Extension Pesticide Program Specialist

Description & Details:

North Dakota State University Extension invites applications for a 12-month, non-tenure track Extension (100%) Specialist position. The successful candidate will lead the Pesticide Training and Certification Program (PTCP). The program delivers trainings and conducts a competency examination system to issue U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) delegated certifications to use Restricted Use Pesticides.

The program is both the State Lead Regulatory Agency for Pesticide Certification and the Extension Pesticide Safety Coordinator for the State of North Dakota. Currently, the program manages about 11,000 Private Applicators and 5,800 Commercial/Public Applicators and Dealers. The successful candidate will work in close cooperation with the North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA), the State Lead Regulatory Agency for Pesticide Registration and Enforcement, and the USEPA to certify applicators. In order to accomplish this, the successful applicant will coordinate educational programing with NDSU Extension Specialists in Pest Management, Application Technology, and Farm Safety. The successful specialist will be responsible to delivering trainings and certifications to professional applicators and dealers and will work cooperatively with NDSU County Extension Agents to deliver trainings and certifications to Private Applicators.

The program employs two full time administrative staff, a 0.25 FTE computer database programmer, and two part-time undergraduate student assistants. The PTCP is funded primarily from certification fees. The program receives secondary support from a cooperative agreement with Region 8 USEPA, an Extension Foundation grant, and an IPM USDA grant. The program receives tertiary support from fees generated from trainings, sales of manuals, and revenues derived from NDDA Enforcement Actions.

The position is located on the NDSU Campus in Fargo to facilitate engagement with program staff, campus based faculty, Extension Administration, and support services provided by the NDSU Agriculture Communication Department.

The successful candidate will:

• Implement and manage North Dakota's Pesticide Certification Plan.

• Provide reports/policy advice on pesticides as directed by the ND Pesticide Control Board, the ND Legislature, the Governor of ND, and the USEPA.

• Administer the PTCP budget and oversee the collection/disbursement of funds dedicated to County Extension Programs.

• Conduct Commercial/Public Applicator/Dealer Trainings and supporting educational materials including: presentations, videos, web content, fact sheets, and manuals.

• Develop education materials for use by County Extension Agents in the delivery of Private Applicator Trainings.

• Create and maintain competency exams for Commercial/Public Applicators, Dealers and Private Applicators.

• Oversee the maintenance of the Pesticide Certification Database for the State of ND.

• Track pesticide regulations at the State and Federal level and provide briefings/interpretations to industry and NDSU Extension/Agricultural Experiment Station Personnel.

• Provide Worker Protection Standard Trainings for temporary NDSU Extension and Agricultural Experiment Station employees who may be working around or with pesticides.

• Develop collaborative relationships with ND State Colleges, the ND Agriculture Association, the ND Aerial Applicators Association, ND Aeronautics Commission, North Central Turf Grass Association, the ND Nursery and Greenhouse Association, the ND Weed Control Association, and the North Central Chapter of the American Mosquito Control Association.

• Participate in Professional Organizations including but not limited to: The American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators, the American Association of State Pesticide Control Officials, the ND Association of Extension Agricultural Agents, and the ND Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Masters of Science Degree in an agricultural pest management discipline, agricultural engineering, agronomy, soils, horticulture or agricultural education.

• Three years of experience in Extension related programming

• Background in pesticide use/sales

• Valid driver's license

Preferred Qualifications:

• Masters of Science Degree in an agricultural pest management discipline or agricultural engineering with a focus on pesticide application technology

• Five years of Extension experience

• Two years of pesticide application experience and/or sales

• Demonstrated management of budgets, grants, and personnel

• Commercial/Public Applicator/Dealer Pesticide Certification

Applicant Materials Required:

• Cover Letter

• Curriculum Vitae

• Vision for Extension Pesticide Program

• Names and Contact information of three professional references

Screening will begin 5/21/24

Contact:

Please contact for more information Dr. Andrew Friskop, search committee chair, NDSU Department of Plant Pathology, Department 7660. email: andrew.j.friskop@ndsu.edu Phone: 701-231-7627

Please contact for more

NDSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes single or family health insurance coverage with premiums paid for by the university - with an effective date for new employees the first of the month following date of hire. Other benefits include: wellness benefits, basic life insurance, retirement plan, tuition waiver, annual leave, EAP, sick leave and holiday pay. Optional benefits include: supplemental life, dental, vision, long-term care insurance, flexible spending account, and supplemental retirement plans.

About Us:

North Dakota State University is distinctive as a student focused, land-grant, research university. We educate leaders who solve national and global challenges by providing affordable access to an excellent education that combines teaching and research in a rich learning environment.

NDSU is in the highest Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, R1, granted to the top research institutions in the country.

NDSU has offices across the state of North Dakota, and the main campus is in Fargo, on the Minnesota border. Along with Moorhead, Minnesota, Fargo forms one of the largest metropolitan centers between Minneapolis and Seattle. The community is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live.

No Smoking Notice:

As an employer, the State of North Dakota prohibits smoking in all places of state employment in accordance with N.D.C.C. § 23-12-10.

EO/AA Statement:

North Dakota State University is an Equal Opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, gender expression/identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, participation in lawful off-campus activity, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, public assistance status, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, spousal relationship to current employee, or veteran status, as applicable.

Diversity Statement:

NDSU strives to be a community of belonging, recognizing unique differences as strengths of our university. We seek to recruit and retain a diverse workforce that supports a community in which diverse populations and perspectives will know and learn from one another. NDSU values candidates who are committed to our core values of respect, inclusivity, community, creativity, excellence, impact, innovation, integrity, resilience, responsiveness, and transformation. Successful candidates will be committed to and help advance our strategic goal to create and maintain an open and respectful environment to promote inclusivity and diversity as a cornerstone of education, research, and outreach.

Veteran's Preference Notice:

This position is subject to North Dakota Veteran's Preference requirements.

Reasonable Accommodation Information

North Dakota State University is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education, and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, please contact Human Resources at 701-231-8961 or ndsu.hr@ndsu.edu.

Land Acknowledgement

We collectively acknowledge that NDSU, a land grant institution, on the traditional lands of the Oceti Sakowin (Dakota, Lakota, Nakoda) and Anishinaabe Peoples in addition to many diverse Indigenous Peoples still connected to these lands. We honor with gratitude Mother Earth and the Indigenous Peoples who have walked with her throughout generations. We will continue to learn how to live in unity with Mother Earth and build strong, mutually beneficial, trusting relationships with Indigenous Peoples of our region. (see www.ndsu.edu/inclusioncouncil/native_american_initiatives/).