Job Detail

Extension Agent West Virginia Tree Minders

Location: Institute, WV
Salary:

Job Summary

The full-time West Virginia Tree Minders (WVTM) Extension Agent position will operate within West Virginia State University Research and Development Corporation’s Extension Service, specifically within the Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) division.  This position is a 2-year full-time appointment 100% supported by USDA NIFA funding for the West Virginia Tree Minders capacity-building grant. The WVTM Extension Agent is responsible for assisting the Extension Agent of Forestry and Natural Resources (Principal Investigator, PI) in planning, delivery, and evaluation of educational programming and technical assistance for the West Virginia Tree Minders program.  This program serves communities and groups in the state of West Virginia in caring for urban and community trees and serves as a hub for urban and community forestry information and programming for the state. This position is employed by the West Virginia State University Research and Development Corporation. 

Essential Functions:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Assist with WVTM certification program development and delivery
• Assist with WVTM certification program participant recruitment, feedback and tracking
• Foster communication between program stakeholders
• Maintain databases of project-specific activities (e.g., tree inventories and participation rates)
• Conduct street tree inventories and generate resultant reports
• Technical assistance and training for homeowners and communities
• Campus arboretum management and Tree Campus Higher Education requirements

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

The position holder will work with the PI and interns to deliver various WVTM programming including workshops and webinars. Tasks include developing and implementing community-based events and training experiences and assisting with creating a WVTM handbook.  The individual will be expected to prepare a schedule of events, actively promote participation and collect Civil Rights and other participant data.  The WVTM Agent will assist in recruiting new WV communities to work toward Tree City USA status and serve on local municipal or community tree boards as well as the WV Urban Forestry Council.

The WVTM Agent will communicate in-person or remotely with various partners, stakeholders and community members to support WVTM certification program goals.  The individual will provide field expertise, conduct street tree inventories for communities and create associated reports and management plans.  The WVTM Agent will also be expected to help maintain campus arboretum trees and conduct student activities in accordance with Tree Campus Higher Education requirements.

Required and Desired Skills and Traits

• Interpersonal skills that permit effective communication with community and city officials, landholders, stakeholders and agency partners from diverse backgrounds
• Ability to work independently in the field with minimal supervision
• Willingness to work collaboratively, both in person and virtually
• Dependability and strong work ethic
• Flexibility

Supervisory Responsibilities

Responsibilities of the position may include: guiding summer interns as requested by the PI and recruiting community volunteers and participants.

Competencies

• Technical Capacity: computing experience with basic communications software and data entry, word processing, Internet research abilities, GIS/GPS experience preferred
• Collaboration and communication skills (oral and written)
• Personal Effectiveness/Credibility
• Organizational skills
• Familiarity with urban and community forestry field including planting, pruning, inventorying skills and management plans
• Task flexibility

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.  This job operates in a mixed environment, including active outdoor labor and work within a professional office environment.  This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines. The WVTM Agent will need to demonstrate tree planting and pruning as well as utilize appropriate protective gear for such activities.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, sit and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is regularly required to stand, walk, look and work above the head and reach with hands and arms. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. The employee is expected to work both inside and outside in a variety of temperature and weather conditions.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position.  Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5 PM.  Summer Schedule is Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.  Flexible hours, including evenings, weekends and occasional overnights are required due to the nature of work performed.

Travel

Local and state-wide travel required as needed for in-person workshop delivery.

Education and/or Experience

A Bachelor's degree is required, Masters preferred in one of the following fields: forestry, natural resources, environmental studies or biological sciences. The successful candidate will have basic knowledge of urban and community forestry, utility forestry and/or arboriculture, strong written and oral communication skills and experience in working with diverse clientele and organizations.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

The applicant must have or be able to obtain a valid West Virginia Driver’s License.  Spanish proficiency (both spoken and written) is desirable but not required.

Other Duties

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.  Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Work Authorization/Security Clearance

This position is designated as security-sensitive.  Before an offer of employment is made, a pre-employment background investigation will be completed, which may include a background check of criminal, educational, DMV and prior employment history.

---

Back to Job Listings