Academic Coordinator for Volunteer & Community Engagement -Academic Coordinator II (UC Master Gardener Program) AP# 23-18
Location: UC ANR - Davis
Date Posted: September 26, 2023
Closing Date:
November 27, 2023
Job Description: Download
Position Overview
Location Headquarters: Davis, California
The University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) offers a unique recruitment opportunity for an Academic Coordinator for Volunteer & Community Engagement -Academic Coordinator II. UC ANR operates a statewide network of researchers, educators and support staff dedicated to the development and application of knowledge to address local agricultural, environmental and (community) health issues. Research, outreach and education from locally based Cooperative Extension offices serves all 58 counties from 70+ locations throughout the state. Our mission is to bring the power of 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.
This position is expected to (1) develop volunteer engagement resources and competencies for/in staff and academics working with UC Master Gardener volunteers, (2) support equity-focused volunteer engagement and ensure that practices are in place for volunteers in the UC Master Gardener Program to thrive, (3) create and promote standards for community engagement whereby county-based UC Master Gardener Programs have the tools and skills to work with groups of people affiliated by geographic proximity, special interest, or similar situations to co-create impactful projects that bring about environmental and behavioral change in line with the UC Master Gardener Program mission, and (4) foster opportunities for collaboration and integrated programming with other UC ANR statewide programs and institutes.
Purpose:
The Academic Coordinator will establish and maintain relationships with UC ANR academics and staff, as well as specialists and campus faculty to provide support to county-based UC Master Gardener Programs on the principles and best practices for volunteer and community engagement. This position will build the capacity of academics and staff with oversight of UC ANR volunteers to engage, educate, and support community- driven extension efforts. The Academic Coordinator for Volunteer & Community Engagement will develop, conduct, distribute and evaluate trainings, curricula, agreements, tools/resources and other educational materials to enhance volunteer engagement and community-driven extension programming statewide.
Additional training responsibilities may be in the area of volunteer development pending the outcome of a need’s assessment.
This position will lead UC Master Gardener Program efforts to identify, adopt and evaluate best practices in diversity, equity and inclusion. They will review program practices related to volunteer identification, selection, orientation, training, utilization, recognition and evaluation through the lens of diversity, equity and inclusion and lead change/adoption of best practices statewide with support from the UC Master Gardener statewide director. This position will supervise two Regional Operations Coordinators (Community Education Specialist 4), both remote employees, one serving Northern California and the second serving Southern California. Together, this team will fulfil the above outlined expectations. This position will also be an active member of the UC ANR Volunteer Development Workgroup. The Academic Coordinator for Volunteer & Community Engagement will serve as a guide in the resolution of volunteer complaints and conflicts in accordance with the UC ANR Volunteer Conflict Resolution Manual. This individual will develop an expert knowledge of UC Master Gardener Program policies and procedures as well as University policies, procedures and values including but not limited to the UC ANR Adult Volunteer Code of Conduct, and the UC ANR Principles of Community.
This position will seek extramural funding opportunities such as grants and contracts to increase statewide program capacity and support volunteer engagement and community development projects/programming.
Background:
The UC Master Gardener Program is an educational program under UC ANR designed to teach and effectively extend information that addresses gardening needs in communities throughout the state of California and addresses the strategic initiatives of UC ANR. Since 1981, the UC Master Gardener Program has been extending UC Research-based information about home horticulture and pest management to the public. UC trained and certified Master Gardener volunteers offer services and outreach to the general public in 53 California counties through local UCCE offices. Last year 6,216 active UC Master Gardener volunteers donated 395,239 hours, and 7.7+ million hours have been donated since the program’s inception.
Major Duties and Responsibilities/Skills
The Academic Coordinator for Volunteer & Community Engagement will:
Competence – Volunteer & Community Engagement
• Provide leadership and strategic planning to enhance volunteer engagement practices among staff and academics.
• Provide leadership to enhance volunteer engagement and development opportunities, using the latest research-based data on identification, selection, orientation, training, utilization, recognition and evaluation of volunteers.
• Provide leadership and training to ensure programs, personnel and volunteers have the tools and skills to work with groups of people affiliated by geographic proximity, special interest, or similar situations.
• Apply for grants and other funding opportunities to support volunteer & community engagement efforts.
• Seek opportunities to improve volunteer recruitment and retention.
• Provide coaching/mentoring of staff/academics in the resolution of volunteer conflicts and issues.
• Evaluate and improve on volunteer engagement strategies, as well as volunteer motivation, experiences, satisfaction and other relevant outcomes.
- Create community engagement strategies and evaluation procedures; implement
- Lead annual volunteer reappointment process working cooperatively with Regional Operations Coordinators, and Statewide Impact & Evaluation Coordinator.
- Oversight of volunteer engagement software including annual volunteer reappointment process, development/maintenance of help documentation/training materials and project management of any programming maintenance/development work.
Competence – Educational Programming
- Design and deliver professional development training opportunities in volunteerism and volunteer engagement, working collaboratively with Volunteer Engagement Coordinator colleagues as
- Maintain, promote and expand existing online volunteer engagement training available through
- Implement in-person volunteer engagement training as needed/requested statewide and in collaboration with Volunteer Engagement Coordinator colleagues as appropriate.
- Host annual UC Master Gardener Coordinator
Collaboration, Teamwork & Flexibility
- Supervision of two Regional Operations Coordinators (Community Education Specialist 4), both remote employees.
- Work collaboratively with academics/staff to evaluate and create written impact reports related to volunteerism and provide ongoing media stories highlighting volunteering/volunteer programs at UC
- Work with Director and others as appropriate to incorporate best practices in volunteer engagement and community development into all program policies/procedures.
- Participate on Program Teams, Workgroups and other UC, Regional and/or National committees related to position.
- Represent California at the National Extension Conference on Volunteerism, and other related conferences/symposia.
- Travel when optimal or necessary to provide support to counties, participate in collaborative work and attend meetings and conferences.
Lifelong Learning
- Demonstrated commitment to ongoing self-improvement - both professionally and as a person.
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/Professional_Development/files/355229.pdf
Reporting Relationship: The Academic Coordinator is administratively responsible to the UC Master Gardener Statewide Program Director.
Qualifications and Skills Required
Required Qualifications
Education: A minimum of a Master’s Degree, though advanced degrees are encouraged, in disciplines such as community development, education, adult education, extension education, sustainability education, adult development, human resource management, leadership, volunteer management or other disciplines closely related to the position duties and responsibilities is required at the time of appointment.
Additional Requirements
- Experience in managing volunteer programs and engaging
- Experience or expertise in implementing community-driven
- Experience working with ethnically and racially diverse
- Experience with evaluation including needs assessment, focus groups, and impact
- Experience and demonstrated ability to effectively identify, manage and resolve
- Experience and demonstrated ability to apply for
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as a team member with other professionals and
- Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal
- Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills; willingness to provide exceptional customer service.
- Advanced skills to develop and deliver new presentations, trainings and courses to meet organizational needs.
- Advanced organizational skills to manage multiple projects simultaneously to meet objectives and program needs within prescribed timelines, budgets and other
- Willingness and ability to embrace change as clientele and organizational needs evolve.
- General knowledge of computers, including proficiency in word processing and other data management programs.
- This is not a remote position. The candidate must be available to be onsite.
- 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.
- A background investigation will be required for the successful candidate, including fingerprinting and a criminal history clearance by the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
This position is subject to the requirements and compliance of the California’s Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA). Employment within UC ANR is contingent upon securing written acknowledgement to comply with California law.
Desired Qualifications:
- Experience in Extension and volunteer education, especially related to the Land Grant mission serving community needs for science-based information.
- Experience conducting an academic needs
- Advanced knowledge of organizational and governmental policies, procedures and
- Demonstrated ability to recognize similarities and differences across cultures and to bridge
- Bilingual communication abilities in English and Spanish/Hmong/Mandarin/Vietnamese or other language spoken in the community.
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 the
state of California. We are committed to developing and supporting healthy food systems, healthy environments, healthy communities, and healthy Californians. UC ANR administers Statewide Programs and Initiatives (SWP/I’s) that focus research and extension on solving priority problems that engage ANR academics and UC faculty in integrated teams to work on complex issues requiring trans-disciplinary approaches; as well as UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE), which is responsible for program development and delivery in counties throughout the state.
Learn more about
- UC ANR at https://UCANR.edu
- UC ANR in counties: https://ucanr.edu/sites/ucanr/County_Offices/
- UC ANR Master Gardener Program: https://mg.ucanr.edu/
- Our Strategic Initiatives http://ucanr.edu/sites/StrategicInitiatives/
- Our Public Value statements at https://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/Divisionwide_Planning/UC_ANR_Public_Values/
- DEI: Further to the above, academics are expected to share and exhibit UC ANR’s commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion https://ucanr.edu/sites/Professional_Development/Office_-_Team_Management/Diversity_Equity_Inclusion_Belonging/
- Affirmative Action: Further to the above, academics are expected to share and exhibit UC ANR’s commitment to affirmative action. Learn more of UC ANR Affirmative Action policy: http://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/Diversity/Affirmative_Action/
- The University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce and will honor your experiences, perspectives and unique identity. We encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ+ community members, and others who demonstrate the ability to help us create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming.
Salary & Benefits
Salary: The beginning salary will be in the Academic Coordinator II series from Step 1 - $78,342 to Step 4 - $90,096 of the Academic Coordinator II, Fiscal Year Salary Table. Step placement in this series is based on experience. For information regarding the Academic Coordinator series salary scales, please refer to:
This position is a definite term appointment. The position is a two-year renewable term appointment with a merit cycle every two years. The performance in the position will be evaluated annually. The position will be extended based on the continued need for the position, performance and availability of funding.
Benefits: The University of California offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance, retirement plans, two days per month paid vacation, one day per month paid sick leave, and holidays. For more information, refer to the UC Benefits website at: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html
How to Apply
If interested in this position, please visit: https://recruit.ucanr.edu/ and choose “applicants” (refer to position #23-18).
Closing Date: To assure full consideration, application packets must be received by November 27, 2023 (open until filled).
Questions?
Contact Mikyla Perez; email: mikperez@ucanr.edu
“Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring work authorization without need of employer sponsorship for the duration of the appointment period.”
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status or other protected categories covered by the UC nondiscrimination policy.
As of January 1, 2014, ANR is a smoke- and tobacco-free environment in which smoking, the use of smokeless tobacco products, and the use of unregulated nicotine products (e-cigarettes), is strictly prohibited.