Job Listings Title:
UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Area Director

Post Date
6/11/2025

Expiration Date
9/9/2025

Details:

Job Description
The University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) is seeking a UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Area Director to provide leadership in support of applied research and outreach programs across the Capitol Corridor Multi-County Partnership (Sacramento, Solano, Yolo Counties). Our mission is to bring the resources and expertise of UC directly to Californians through research and education programs that support:

  • Sustainable, safe, and nutritious food production and delivery
  • Economic success in the local and global economy
  • A sustainable, healthy, and productive environment
  • Science literacy and youth development.
Purpose: The Area Director is presently responsible for the coordination and overall operation of UCCE programs in cooperation with county governments in Sacramento, Solano, and Yolo Counties.
Responsibilities:
  • Act as a liaison between UCCE, Boards of Supervisors and County Administrative Officers as appropriate
    • Serve as the chair of the University of California Cooperative Extension Capitol Corridor MCP Advisory Council. Hold twice yearly meetings of this Advisory Council.
    • Secure county budgets and resources that grow UCCE presence and efforts in the region
    • Build relationships and synergies to deploy UCCE research to address regional needs
    • Supervision and or oversight of UCANR employees
  • Understand and communicate value of UCCE impact to county partners and others
  • Oversight and administration of UCCE educational and applied research programs
    • Hire and manage personnel
    • Provide direction and leadership to UCCE academic and support staff
    • Mentor, manage and evaluate academic personnel
    • Supervision of UC ANR employees
  • Maintain positive working relationships with partnering public and private agencies
  • Expand collaborations and funding sources.
  • Comply with University of California and county policies.
  • Support and grow partnerships with city and county government departments (including Agricultural Commissioner, Parks and Recreation, Environmental Management, Health & Human Services), resource conservation and open space districts, agricultural industry organizations, non-profit agencies, and other aligned partners and organizations in each county.
The Area Director oversees management of the physical plant and human resources. They will increase the visibility of UCCE through community engagement, including but not limited to, needs assessments, representing UC ANR in local and/or regional initiatives, participation in relevant policy development, and communicating the positive impacts and benefits realized by the citizens and workforce of the local counties, region and state from the activities and contributions of local UCCE programs.
UCCE is administered by the University of California, Division of Agriculture Natural Resources. UCCE brings the knowledge of University of California research through its agriculture, natural resources, youth development and nutrition programs to address local questions and to help solve local problems. UCCE academics, staff, and volunteers live and work in the communities they serve, helping identify, respond to, and resolve local challenges. UC ANR connects Californians to UC, leading the way to science-based solutions.
The UCCE teams in Sacramento, Solano, and Yolo Counties are comprised of committed, competent, and self-directed academics and staff. Their integration and orientation with local communities and clientele are strengths that contribute to overall program success and impact. The Area Director will have the exciting opportunity to support and advance ANR’s mission by working collaboratively with these team members, as they develop and deliver research and extension programming, and enact a relationship to extend, enhance and secure on-going relationships to bring UCCE programs to their residents.
Location Headquarters: This position will be headquartered in either Yolo County (Woodland), or Sacramento County (Sacramento).
This position is a career appointment that is 100% fixed.
Pay Scale: $111,000.00/year to $162,700.00/year,
Benefits: The University of California offers comprehensive benefits including vacation, sick leave, and approximately thirteen paid holidays per year. For more information, refer to the UC Benefits website at: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html
Job Posting Close Date: This job is open until filled. To ensure full consideration, the first application review date will be 7/8/2025.
Key Responsibilities:
25% Administration of Cooperative Extension Unit:
  • Provide leadership to academics and staff to ensure assessment of clientele needs.
  • Ensure priority goals for the CE unit are developed and support program implementation.
  • Set standards for the CE unit to measure outcomes and impacts and communicate these to local clientele and stakeholders.
  • Set an example of University and County policy and procedure compliance related to the CE units and their program(s).
  • Use personal knowledge and professional experience to envision the future, anticipate change, capitalize on opportunities and develop innovative options that further the strategic direction of the organization.
  • Demonstrate the ability to analyze situations or problems, make timely and sound decisions, construct plans and achieve optimal results.
  • Value and deliver high quality, professional, responsive and innovative service.
  • Provide oversight of educational extension and applied research programs.
  • Use merit, promotion, and evaluation processes to mentor, educate and provide feedback to support employees.
  • Understand and uniformly apply UC and County Administrative policies.
  • Meet UC and County deadlines and work with staff in advance of deadlines for required records and reports.
  • In collaboration with CE unit academics, respond to regulatory, state and federal agencies, external groups, industry organizations and the mass media on issues related to applied research and extension projects.
  • Develop an organizational structure to optimize the use of human resources in the unit.
  • Participate in the development of vacancy announcements, and in the recruitment and retention of advisors and staff.
25% Leadership to Cooperative Extension Unit Team Members:
  • Demonstrate an ability to share a vision, inspire, and motivate others.
  • Encourage and openly explore new ideas, innovative change, and foster positive transformations.
  • Provide evidence of ongoing support to CE unit members in conducting quality research and extension programs.
  • Demonstrate effective management of personnel, including oversight, annual evaluations, merits and promotions.
  • Show investment in the future success of the CE unit, its programs, team members and community.
  • Share and receive information using clear oral, written and interpersonal communication skills.
  • Model and promote the University of California Principles of Community and comply with UC policies on Diversity and Non-Discrimination.
  • Demonstrate commitment to the job, the county, and the University and their respective missions by acting in ways that further the accomplishment of goals.
  • Actively engage with CE employees to understand and advocate for their programs.
  • Inspire employees to align with the University and county missions to maximize individual performance and meet strategic and operational goals.
  • Maintain effective communication within the University and county government.
  • Demonstrate leadership toward Affirmative Action within CE unit by promoting a culture of acceptance.
  • Provide vision, inspire and motivate others with attitude and actions, set a high standard for excellence, and support a positive team working environment.
  • Provide useful and timely feedback.
  • Work with academics, staff and UC ANR leadership to develop a regional model of applied research and extension education.
  • Provide support, advice, and supervision for all members of the CE unit.
  • Maintain a program of continuous self-improvement by participating in service training, seminars, workshops, work group & program team meetings, short courses, professional society meetings and other relevant opportunities.
  • Coordinate with other UC ANR Directors and participate in regular teleconferences and face-to-face meetings to support our CE unit.
25% Fiscal Development & Management:
  • Clearly demonstrate evidence of successfully securing resources, effectively allocating resources, monitoring the use of resources, and reporting to funding agencies.
  • Demonstrate integrity, accountability and efficient stewardship of university and county resources in a manner consistent with the UC Standards of Ethical conduct and other policies.
  • Work with UC ANR development officers to increase the number of donors and average gift value to secure funding for county extension programs outside of support from county budgets.
25% Partnerships and Relationships:
  • Cultivate, maintain, and nurture internal UC relationships.
  • Cultivate, maintain, and nurture political relationships.
  • Cultivate, maintain and nurture industry relationships.
  • Collaborate with colleagues to achieve results in alignment with the operations and mission of the University of California.
  • Cultivate relationships with new and existing partners that include County Government to obtain the resources to build new programs thus expanding UCCE's reach in the region.
  • Represent the University as a resource and contact person to industry leaders, producers, non-University of California academics and the public.
  • Communicate needs, successes and opportunities with Government Affairs staff.
  • Collaborate with Government Affairs staff to build relations with state government.
  • Convene an Advisory Committee from the county and city government, NGOs, and academics, as a sounding board for ideas and strategic planning.
  • Provide active, ongoing advocacy and support for UC ANR programs.

Requirements:
  • Education: Advanced degree in public administration, organizational development, business administration or a related area and/or equivalent level of training and experience. Individuals with training and experience in county government, institutions of higher learning, management of applied research programs or other fields such as agriculture, natural resources, community development, and sociology will also be considered.
  • Strong background in management, administration or similar experience including, but not limited to, business operations, budget and fiscal management, human resources, conflict resolution, leadership in multidisciplinary teams, project management, facilities planning, etc.
  • Demonstrated experience with applied research and educational programs, and working with academics.
  • Knowledge and experience in supporting volunteer and youth programs.
  • Understanding of the UC ANR mission.
  • Demonstrated record of skills in leadership, strategic planning, program evaluation and supervisory skills that motivate and develop staff.
  • Ability to achieve goals through promoting collaboration and teambuilding.
  • Ability to understand impacts of research findings and communicate them to broader audiences.
  • Demonstrated effectiveness collaborating with elected officials, non-governmental organizations, and diverse interest groups.
  • Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
  • Excellent fiduciary and budgeting skills.
Preferred Skills:
  • Doctorate degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
  • Working knowledge of agriculture, natural resources and/or healthy families and communities, Cooperative Extension, academic programs, etc.
Special Conditions of Employment:
  • Driver's License (U08): Must maintain valid CA DL and clean DMV record to drive a County or University vehicle.  Ability and means to travel on a flexible schedule as needed, proof of liability and property damage insurance on vehicle used is required.
  • Reimbursement of job-related travel will be reimbursed according to University policies.
  • Must live within a commutable distance of the position headquarters during period of appointment.
    • This is not a remote work position.
  • Physically be in each of the three MCP counties for three full days of work monthly, as well as, one day per week in each county to meet with stakeholders.
  • Ability and means to travel on a flexible schedule as needed.
  • 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.
  • Exercise the utmost discretion in managing sensitive information learned in the course of performing their duties. Sensitive information includes but is not limited to employee and student records, health and patient records, financial data, strategic plans, proprietary information, and any other sensitive or non-public information learned during the course and scope of employment. Understands that sensitive information should be shared on a limited basis and actively takes steps to limit access to sensitive information to individuals who have legitimate business need to know. Ensure that sensitive information is properly safeguarded.  Follow all organizational policies and laws on data protection and privacy. This includes secure handling of physical and digital records and proper usage of IT systems to prevent data leaks. The unauthorized or improper disclosure of confidential work-related information obtained from any source on any work-related matter is a violation of these expectations.
  • Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer. 
a. “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.  For reference, below are UC’s policies addressing some forms of misconduct: