The Institute of Applied Agriculture (IAA) invites applications for a half-time (20 hours per week) 12-month staff member to serve in a new role as the department’s Experiential Learning Coordinator. The Coordinator will support, develop, and connect hands-on, experiential learning opportunities in agriculture and natural resources throughout the University of Maryland, College Park campus for students, faculty, staff, visitors, and community members.
Examples of teaching and learning spaces on and around the College Park campus include the Community Learning Garden, the campus orchard, the Chef’s Garden, the St. Mary’s Language House Garden, the Garden of Reflection and Remembrance, the UMD Arboretum and Botanical Garden, the Farmers Market at Maryland, the Campus Pantry and teaching kitchen, Terp Farm, the Turfgrass Research Farm, the Research Greenhouse, the aquaponics lab, the Permaculture Garden, Campus Creek, the Bee Lab’s beehives, bioretention facilities, green roofs, campus sports fields, the UMD Golf Course, and the Campus Farm.
The IAA is a 60-credit academic certificate program in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Maryland, College Park. The IAA provides students with the entrepreneurial, technical, leadership and communication skills needed to work in and manage successful agricultural enterprises, including golf courses, food systems, sports fields, landscaping companies, farm operations and markets, and nonprofits.
This is a half-time 12-month appointment. This is a one-year term position with the possibility of continuation depending on availability of funding. The University of Maryland, College Park, MD, is a Land Grant institution located in suburban Washington, DC.
Responsibilities:
- Develop, organize, and carry out weekly hands-on lessons for students in campus green spaces
- Assist UMD faculty with integrating hands-on lessons throughout campus into their courses
- Create and manage four new on-campus student internship experiences in agriculture and natural resources
- Facilitate community group interactions (tours, field trips, summer camps, workshops, etc.) in campus green spaces
- Participate in the ideation and design processes for interdisciplinary experiential learning projects and programs
- Participate in IAA department decision-making, strategic planning, and recruitment - including attending monthly faculty-staff meetings and participating in at least two unit-level committees and one college-level committee
Qualifications:
Required–
- Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, natural resources, agricultural education, biology, economics, leadership, or related discipline
- Experience with teaching and/or academic support in higher education
- Detail-oriented, highly organized, and able to work successfully both independently and with a team
- Clear, direct, and effective oral and written communication skills across diverse audiences
- Ability to work collaboratively, equitably, and inclusively with diverse groups of students, faculty and staff
- Experience collaborating with a variety of partners to develop/deliver programming
Preferred—
- Master's degree in agriculture, natural resources, agricultural education, biology, economics, leadership, or related discipline, or MBA
- Experience planning, hosting, and executing hands-on, out-of-the-classroom educational activities
- Understanding of the application and/or operation of agricultural enterprises, green industries, natural resources management, or related fields
- Familiarity with the University of Maryland College Park campus green infrastructure
The salary for this half-time, 12-month position is $35,000. The University of Maryland offers an extensive benefits package.
Best consideration date is May 1, 2023. Apply online at https://ejobs.umd.edu/postings/106413. The effective start date is July 1, 2023.
The University of Maryland, College Park, an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, age, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, creed, marital status, political affiliation, personal appearance, or on the basis of rights secured by the First Amendment, in all aspects of employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.
