Careers

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Summary

The Stakeholder Relationship Coordinator creates and strengthens the connections of UMass Extension’s Commercial Horticulture Group to stakeholders by providing specialized educational and program support. Organizes and facilitates development, implementation, marketing, distribution, and evaluation of in-person, online, and printed educational programs and projects, along with logistical and financial management for these efforts. Serves as a primary point of contact to provide and coordinate assistance and consultation for professional and public stakeholders in relevant topic areas.

Essential Functions

• Plans, schedules, coordinates, promotes, and executes varied Extension education, training, and professional development programs and projects. This can include workshops and seminars, short courses, newsletters, web sites, social media, printed publications, and other electronic communications, presentations and demonstrations such as Green School, the Invasive Insect Certification Program, the Spring Kickoff for Landscape & Lawn Care, and the Community Tree Conference, as well as the UMass Garden Calendar and UMass Extension’s Landscape Message and Hort Notes newsletters. Includes online, remote facilitation as well as on-site, in-person facilitation.
• Develops and administers data tooling for processes such as surveys, needs assessments, and enrollment. Analyzes response data to provide financial, logistical support and management for related programs and projects. Develops post program evaluation procedures focusing on continuous improvement of Extension programs.
• Designs, plans, and executes Extension programs using various content delivery methods such as web, web conferencing, learning management, e-commerce, and constituent tracking software based on input from post program data. Drives development, technical review, and editing of content relevant to programs and projects.
• Collaborates with the finance team to create data-informed budgets, revenue projections, and procurement plans, and to manage expenses and project accounting. Utilizes and stays up to date with relevant University systems. 
• Exercises effective communication and project management best practices to ensure organization of planning, timelines, information sharing, project goals, and achievement of Extension program success. Collaborates with other departments, campus-wide, including administration and finance and procurement, as well as external vendors, distributors, venues, service providers, and agencies as necessary and appropriate to accomplish goals. Monitors and measures project progress and identifies when a course change or corrective action is necessary.
• Coordinates and provides educational assistance and individualized consultation to connect stakeholders to resources in areas including land care, general horticulture, and agriculture, with emphasis on professional land care and home horticulture including serving as principal point of contact for program area.
• Administers relevant professional State and regional horticultural certification, recertification, and licensing programs, and workforce development benefit and incentive programs in connection with programming efforts.
• Collaborates with Extension leadership to actively optimize and enhance revenue potential of educational programming. Identifies state/federal funding sources, and writes grant proposals in pursuit of external sponsorships to increase and diversify funding for program activities depending on the business Unit and strategic goals of Extension.
• Ensures that all programs are conducted in compliance with appropriate agency and certification requirements, including federal, state and university diversity, equity, and inclusion laws, regulations, and policies.
• Hires, trains, and/or supervises work study students, volunteers, and temporary staff assigned to these programs.

Other Functions

• Keeps thorough records and contributes to compilation and submission of reports.
• Participates in professional development activities, continuing education, and in-service training relative to position both within and outside of UMass.
• Works collaboratively and effectively to promote teamwork, diversity, equality and inclusiveness. 
• Works in partnership with colleagues within the CNS community and across the campus to support the Dean’s strategic priorities.
• Performs other duties as assigned in support of the mission and goals of the College of Natural Sciences.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Bachelor’s degree and three (3) years relevant, professional experience including relevant horticultural or agricultural discipline, project management, and/or event management.
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Extensive experience with computer systems, information technology and electronic communications, as well as audio-visual equipment used in meeting and classroom settings.
• Demonstrated knowledge of office practices and procedures, including office record keeping and use of equipment.
• Ability to maintain a diverse schedule of local, statewide, and regional activity.
• Must have a valid driver's license.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Experience in education, extension education, scientific communication, or similar outreach efforts.
• Demonstrated experience with budgeting and bookkeeping, and related financial systems.
• Experience with competitive grant and/or sponsorship development.
• Knowledge of horticultural science as applied to home and/or commercial settings.
• Ability to work independently, organize multiple tasks and set priorities for action, take initiative, be creative, and operate with self-direction in a fast-paced role.
• Ability to efficiently manage multiple projects simultaneously and to set and meet deadlines while maintaining high standards of accuracy and quality.
• Demonstrated ability to interact effectively and work productively in establishing and maintaining harmonious working relationships with a diverse population of coworkers, collaborators, and stakeholders.
• Experience with various software including, Drupal, Moodle, Canvas, Stova, Zoom, GoToWebinar, MailChimp, Marketing Cloud, and similar.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

• Driving over extended distances.
• Lifting, carrying and set up of materials and equipment.
• Working in a typical office environment.
• Working in outdoor environments in varying weather conditions.

Work Schedule

• Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 4:00pm.
• Required to work some early mornings, evenings, and weekends as necessary. Regular local, in-state and regional travel.
• This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee’s work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the Professional Staff Union collective bargaining agreement.

Salary Information

Level 26

PSU Hiring Ranges

Special Instructions to Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume, cover letter, and a Contributions to Inclusive Excellence Statement (see below). References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references. Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis until the position is filled. Early submissions are encouraged.

At UMass Amherst and in CNS, we strive to be a community where every individual feels a sense of belonging, where every individual is included, and where every individual is valued. You can find these values and goals here: https://www.umass.edu/strategicplan/strategic-plan. For this reason, we request that all applicants submit a Contributions to Inclusive Excellence Statement that addresses how you see yourself contributing to our community and campus climate and/or our shared goals of building a more inclusive, equitable, and diverse community.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University.  To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans.  It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.