Beginning Farmer Program Assistant- CALS

About the School of Integratvie Plant Science (SIPS)

The CALS School of Integrative of Plant Science (SIPS) encompasses five fields: Horticulture, Plant Biology, Plant Breeding & Genetics, Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, and Soil and Crop Sciences.

Combined there are 100+ faculty, ~200 undergraduate majors, 200+ graduate students in six fields, and 600+ other employees located in Ithaca, Geneva, and other satellite locations across New York State. The School offers a multidisciplinary undergraduate major in Plant Sciences and is also home to the Agricultural Sciences major.

The Opportunity

The Cornell Small Farm Program (SFP) engages in research and extension projects and collaborations that support and enhance the viability of small farms in New York. This position will support beginning farmer education and the Farm Ops Project, a SFP effort focused on supporting military veterans pursuing agricultural careers through training, support networks, and informational resources.

What Will You Do

This Beginning Farmer Program Assistant will support the Project Manager in all aspects related to the aims of the Cornell Small Farms Program and Farm Ops, the veterans in agriculture project, towards facilitating military veterans entering into farming as a career. Essential duties include:

• Assist in extending our resources to support those on active duty who want to farm after their service commitment.

• Support development of resources and training available to meet the needs of veterans and others who have an interest in pursuing careers in agriculture.

• Develop connections to establish collaborations with agricultural and non-agricultural veteran groups to create pathways that link veterans to broad agricultural support.

• Support the implementation of farmer training and educational resources that address specific needs of beginning farmers and complement existing, established resources.

• Demonstrate support and understanding of the beginning farmer and veteran audience through further development of existing communications platforms and messaging.

• Facilitate communications to attract veterans and other aspiring farmers to project activities.

• Schedule, coordinate, obtain and perform surveys and processing of program results; collect and evaluate data and run standard reports.

• Participate in program planning and development.

• Perform data entry, maintain databases and assist in development of standard procedures for collecting information, payment fees, and provide instruction.

• Assist in planning and organizing logistics of workshops, conference and tours; maintain event calendars and keep track of participants/attendance and correspondence for programs.

• Inform clients, stakeholders and community members of available educational and extension programs and services offered by community agencies and organizations.

• Assist in developing new materials; select appropriate program or material for each client.

• Maintain and update website and social media pages; identify information, tools, research and other related data for stakeholders.

• Assist in the preparation of training and educational materials; coordinate requests for outreach resource documents such as fact sheets, newsletters and guides; maintain supplies and materials inventory.

• Prepare, maintain, and demonstrate appropriate use of educational materials and lesson plans; conduct home visits and group presentations.

• Assist in recruitment of program participants.

The position is part- time 30 hrs. per week. This position is one year term appointment with possibility of extension dependent on funding and performance.

What We Need

A cover letter and resume outlining your interest and how your experience and goals align with the potential for mutual success in the role are required for consideration.

• Associate’s degree and up to 2 years of relevant experience in agriculture or equivalent combination.

• Must have and maintain a valid NYS Driver’s License.

• Must be able to meet travel requirements of the position, have reliable transportation and be willing to travel with occasional overnight trips being required.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

• Attention to detail and organizational skills are critical, as is ability to work independently and as part of a team.

• Demonstrated ability to coordinate activities.

• Demonstrated ability to manage time, tasks, resources and information efficiently to meet goals.

• Excellent customer service skills; must work effectively with clientele.

• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with social media platforms, internet and web development platforms.

• Ability to work well and establish effective working relationships with a wide variety of collaborators and educators to ensure a high-quality and respectful work and training environment.

• Must be able to work outdoors in all types of weather.

• Will be expected to work flexible hours, occasional evenings, and weekends as job functions require.

• Demonstrated experience working with agricultural and diverse communities.

• Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

• Analyze situations, evaluate risks, and choose the best course of action to achieve organizational goals.

• Capacity to convey information clearly, concisely, and professionally across various formats.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Excel, Word, and Power Point is required.

• Ability to learn new tasks, remember complex processes, and work quickly and efficiently to complete duties independently while making timely decisions within a workflow.

• Capacity to tune out distractions, such as office chatter, focusing on clients or data.

• Ability to observe details, recognize patterns, and spot discrepancies or errors.

• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members. 

If you have all those things, great! We have a few more things that we would prefer you to have, but it’s ok if you don’t.

• Appreciation of agriculture as a business and as a lifestyle.

• More than 2 years of experience working with farmers and/or the agricultural community.

• Prior Cornell experience, advanced familiarity with Cornell systems.

• Project management experience.

Important Notes About Applying

• A cover letter and resume outlining your interest and how your experience and goals align with the potential for mutual success in the role are required for consideration.

• This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. Employees typically perform this role on-campus 3 days per week and remotely 2 day per week.

• There is no relocation assistance available for this position.

• There is no visa sponsorship available for this position.

Rewards and Benefits

• This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. Employees typically perform this role remotely 2 days per week and on-campus 3 days per week. The university reserves the right to modify, suspend, revoke or terminate the hybrid work arrangement at any time.

• Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, and sustainability.

• Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: Understand Your Benefits | Working at Cornell.

• Our leave provisions include health and personal leave, three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1. To offer greater flexibility for observing faiths and traditions we also offer two additional floating holidays. Learn more about our generous leave provisions: Holiday and Accrued Time Off | Working at Cornell

• Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program. Learn more about our extensive educational benefits: Education Benefits | Working at Cornell

• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell:

Total Rewards | Working at Cornell.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Relocation Assistance is not available for this position.

Cornell is an equal opportunity employer. For more information, visit hr.cornell.edu/eeo.

University Job Title:

Program/Extension Aide III

Job Family:

Academic Support

Level:

C

Pay Rate Type:

Hourly

Pay Range:

$24.30 - $26.79

Remote Option Availability:

Hybrid

Company:

Contract College

Contact Name:

J'Frances White

Contact Email:

[email protected]

Job Titles and Pay Ranges:

Non-Union Positions

Noted pay ranges reflect the potential pay opportunity for each job profile. The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience

• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position

• Unique applicable skills

• Academic Discipline

To learn more about Cornell’s non-union staff job titles and pay ranges, see Career Navigator.

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EEO Statement:

Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of “... any person ... any study.” No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeks job candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We hire based on merit, and encourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.

2026-09-02