Food Systems Area Advisor (AP# 24-21)

Date Posted: February 18, 2025
Closing Date:
April 7, 2025

Job Description: Download

Position Overview

The University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) invites applications for a UC Cooperative Extension Food Systems Area Advisor, serving Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. The advisor will implement an innovative multi-county extension education and applied research program that will focus on local and regional food supply chains, ensuring that locally produced food reaches local consumers in an equitable and sustainable manner.

UCCE Advisors are responsible for applied research and extension of knowledge. Research activities are applied, needs-based, mission-oriented, and focused on addressing our communities' challenges. Extension activities are the educational practices advisors use to share research results directly with clientele and communities to increase their knowledge and understanding of science-based research results that support and promote the adoption of practices and technologies to solve problems. Extension methods may include individual consultations, presentations, organization of educational workshops and short courses, field demonstrations, farm calls, and site visits. Information may also be disseminated via radio outreach, webinars, fact sheets, policy briefs, news blogs, and social media. Publications are expected in various formats, such as newsletters, articles for the popular press, curriculums, conference proceedings, and peer-reviewed publications. Successful research and extension programs result in new information that improves knowledge or understanding and adoption of new skills, practices, changed attitudes, policies, and improved environmental, health, agricultural, economic, and/or social conditions. UCCE Advisors are evaluated through an academic advancement system based on four criteria: extending knowledge, applied research and creative activity, professional competence and activity, and university and public service. There is an expectation that advisors evolve and grow across their careers and respond to changes in the industry, clientele, and organizational change.

Location Headquarters: University of California Cooperative Extension Office in Ventura County, Ventura, California.

Position Details

The Foods Systems Area Advisor will conduct a multi-county extension education and applied research program, on the viability, sustainability, and equity of local and regional food systems. The advisor will develop a strong focus on local and regional food supply chains, ensuring that locally produced food reaches local consumers. Topics include food equity and food justice, food hubs, farm-to-school and farm-to-table programs, community gardens/urban agriculture, agritourism, reducing food waste, reducing the carbon footprint of food, and food policies.

This position will extend science-based information to clientele on the structure of food systems, barriers to local food systems, infrastructure and policy needs to develop local food systems, marketing and economic analyses, and food inequity and justice. Information will be shared via in-person meetings, at local and regional conferences, to county boards of supervisors, city council meetings, local business alliances, in newspaper articles, extension publications, websites, social media, etc.

The advisor will collaborate with UCCE Advisors and Specialists and campus faculty, as well as Agricultural Experiment Station (AES) faculty and external researchers and stakeholders, to conduct research on food systems in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties. Potential areas of investigation include marketing strategies for local foods, such as direct-to-consumer, farmers' markets, farm-to-institution, and community-supported agriculture, as well as agritourism and agribusiness opportunities, including the potential for a farm-to-table food accelerator to promote small food businesses utilizing locally sourced ingredients. The potential external stakeholders for this position include Farm Bureau members, staff of county public health departments, city and county planners, policymakers, community foundation staff, members of civic alliances, social justice advocates, school district personnel, farmers' market managers, retail chefs, restaurant owners, grocery store managers, and staff of farm-to-school programs, food policy councils, local non-pro??its related to food access issues, food coops, and statewide partners such as the Community Alliance with Family Farmers.

As a foundation for their work, the advisor will conduct a food systems analysis to help understand the current network of local food systems and determine the soft and hard infrastructure needed to increase the amount of locally grown food reaching local/regional markets. Market and consumer analyses should identify barriers and incentives for promoting the purchase of local agricultural products. Studies can also be conducted on food equity and food justice, as well as improvements to structural policies. Research should be published in reputable journals such as Food Policy, The Journal of Agricultural Economics, and the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, as well as in local trade publications, newsletters, and websites.

Counties of Responsibility. This position has programmatic responsibilities in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties.

Reporting Relationship: The advisor serves under the administrative and academic guidance of the University of California Cooperative Extension Area County Director of San Luis Obispo/ Santa Barbara/Ventura Counties with additional input from the County Director for Los Angeles County. It is not a remote position; the candidate must be available to work onsite at the headquarters location and travel to and be present in Los Angeles County. Specific expectations for maintaining office hours and fieldwork in the geographic area covered by this position will be outlined upon hire by the respective directors and supervisors.

Qualifications and Skills Required

Required Qualifications

Education: A minimum of a master's degree in food studies, food policy, food systems, sustainable design, food science and nutrition, economics, agriculture, community development, or a related field is required at the time of appointment.

Key Qualifications

* Coursework and/or experience in food systems, food policies, food and nutrition, or agricultural economics.
* Experience collaborating across disciplines on research and education projects.
* Familiarity with California's food systems landscape.
* Interest in and a desire to pursue a career in UC Cooperative Extension
* Technical competence in food systems: The candidate should be able to design and implement a program that leads to positive impact within the community and beyond.
* Demonstrated excellence in written, oral, interpersonal, and information technology communication skills.
* Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as a team member with key stakeholders, county-based staff, community-based organizations, and colleagues in UC ANR.
* 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 a valid California Driver's License to drive a County or University Vehicle.
* As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.
"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties
APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

Desired Experience
* Experience and demonstrated excellence in applied research
* Experience in group facilitation
* Skills in IGIS, spatial analysis, or statistics
* Bilingual skills (Spanish/English)
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/anrstaff/files/319460.pdf

About UC ANR

UC ANR is a division of the University of California (UC) system that bridges the gap between local issues and the expertise of the UC system by providing research-based information, educational programs, and technical expertise to the public in areas such as agriculture, natural resources, nutrition, and youth development. UC ANR is part of a nationwide Cooperative Extension network, which began in the early 20th century to connect research from land-grant universities with the everyday needs of people in communities across the United States. Today, we collaborate with farmers, ranchers, diverse communities, youth and adult educators, and policymakers to address local and statewide issues related to food systems, water, climate change, and sustainable agriculture through a statewide network of campus-based researchers, county-based Advisors, and community educators. Our mission is to cultivate thriving communities, sustainable agriculture, resilient ecosystems, and economic prosperity in California and globally through equitable generation and sharing of collaborative, science-based solutions. Over 180 UCCE Advisors conduct applied research and extension education from county-based UCCE offices serving all 58 counties from 70+ locations. 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 resources UC has to offer. Our vision is that UC ANR will be valued in every California community for meaningful engagement and making a positive difference in people's lives.

About Ventura and Los Angeles Counties

Both Los Angeles and Ventura Counties have large urban populations, with their combined residents totaling almost 10.5 million. Los Angeles County alone has over 9.6 million residents, making it the most populous county in the United States. Major population centers include the cities of Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Pasadena in Los Angeles County and Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, and Ventura in Ventura County. Despite significant urbanization, Ventura County ranks tenth in the state in agricultural production. In 2023, the value of Ventura County's crops was over 2.1 billion dollars, and its leading crops were strawberries, nursery stock, lemons, celery, raspberries, and avocados. However, aside from a network of farmers' markets and farm-to-table style restaurants in both counties, it is not clear how food supply chains are structured in the region. Much food produced in Ventura County is shipped across the US and Canada, as well as overseas. At the same time, 25% of households in Los Angeles County face food insecurity and 10.5% of Ventura County's population is food insecure. Many populations have disproportionately high rates of food insecurity, including farm workers, despite working on farms producing a bounty of fruits and vegetables. The proximity of Los Angeles County's population to Ventura's production of specialty crops offers opportunities to strengthen supply chains, shorten food miles, reduce the carbon footprint of food, reduce food waste, and address food insecurity in both counties.

Learn more about
* UC ANR and UC ANR Mission Statement.
* UC ANR administers Statewide Programs and Institutes that focus research and extension on solving priority problems that engage ANR academics and UC faculty in integrated teams
* UC ANR Strategic Initiatives help unify, communicate, and advocate for the work we do.
* UC ANR UC ANR uses seven Public Value statements to communicate how our work makes a difference to the public.
* UC ANR academics are expected to share and exhibit UC ANR's commitment to UC ANR's Affirmative Action policy
* UC ANR academics are expected to share and exhibit UC ANR's commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
* 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.
* As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.
"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties
APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

Salary & Benefits

Salary: The salary range for this Cooperative Extension Advisor position is Assistant Rank, Step I ($82,900) to Step VI ($105,200). Step placement in the advisor series is based on applicable experience and professional qualifications. For information regarding Cooperative Extension Advisor salary scales, please refer to the University of California website: https://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/files/358478.pdf

If the successful candidate is currently a UCCE Advisor, the candidate will be offered the position without change to the candidate's current rank, step, salary and/or appointment terms; and if applicable, is eligible to retain indefinite status.

This position is eligible for indefinite status following three successful reviews and subject to terms noted in UC ANR Policy and Procedure Manual, Section 315 of the ANR Policy and Procedure Manual (PPM):

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 paid holidays. This position is eligible for sabbatical leave privileges as per the terms of the University policy. For more information, refer to the UC Benefits website at: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html

How to Apply
If you are interested in this position, please visit: https://recruit.ucanr.edu/ and choose "applicants" (refer to position #24-21). An in-person finalist interview may be required as part of the search process.

Closing Date: To assure full consideration, application packets must be received by
April 7, 2025 - (Open until filled)

Questions?
Contact Mikyla Perez; email: mikperez@ucanr.edu

Applicants may wish to explore the UC Davis Services for International Students and Scholars web page at https://siss.ucdavis.edu and the UC ANR Green Card Sponsorship Guidelines & FAQ's for reference.

University of California Cooperative Extension

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.