Overview
Job Description
Are you passionate about advancing sustainable water use in agriculture and rural communities? Do you thrive in collaborative, community-engaged work that blends education, applied research, and impact-driven solutions? The University of Nevada, Reno Extension invites applications for a Statewide Agriculture and Small Acreage Water Specialist, a full-time academic faculty position.
Based in the beautiful Carson Valley, this position will play a vital role in addressing complex water management challenges throughout Nevada. The successful candidate will work extensively with farmers, small acreage owners, water districts, government agencies, non-profits, and other community stakeholders to promote sustainable and resilient water use practices across the state—particularly in agricultural and small acreage settings.
This position is responsible for developing a nationally recognized Extension education and applied research program focused on agricultural water management, water resource stewardship, and climate-adaptive practices, including drought and flood mitigation.
Key Responsibilities
Educational Outreach: Design, deliver, and evaluate relevant and impactful educational programs such as workshops, seminars, and field demonstrations that address real-world water management concerns.
Community Collaboration: Engage with local communities to identify water-related challenges and co-develop research-based, practical solutions. Foster inclusive and culturally responsive programming that reflects the diversity of Nevada’s communities.
Subject Matter Expertise: Serve as a statewide expert in water management and collaborate with Extension colleagues, faculty, and partners to advance sustainable practices.
Program Development & Funding: Secure and manage grants, gifts, and other resources to support the Extension and research program. Maintain accountability and stewardship of program budgets.
Scholarship & Creative Work: Produce peer-reviewed Extension publications, journal articles, conference presentations, and digital content to disseminate knowledge and extend the reach of your program.
Partnerships & Collaboration: Build strong, productive relationships across Extension, the University, and external agencies to maximize the impact of water-related programming.
About University of Nevada, Reno
University of Nevada, Reno Extension is a major unit of the University and resides in the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources. Extension uses peer-reviewed research to find solutions to community-based issues and needs within six broad legislatively mandated areas: Agriculture; Children, Youth, and Families; Community Development; Health and Nutrition; Horticulture; and Natural Resources. The mission is to discover, develop, disseminate, preserve and use knowledge to strengthen the social, economic and environmental well-being of people and their communities. Extension has offices in 16 of Nevada’s 17 counties with programs that span large urban centers with over two million residents to isolated ranching and farming communities of several hundred or fewer inhabitants.