Master Gardener & Community Horticulture Coordinator

This Master Gardener and Community Horticulture Coordinator is with the Division of Extension and Engagement’s (division) Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources program and based at the OSU Extension Wasco County office on the Columbia Gorge Community College campus in The Dalles, Oregon. The position’s extension activities are closely aligned with the Department of Horticulture in the College of Agricultural Sciences and serves Wasco County. Decisions regarding this position are made in collaboration with the supervisory team, which includes the Central Regional Director and the Extension Agriculture & Natural Resources Program Leader.

This Outreach Program Coordinator will provide leadership and coordination for the Wasco County Master Gardener and Community Horticulture programs. This responsibility includes needs assessment, extension non-credit program and educational material development, delivery, facilitation, and evaluation in noxious weeds and integrated pest management, community gardens, wildfire-resilient landscapes, and other community horticulture related needs of Wasco County communities.

This professional faculty member is expected to develop non-credit educational programming, either for delivery personally or through volunteers or other collaborators. In this role, the Master Gardener Coordinator manages the full volunteer program lifecycle, including recruitment, onboarding, training, scheduling, supervision, and retention; supports volunteer team leads; addresses volunteer issues as they arise; and works in close partnership with the local Master Gardener Association.

This Master Gardener Coordinator is responsible for designing, developing, maintaining and/or carrying out non-credit educational programs and outreach activities to serve broad and diverse populations in an accessible, inclusive, equitable, and socially just manner. This includes complying with civil rights and language/visual access regulations.

OSU is committed to advancing and applying state-of-the-science tools that foster meaningful interaction and engagement with partners and stakeholders. This professional faculty member is required to use modern learning and outreach tools including online and hybrid classes, multimedia and digital communications, employ and practice engaged scholarship, promote integration of programs across disciplines that are demand-driven and use open-source tools that continually align with innovation and shifts in educational program delivery. These activities will be included in the annual plan of work, impact statements, and summary of accomplishments/achievements.

The division has built the capacity and expectation for employees to use digital communications and technologies in the modern-day workplace. This reflects our demonstrable commitment to using digital communications tools and changing technologies as a primary way to raise Oregonian’s awareness of and engagement with our organization, programs and resources.

The College of Agricultural Sciences academic and professional faculty are committed to enhancing learner success by engaging them in quality academic, research, internships, global studies, and other experiential learning opportunities. Positions with primary responsibility for Extension and Engagement are likewise committed to learner success through programming appropriate for broad and diverse audiences.

Active and effective communication with colleagues and key stakeholders is critical to the success of this position. This position will require traveling/driving throughout Wasco County.

About Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) Program:

The Division of Extension and Engagement’s Extension ANR program aims to promote improvements in the economic, environmental and social well-being of Oregon residents. The ANR program serves broad and diverse audiences in Oregon communities having specialized interests by delivering information through academic and professional faculty who have a presence in 36 county offices, 11 branch agricultural experiment stations at 14 locations, and who represent 11 academic departments at OSU.

About the division:

The Division of Extension and Engagement (Division) is core to Oregon State University’s mission. The division helps create real solutions and positive impact across Oregon and beyond. The division is aligned under the leadership of the Vice Provost for Extension and Engagement. Visit the division’s website to learn more about our division and its core units and initiatives.

Oregon State University strives to ensure that all educational programs, services, activities, and materials we offer to the public are identified, developed, delivered, and evaluated in an accessible, inclusive, equitable, and socially just manner. OSU division’s educational programs, services, activities, and materials are available to all people. OSU division prohibits discrimination in all its programs, services, activities, and materials. All employees are responsible for and expected to comply with Civil Rights obligations and actively work to expand access to all eligible populations.

Position Duties

50% Master gardener volunteer and program management

• Lead and manage the local Master Gardener volunteer program in Wasco County. Recruit, train, support and recognize accomplishments of volunteers. Facilitate regular meetings with volunteers. Establish effective volunteer mentoring and middle management structures/systems. Maintain volunteers’ focus on educational outcomes and ensure use of research-based information as the basis for education and outreach. Implement and maintain effective volunteer reporting systems, including systems to ensure compliance with civil rights requirements. Serve as mentor and liaison to the Wasco County Master Gardener Association.
• Develop active programs for updating and re-certifying trained Master Gardeners.
• Supervise volunteers who support the Master Gardener and Community Horticulture program.
• Contribute to collaborative Master Gardener training programs as needed beyond the assigned county.
• Design, develop, deliver and evaluate community horticulture non-credit programs that address identified needs of gardeners, home and commercial landscape managers, and the general public in Wasco County. Travel/driving is required.
• Design culturally inclusive and socially cognizant materials for Extension non-credit programs.
• Provide technical education, coordinate, and design community horticulture non-credit education programs including Master Gardener program, and support adult Master Gardener volunteers in their community educational roles. Support the annual registration process for Master Gardener program classes. Work with agriculture and forestry academic and professional faculty as appropriate in the program design, delivery, and evaluation.
• Cooperate with other OSU academic and professional faculty on research priorities, demonstration trials and distribution of information about research findings.
• Train Master Gardeners on how to answer questions for Wasco’s local plant clinic (voicemail and email) and in the Ask Extension platform.
• Utilize College of Agricultural Sciences working groups approach to team with other OSU, USDA-ARS and other scientists, as appropriate, to accomplish these assignments. Ongoing coordination of activities with other faculty in the OSU College of Agricultural Sciences is essential.

40% Community horticulture Extension teaching and outreach

• Increase community horticulture knowledge and skills by assessing needs, initiating and managing community meetings, seminars, conferences, workshops, media, short courses, newsletters, and other educational programs. Travel will be necessary to provide educational programming and services to Wasco County.
• Support initiatives that advance the mission of the OSU Extension Master Gardener Program, such as community and school gardens, Seed to Supper programming, farmer’s market educational programming, youth garden club programming, and other appropriate educational initiatives.
• Be the point person for coordinating answers to clientele questions for example by providing answers to gardening questions using online tools, phone, and in-person consultations in collaboration with other OSU employees, as needed.
• Evaluate the effectiveness and impact of non-credit educational programs.
• Collaborate with OSU employees to deliver research-based community horticulture non-credit educational programs.
• Conduct and coordinate local Extension pesticide recertification efforts for stakeholders as well as answer any pesticide related questions from the public.
• Maintain Oregon Department of Agriculture Pesticide Consultant License throughout employment in this position to stay up to date with the science of pesticides and answer pesticide related questions.
• Implement marketing tools that increase awareness of programs and participation of broad and diverse audiences.

5% Organizational accountability

• Use digital communication and technology as a tool to increase the reach and impact of program delivery on constituents, including participating with Ask Extension and using the division’s customer relationship management system. These activities should be included in the annual plan of work, impact statements, and summary of accomplishments/achievements.
• Use digital project management, work production and collaboration tools for efficient internal work.
• Use multiple methods of digital communication to collaborate internally and externally as appropriate.
• Implement fee-based programming and cost-recovery practices, develop partnerships, and solicit external funding to support and enhance educational programs as appropriate.
• Develop an annual plan of work addressing educational needs as well as evaluate the quality and impact of educational programs provided to audiences as appropriate.
• Organize and maintain program advisory and management committees or networks to identify program needs, make recommendations, assist in program implementation, and evaluate program effectiveness.
• Evaluate and communicate the outcomes of program activities and file reports required by county, department, college and university administrators.
• Create opportunities to enhance access, inclusion, and relevant best practices and include these activities in the annual plan of work, impact statements, and summary of accomplishments/achievements.
• Create accessible and inclusive environments that make space for a range of learner needs and provide reasonable accommodations.
• Follow OSU and division brand guidelines, digital publishing standards and digital contact management data integrity practices for programmatic communications, marketing and engagement.
• Complete the division’s civil rights training session(s) and coordinate the completion by volunteers.
• Report appropriate civil rights data from educational programming and outreach activities into the division’s reporting system for the internal civil rights review.
• Actively contributes to and upholds a workplace culture that is respectful, inclusive, safe, and collegial, fostering open and constructive communication and mutual respect in all interactions.

5% Service

• Be actively involved in regional and statewide extension programs that promote engagement with communities across the state.
• Cooperate with agencies and organizations in Wasco County and other relevant locations. Serve on university and/or extension committees as appropriate.
• Attend university, extension, industry and professional organization training and in-service programs to improve ability and knowledge to provide effective service to area farmers and allied industry personnel.
• Maintain active membership and involvement in professional organizations.
• Participate in training opportunities that provide professional development that includes building expertise around access and inclusion.
• Market Extension programs locally, statewide, and nationally.

Required Qualifications

Technical & Teaching

• Bachelor’s degree with academic studies directly related to agriculture, agriculture education, biology, natural resources, horticulture or a related field. Degree must be completed by application date.
• Demonstrated experience in community horticulture teaching and program design.
• Must secure within six months of employment an Oregon Department of Agriculture Pesticide Consultant License and maintain it throughout employment in this position.

Volunteer Management & Communication

• Demonstrated teaching (formal and/or informal) skills appropriate for adult learners and volunteers.
• Ability to incorporate multiple cultural perspectives in educational design and delivery.
• Demonstrated skills in project or organizational leadership including meeting facilitation and conflict resolution.
• Demonstrated appropriate verbal and written communication skills, with ability to communicate successfully with broad and diverse audiences in a culturally responsible manner.
• Proficiency in professional office software and the ability to learn, adapt, and utilize multiple digital communication tools and platforms, including websites, email newsletters, social media, and collaborative work systems.
• Demonstrated ability to work as a team member with other professionals and volunteers.
• Demonstrated ability to lead/supervise volunteers and to plan, organize, evaluate, manage, and delegate details associated with program management.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• A commitment to collaborative and respectful learning and working environments that are safe, inclusive, and welcoming.

This position is designated as a critical or security-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a criminal history check and be determined to be position qualified as per University Standard: 05-010 et seq. Incumbents are required to self-report convictions and those in youth programs may have additional criminal history checks every 24 months.

This position requires driving a university vehicle or a personal vehicle on behalf of the university; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a motor vehicle history check, possess and maintain a current, valid driver's license in their state of residence, be determined to be position qualified and self-report convictions as per University Policy 05-030.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree with academic studies directly related to horticulture, entomology, pest management, plant pathology, soil science, agriculture or a related field.
• Experience with Extension or other informal or community education delivery methods.
• Ability to engage Spanish-speaking audiences using bilingual and/or bicultural skills.
• Demonstrated understanding of needs and impact assessment techniques and their application to Extension programs and services.

Total Rewards Package:

Oregon State University offers a comprehensive benefits package with benefits eligible positions that is designed to meet the needs of employees and their families including:

• Medical, Dental, Vision and Basic Life. OSU pays 95% of premiums for you and your eligible dependents.
• Free confidential mental health and emotional support services, and counseling resources.
• Retirement savings paid by the university.
• A generous paid leave package, including holidays, vacation and sick leave.
• Tuition reduction benefits for you or your qualifying dependents at OSU or the additional six Oregon Public Universities.
• Robust Work Life programs including Dual Career assistance resources, flexible work arrangements, a Family Resource Center, Affinity Groups and an Employee Assistance Program.
• Optional lifestyle benefits such as pet, accident, and critical illness insurance, giving you peace of mind and the support you need to thrive in all aspects of your life.

Oregon State University is deeply committed to the principles of a Health Promoting University. This commitment drives a collaborative approach across OSU’s safety and well-being programs, reducing silos and coordinating efforts to enhance employee safety and well-being. By prioritizing resources that support the health of both employees and students, OSU fosters a culture of care and a healthier campus environment where everyone can thrive.

Future and current OSU employees can use the Benefits Calculator to learn more about the full value of the benefits provided at OSU.