs Online

Qualified candidates should submit a short cover letter, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references via the website.

Applications will be reviewed as received, continuing until a suitable applicant is identified.

CALS hiring rate for this title is $89,000.

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Life. Changing.

Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League and Land-grant university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students, and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery, and engagement.

Cornell’s regional and global presence includes state-wide Cornell Cooperative Extension programs and offices in all counties and boroughs, global partnerships with institutions and communities engaged in life-changing research and education, the medical college’s campuses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, and the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City.

With a founding principle of “any person, any study,” Cornell is an equal opportunity employer.

Employment Notice and Pay

Pay ranges and the final hiring rate will be determined based on prior relevant work experience, education, and other factors.

EEO Statement:

Cornell welcomes diversity and is an equal opportunity employer. We hire based on merit and encourage applicants from underrepresented identities. We comply with applicable laws and affirmative action requirements.

Notice to Applicants:

Please read the required Notice to Applicants statement by clicking here. This notice contains important information about applying for a position at Cornell as well as rights and responsibilities as an applicant.