UC Cooperative Extension Orchard Systems Advisor (Cherries, Walnuts, Olives, Apples)

Serving San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties

The University of California division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) invites applications for a UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Orchard Systems Advisor, in the Assistant Rank, serving San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties. The successful candidate will develop and implement an innovative applied research and extension education program that will focus on walnut and sweet cherry production.Disciplinary focus will be on production systems, integrated pest management, nutrient management, irrigation management and efficiency, business strategies, soil fertility and health, and mitigating the impacts of climate change.The position will also include sweet cherry in Sacramento County and area wide responsibilities for olives (oil and table), and several other smaller-acreage crops including apples, prunes, persimmons, and pomegranates. San Joaquin County is the statewide leader in both cherry and walnut production and the advisor would be expected to develop a regional and statewide expertise on these crops, providing leadership within ANR. This position will work with commercial organic, regenerative, and conventional production and marketing systems.


UCCE Advisors are responsible for applied research and the extension of knowledge. Research activities are applied, needs-based, mission-oriented, and focused on addressing our communities' challenges. Extension activities are educational practices Advisors use to share research results directly with their clientele and communities. Increased knowledge and understanding of science-based research helps to support and promote the adoption of practices and technologies that 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.

Location Headquarters: This position will be headquartered in the UCCE Office in San Joaquin County located at 2101 E. Earhart Ave. #200, Stockton, CA 95206.

Position Details

The advisor will address UC ANR's value statements and condition changes by promoting the economic prosperity of California while protecting our natural resources, mitigating climate change, and safeguarding abundant food for Californians. High priority issues include increasing fruit and nut tree production while reducing the environmental footprint of fertilization, irrigation and pest management practices, the implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and mitigating the effects of climate change. The likelihood of producing significant impacts is high as this position is visible and ranked as critical by the walnut and cherry industries.

San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties have a mixture of part-time small acreage and full-time medium acreage growers. There are many critical research needs for these commodities. Research opportunities include rootstock, variety, irrigation, fertilization and pruning of walnuts and cherries; development of selective and integrated new approaches for managing endemic and invasive pests and diseases; improving cherry quality through improved growing and handling, and testing of new technologies to improve orchard efficiency and mechanization, such as higher density short stature orchard systems and mechanical or assisted harvesting innovations for cherries and apples. Extension efforts will cover very basic information for new, small acreage growers as well as cutting-edge information for more experienced, sophisticated growers. Extension methods will be varied and sensitive to the mixed learning styles and information resourcing preferences of a multi-generational diverse audience.California pest control advisors (PCA) and certified crop advisors (CCA) seek continuing education to continue to advise farmers on best practices while developing nutrient management plans on roughly 475,000 fruit and nut acres in San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties.

Since the Northern San Joaquin Valley leads the nation in sweet cherry production, the advisor will serve as the liaison to the California Cherry Marketing and Research Boards, with the opportunity to develop statewide expertise in sweet cherry production, providing a resource to other advisors and out of state scientists, creating opportunities for out of state and international cooperation. In addition, this position is strongly supported by the California Walnut Board.

This position will play a key role in statewide leadership for the commodities it covers, working closely with UC Specialists and Faculty through commodity workgroups, program teams, and initiative groups. The proximity of San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties to the campuses of UC Davis, UC Merced, and UC Berkeley will provide
numerous opportunities for collaborative research and extension activities with ANR and AES scientists and advisors in these counties. This position will also work closely with USDA-ARS, CDFA, and NRCS scientists.

Counties of Responsibility: This position will be headquartered in San Joaquin County and will serve San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties.

Reporting Relationship: The Orchard Crops Advisor will serve under the administrative guidance of the County Director for San Joaquin County, with input from the Stanislaus County Director. 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 Stanislaus County to cover programmatic responsibilities. Specific expectations for maintaining office hours and fieldwork in the geographic area covered by this position will be outlined upon hire by the County Director.

Qualifications and Skills Required
Required Qualifications
Education: A minimum of a master's degree in pomology, production horticulture, pest management or a closely related field is required at the time of appointment.

Key Qualifications:

Experience in conducting applied research in agriculture, horticulture or natural resources.

Experience delivering educational and outreach programming.

Experience in program and/or personnel management.

The CE Advisor must possess or obtain a Qualified Pesticide Applicator Certificate (QAC) or License (QAL) prior to applying or supervising the application of any pesticide.

Ability and means to travel on a flexible schedule as needed, proof of liability, and property damage insurance on the vehicle used is required.Must possess or obtain a valid California Driver's License to drive a County or University Vehicle.

We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employmentvisaat this time. Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. at the time of hire.

This is not a remote position.

Additional Skills Required

Applicants need to meet appointment criteria for the respective University of California academic titleseries and evidence for success in meeting required academic advancement criteria as per UC Academic Personnel Manuals. Applications need to document relevant research, extension, and teaching experience, and appropriate scholarly achievements.

Interest in and desire to pursue a career in UC Cooperative Extension.

Technical Competence and Impact: The candidate should understand key concepts related to horticultural production practices, small farm economics and other related topics suitable for the area.

Communication: Demonstrated excellence in written, oral, interpersonal and information technology communication skills.

Collaboration, Teamwork and Flexibility: The candidate should demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively as a team member with key external stakeholders and county-based staff, as well as with other colleagues within UC ANR.

Lifelong Learning: There is an expectation that advisors evolve and grow across their career and respond to changes in the industry, clientele, and organizational change.

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.

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About UC Agriculture and Natural Resources

The University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) consists of a network of scientists and educators working in partnership across the California. We are committed to developing and supporting healthy food systems, healthy environments, healthy communities, and healthy Californians. UC ANR administers UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE), which is responsible for program development and delivery in the counties throughout the state of California.

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