Cooperative Extension Specialist and Director Nutrition Policy Institute

Cooperative Extension Specialist and Director Nutrition Policy Institute (NPI) at the University of California

University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources

Location : Office of the President - Oakland

Date Posted : January 3, 2025
Closing Date : February 16, 2025

Job Description : Download

Position Overview

The University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) invites applications for a UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Specialist to become the next Director of the Nutrition Policy Institute. NPI engages in and incorporates others' rigorous research to strengthen public policy relating to food and nutrition, particularly state and federal policy that focuses on food disparities impacting low-income individuals, families, and communities.

The Director leads strategic food and nutrition policy research, cultivates partnerships, identifies and secures grant funding, and provides overall leadership and operational oversight of the Nutrition Policy Institute (NPI). NPI is a special statewide program within UC ANR, with the mission of conducting, translating, and bringing to decision makers and the community policy-relevant research to transform environments for healthy children, families, and communities. NPI's goal is to achieve optimal nutrition and health by improving federal, state and local nutrition programs and policies, food systems, and physical and social environments. NPI focuses on populations experiencing health disparities in California and nationally.

UCCE Specialists develop and conduct research and educational programs aimed at appropriate clientele groups in communities outside of UC campuses. UCCE Specialists have programs of primarily mission-oriented research or creative work that support the university's efforts in extending knowledge, including outreach and community engagement. Mission-oriented research describes the complete research continuum that extends from basic research to applications of research results. This research is generally applied in nature and has, as a goal, the solution of a problem facing society that is related to the mission of the UCCE Specialist's discipline and the UCCE mission. UCCE Specialists will publish the results of applied research in a combination of research publication types, whether peer-reviewed or not, based on the relevant audiences served by the UCCE Specialist's program.

The extension program disseminates knowledge and information to clientele groups for their use in improving their abilities to understand and address problems and opportunities facing them. The extension educational program serves the University's public service mission. Educational program activities include, but are not limited to, collaborations with UCCE Advisors, other UCCE Specialists, campus faculty, program teams, workgroups, or clientele groups; developing and presenting educational materials; communicating to clientele through broadcast, print, or electronic media; participating in meetings with clientele; developing and presenting in-service training courses; organizing or participating in workshops, field tours, symposia or conferences; and taking action to ensure appropriate stakeholder input, including the communities potentially involved in or impacted by the research, into the planning of research and educational programs by UCCE.

Much of this work is conducted in partnership with UC ANR's locally based UCCE Advisors. The UCCE Specialist - Advisor and faculty partnership creates an applied research network that benefits both the University and the public at large.

Location Headquarters: University of California Office of the President, Oakland, California
Position Details

Major Duties and Responsibilities include:
•  Partner with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the vision and mission of the Institute remain innovative and relevant in a changing field and world.
•  Inspire the team of NPI professionals to foster excellence in studying, evaluating, and addressing critical food and nutrition policy issues in the state of California and nationally.
•  Identify and secure new funding opportunities to support applied research and extension activities benefiting the nutrition and health of people and communities in California and nationally, including idea generation, cultivation of strategic partnerships, preparation of grant applications, maintenance of existing and development of new state and federal agency contracts, and engagement with other funding organizations.
•  Lead and oversee large contracts and grants supporting applied nutrition research including the scientific assessment of outcomes and impacts, budget management, communications with funding agencies on progress and deliverables, and translation and dissemination of results for academic, policy, practice, and lay audiences.
•  Oversee a team of academics, staff, and students conducting research and managing operations, which includes hiring, supervision, annual performance evaluations, merits and promotions as well as overall budget and communications oversight.
•  Generate and communicate scientific information through engagement and dissemination with partner organizations, impacted individuals and communities, policy makers, state and federal agencies, and other stakeholders.
•  Lead the coordination and preparation of co-authored peer-reviewed journal articles, conference presentations, research briefs, policy papers, and funder reports adding substantively to the evidence-based for impactful public health nutrition. Leadership and Administrative Elements

Leadership : Provide vision, inspire, and motivate others with positive attitude and actions; set a high standard for excellence; innovate and foster improvements; model and support a healthy working environment; encourage and be open to exploring new ideas; cultivate the next generation of food and nutrition policy researchers and leaders; and provide active, ongoing advocacy and support for NPI and other related ANR programs. Provide administrative and academic leadership to NPI personnel, overseeing their activities and responsibilities. Represent NPI by participating in relevant ANR committees and attending relevant ANR meetings.

Administrative Policy : Understand and uniformly apply UC policies; provide useful and timely feedback to personnel; take timely disciplinary action within UC procedures, if necessary; and work with staff in advance of deadlines for required records and reports.

Budget and Funding : Successfully secure sources of support for NPI research and extension activities; effectively manage and equitably allocate resources among established priorities; monitor the use of resources and comply with all relevant policies; and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external partners to form strong support networks for NPI/UCCE. Generate political and financial support for NPI and food and nutrition policy research, education, translation, and outreach.

Human Resources : Be an effective listener and communicator; take responsibility for own actions; be open to learning and growth; motivate others; keep commitments; and cultivate support for UC ANR. Demonstrate concern for all staff; effectively oversee all personnel supervision, annual evaluations, merits and promotions, and take appropriate disciplinary actions; make effective use of staff expertise to strengthen the team; and invest in improving all staff expertise and support professional development.

Advocacy and Communication : Be a spokesperson for the improved understanding and creation of knowledge on key state and federal food and nutrition policy issues through interactions with federal and state agencies, private foundations, relevant advocacy and community-based organizations, and UC-based nutrition programs.

Counties of Responsibility . This position is focused on work across the state. This is an exciting opportunity to have meaningful impacts in a wide range of diverse communities throughout California.

Reporting Relationship: The Director serves under the administrative and programmatic guidance of the Vice Provost for Academic Personnel and the Associate Vice President of Research and Extension. 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 other counties with 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 respective directors and supervisors.
Qualifications and Skills Required

Education: A minimum of a Ph.D. degree or equivalent in nutrition, public health, public health administration, or related field is required at the time of appointment.
Key Qualifications
•  A minimum of 5 years of experience leading research to inform nutrition programs, policy, systems and environmental change.
•  Established record of obtaining extramural funding and administering large contracts and grants.
•  Academic training and/or professional experience must include research design and evaluation methodologies related to public policy in nutrition.
•  Demonstrated ability to work effectively with and build teams of academics.
•  Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing to scientists and policy makers as well as lay audiences click apply for full job details