Extension Specialist, New Farm Enterprise & Entrepreneurship,
Center for Profitable Agriculture: UTIA

Columbia, TN, United States

Job Description

The Extension Specialist – New Farm Enterprise and Entrepreneurship provides leadership for planning, implementing, evaluating and reporting statewide educational programs in new farm enterprise analysis, planning, development, management and sustainability; entrepreneurship; landowner education (focusing on slowing the rate of farmland loss); and value-added agriculture. The position is full-time, non-tenure track, 100% Extension position. The Specialist will:

• Lead the development of curriculum, publications and other resources for statewide educational programs in new farm enterprise analysis, planning, development, management and sustainability; entrepreneurship; landowner; and value-added agriculture.
• Teach educational programs for land owners, agricultural producers, industry partners and Extension agents.
• Coordinate educational programs such as workshops, webinars, tours, and conferences.
• Provide consultations and technical assistance for designated subject matter topics via farm and office visits.
• Secure extramural funds through grants, fee-based programs, and gifts.
• Evaluate and report program inputs, outcomes, impacts and accomplishments.
• Develop and maintain cooperative working relationships with relevant Extension colleagues and industry partners.
• Assume other duties as assigned.

Responsibilities

• Program Development (including curriculum and publication development and grantsmanship).
• Teaching (in-service training for agents and multi-county programs for producers, landowners, and industry partners) Teaching the program as a train the trainer to employees throughout the state.
• Conducting needs assessment and environmental scanning. Keeping current on all current trends in their program area and ability to create curriculum to teach and share with other employees who may also teaching it to clientele. Conducting assessments to find the needed programs in portions of the state.
• Program evaluation - Evaluating number of contacts throughout the state for area program. What impact it has provided or not provided. How to update the program from the data.
• Coordinate and select tasks forces within UTIA for action.
• Program management- Determining changes and updates to the statewide program.
• Public relations-Publications, websites, videos, social media, and other ways of contacting the public with our programs. Must provide a professional image of Extension.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Education/Experience: 
  • S. Degree in Agricultural Business, Agricultural Economics, Economics, Finance, Marketing, Business Administration or closely related field 

OR 

• S. Degree with two or more years of relevant experience in Agricultural Business, Agricultural Economics, Economics, Finance, Marketing, Business Administration or closely related field. Candidates completing required degrees prior to June 1, 2026, are welcome to apply.

• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
  • Knowledge and skills that demonstrate promise in Extension program development, implementation, teaching, evaluation and reporting.
  • Knowledge and skills that demonstrate promise in new farm and value-added enterprise analysis, planning, development, operation and management.
  • Knowledge and skills that demonstrate promise in entrepreneurship.
  • Effective communication skills (written and verbal).
  • Ability to effectively work independently and serve as a team leader and team member.
  • Ability to effectively utilize computer applications such as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), Internet (Web, e-mail), etc.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: 
  • Bachelor's degree in the relevant fields, knowledge of or experience in agriculture.
• Experience:
  • 1-3 years of relevant experience.
• Our Ideal Candidate will have:
  • Knowledge of agricultural Extension programs and the land-grant mission.
  • Knowledge and skills in grant writing.

Work Location: 

• Location: University of Tennessee, Institute of Agriculture, Extension, Center for Profitable Agriculture at the Ridley 4-H Center in Columbia, Tennessee
• Onsite

Compensation and Benefits:

• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions:

 To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments. To be assured of full consideration, completed applications with all requested materials should be submitted on or before April 10, 2026. Applicants completing educational requirements prior to June 1, 2026 are welcome to apply.

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter
3. Official or unofficial transcripts showing degree(s) conferred.

Link to job posting:https://fa-ewlq-saasfaprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/jobs/preview/7256/?keyword=New+Farm+Enterprise+%26+Entrepreneurship&mode=location

About The College/Department/Division:

UT Extension’s Center for Profitable Agriculture is a partnership between the University of Tennessee and the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation. Center staff provide educational materials, educational programming and technical assistance to farmers interested in value-added enterprises to improve farm income. Center staff are also working to develop landowner education programs to slow the rate of farmland loss in the state. Learn more at cpa.tennessee.edu. 

About Us

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service. 

UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory. 

The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.

UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices to attract and retain top-tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone. 

The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.

Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community! 

The University of Tennessee is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA institution in the provision of its education and employment programs and services. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or covered veteran status.