SGMA Technical Assistance Community Educator for Small Farms (CES IV) - Salinas, CA, Job ID 72062

SGMA Technical Assistance Community Educator for Small Farms (CES IV) - Salinas, CA, Job ID 72062

University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources

Job Description

The SGMA Technical Assistance Community Educator for Small Farms will conduct technical assistance, extension education, and policy analysis and communication to support small-scale farms during the implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The SGMA TA Community Educator will assess regional needs of small-scale farmers relevant to SGMA implementation and determine appropriate methods for outreach, education, and technical assistance. Duties include visiting farms to provide individual technical assistance; developing educational materials; conducting outreach activities, workshops, and field days; participate in strategic planning and evaluation of statewide program deliverables and objectives; facilitating access to resources available from nonprofit and private sector partners; attending meetings of local groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs); reviewing groundwater sustainability plans (GSPs); and analyzing groundwater management policies to generate recommendations.

The SGMA TA Community Educator will work under the general supervision of the Small Farms SGMA Technical Assistance Academic Coordinator II and will collaborate closely with UC ANR Small Farms Advisors and staff based in relevant county regions. Project work will be coordinated with the statewide team for SGMA technical assistance for small farms as well as the Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) and other nonprofit and agency partner organizations. This position is part of a statewide team providing technical assistance to small farms with SGMA implementation in multiple counties under the UC ANR Small Farms Network, a program of UC SAREP. As part of the statewide network, the Small Farms Community Education Specialist will identify one or more areas of content expertise related to production, regulatory compliance, or marketing in which to serve as a subject matter expert and a lead worker coordinating development of educational materials on specialized topics.

This position is a career appointment that is 100% fixed.

This position will cover Santa Clara, San Benito, Santa Cruz, and Monterey.

Home Office Location - The selected candidate may choose between the San Martin office for Santa Clara County or the Monterey County office, subject to space availability and support of the County Director.

The home department is the Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program. While this position is normally based at either 80 Highland Avenue Unit K San Martin, CA 95046 for the San Martin office (Santa Clara County) or 1432 Abbott Street Salinas, CA 93901 for the Monterey County office, this position is eligible for hybrid flexible work arrangements, for applicants living in the State of California, at this time. Please note that hybrid flexible work arrangements are subject to change by the University.

Pay Scale: $63,800/year to $99,200/year (salary pay scales differ by county/location)

Job Posting Close Date:
This job is open until filled. The first application review date will be 12/13/2024.

Key Responsibilities:

30%

Development and delivery of extension education materials in English and Spanish or Mandarin:

Serve as regional subject matter expert on California groundwater policy and regulations, sustainable groundwater management, and implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).

Develop training and outreach materials in English and Spanish or Mandarin to assist small-scale farmers with groundwater management, water conservation, and implementation of SGMA.

Analyze existing training and outreach materials and provide recommendations to partner agencies and organizations.

Plan, conduct, and evaluate workshops, field days, webinars, tailgate meetings, and other educational and extension events.

Contribute to the Small Farmer SGMA Toolkit co-developed with CAFF and other educational deliverables of the SGMA Technical Assistance Program.

Develop summaries of current and proposed management actions of local and regional GSAs with potential impacts to small-scale farmers.

Collaborate with bilingual staff in the Small Farms Network to conduct outreach and training and develop educational materials in multiple languages.

Contribute to content development and logistics for delivery of webinars conducted statewide.

Lead development of educational materials where background and expertise are sufficient to serve as a subject matter expert for specific project topics.


30%

Technical assistance with SGMA implementation in English and Spanish or Mandarin:

Assist small-scale farmers to understand and engage with communications, governance processes, planning processes, and management actions of local and regional GSAs.

Conduct site visits to small-scale farms to assess irrigation and groundwater infrastructure and conditions and provide recommendations for improvement.

Provide technical assistance to small-scale farmers with irrigation system, pump, and well assessments.

Determine appropriate referrals to providers and resources such as mobile irrigation labs, Water Efficiency Technical Assistance (WETA) providers, UC Cooperative Extension farm advisors, CDFA's State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP), and nonprofit organizations.

Refer small-scale farmers to consultants providing legal, engineering, geological, hydrogeologic, and environmental services and facilitate communication between farmers and consultants, including working with a translator when appropriate.

Review farm lease agreements for concerns related to SGMA, such as groundwater access, allocations, and fees, and refer farmers to nonprofit organizations and professional advisors for assistance with lease writing.

Participate in professional development and team training activities to enhance technical expertise and outreach skills.

Refer local GSAs to tools, resources, and materials needed to engage and consider impacts of SGMA implementation to small-scale farmers.

30%

Outreach and Communication in English and Spanish or Mandarin:

Attend meetings of local GSAs and review GSPs, proposed management actions, and sub-basin coordination agreements.

Participate in local GSA public meetings and communicate updates on proposed management actions, requirements, and events to small-scale farmers in English and Spanish or Mandarin.

Facilitate communication between GSAs and small-scale farmer communities in English and Spanish or Mandarin.

Serve on committees of local GSAs such as outreach committees when possible and/or assist small-scale farmers to serve on GSA committees.

Conduct outreach and disseminate educational materials in English and Spanish or Mandarin through bilingual radio, social media, email lists, events, and in-person outreach to increase awareness of local GSA proposed management decisions and opportunities to participate.

Conduct farm visits to distribute educational materials and inform farmers of local GSA actions in English and Spanish or Mandarin.

Manage communications including farmer contacts, email lists, flyers, bilingual radio outreach, web content, videos, blog posts, newsletters, and social media platforms.

10%

Data Management and Evaluation:

Coordinate with UC ANR advisors and staff, partner organizations, and small-scale farming communities to prioritize needs for outreach, training, technical assistance, and policy engagement.

Gather and analyze data on challenges for small farms with groundwater management and SGMA implementation and provide results to program leadership.

Evaluate progress towards goals and objectives, organize data for required reporting, and contribute to communicating program outcomes and impacts.

Participate in strategic planning and evaluation with the SGMA Technical Assistance Program team to prepare action plans and strategies for measuring project results.

Synthesize information on the experiences, needs, and concerns of small farms with SGMA implementation and prepare and deliver policy communications for public agencies, nonprofit partner organizations, and elected officials.

Requirements:

• Minimum of a Bachelor's degree and/or equivalent experience/training in the agricultural, environmental, or social sciences, or a related field.
• Continuing education in related field.
• Advanced knowledge (coursework or relevant experience) in irrigation, groundwater management, hydrology, water resources, water policy, water law, water conservation, or other topics relevant to sustainable groundwater management
• Prior experience working in an agricultural setting or working directly with farmers.
• In-depth quantitative and/or analytical skills to evaluate regional trends, policies, and management decisions.
• Advanced organizational skills to manage multiple activities simultaneously to meet objectives within prescribed timelines.
• In-depth experience in outreach, community engagement, adult education, or other community-based activities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Microsoft Excel.
• Advanced verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills and presentation skills.
• Proficient bilingual communication abilities in English and Spanish or Mandarin Chinese.

Preferred Skills:

• Post-baccalaureate degrees, coursework, certifications, or work experience relevant to groundwater policy and management.
• Proficient bilingual communication abilities in English and another language such as Hmong, Iu Mien, Lao, Khmer, Vietnamese, Punjabi, or Korean.
• Experience communicating technical information to culturally diverse audiences.
• Advanced knowledge of organizational and governmental policies, procedures and regulations.
• Advanced ability to network with affiliated organizations outside the university to advance program effectiveness.

Special Conditions of Employment:

• Must possess valid California Driver's License to drive a County or University vehicle. Ability and means to travel on a flexible schedule as needed, proof of liability damage insurance on vehicle used is required. Reimbursement of job-related travel will be reimbursed according to University policies.
• The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check. This is a designated position requiring a background check and may require fingerprinting due to the nature of the job responsibilities. UC ANR does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities.
• 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.
• Travel including travel outside normal business hours may be requested.

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