About UMass Amherst
UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.
About the UMass Clean Energy Extension
The Clean Energy Extension (CEE) at the University of Massachusetts was established in 2015 and is organized under the Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment as part of the extension programs of the University. CEE supports the Commonwealth’s clean energy and climate policies and programs through applied research, direct technical assistance, and workforce development. See our statewide initiatives supporting the state’s agrivoltaics programs and conducting U.S. DOE agrivoltaic research as an example of our work. CEE offers a small-team environment with a culture of collaboration.
About the UMass Extension Agriculture Program
The UMass Extension Agriculture program extends the research and educational resources of UMass Amherst and the national land grant community to the farms and horticulture-related businesses of Massachusetts. University scientists and educators (whose wide range of expertise includes agronomy, plant materials, integrated pest management, soils and nutrient management) address the needs and concerns of these enterprises through a variety of formal and informal methods, including short courses, workshops, on-farm demonstrations and web-based information.
Job Summary
The Farm Energy and Agricultural Engineering Specialist will serve as an integral part of UMass Extension’s clean energy and agricultural teams in providing consulting expertise and technical support across the diversity of Massachusetts agriculture, including effective outreach to and engagement with farmers. Farm energy-related focus areas include Energy Efficient Agriculture Operation, Energy Efficient Building Envelope, and Combustion System Improvement. Conducts farm and stakeholder outreach in coordination with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and our colleagues in UMass Extension, while addressing the needs of diverse stakeholders, including state and federal agency staff, regional or local government officials, farm organizations, community groups, and researchers and Extension staff. The Specialist will be well-integrated with NRCS’s energy-related programs and processes and will engage in technical assistance services across the portfolio of services that NRCS offers to its stakeholders.
Essential Functions
- Designs, implements, and oversees new and existing collaborative projects and programs that involve campus-wide, local, regional and national partners in providing technical assistance to farm sector. Organizes and presents online and in-person educational programs, including creating curriculum independently or with CEE staff, co-hosting field days and conferences. Connects and expands networks and collaborations for on-farm technical assistance.
- In coordination with NRCS, identifies and engages opportunities for serving the farm sector. Conducts desk-top evaluations followed by on-farm site visits that involve energy assessments and comprehensive energy improvement plans for interested farms across Massachusetts. Analyses energy usage and energy savings opportunities across farm operations and facilities and prepare reports with key findings and recommendations addressing energy savings strategies and associated economic implications. Energy assessments and energy improvement plans will focus on actionable strategies and plans for farm electrification and energy conservation and efficiency opportunities in applications such as:
- Greenhouse heating and cooling (e.g., thermal blankets, high efficiency heating systems).
- Dairy/livestock operations (e.g., variable frequency drive motors for pumping and air circulation, plate coolers, heat exchangers, irrigation and livestock watering improvements).
- Cold storage of fruits and vegetables (e.g., precooling of food crops, high efficiency refrigeration, controlled atmosphere strategies, heat recovery technologies, evaporative fan controls).
- Maple syrup production (e.g., preheater installation, reverse osmosis (RO) systems).
- Energy efficient lighting opportunities (e.g., LED lighting, timers, daylight sensors, and motion sensors).
- Mobile energy use in farm tractors, machinery, and trucking (energy efficient motors, electrification options including refrigerated trucks).
- Energy efficiency and operational control improvements in irrigation systems (pumping water, water use efficiency, operational resiliency, use of shade cloth and/or mulches to improve water use efficiency, etc.).
- Advises client farm business in the analyses and decision-making around the financial performance of potential energy conservation and efficiency strategies. Utilizes forms and applications to meet NRCS procedures and needs, and CEE’s spreadsheet tools for project analysis. Supports and advises client farm business in the funding, implementation, and monitoring of selected energy conservation and efficiency strategies.
- Supports UMass Extension’s expansion of efforts to expand the portfolio of their education and outreach offerings to include energy services. This new area of technical support will be provided through the distribution of targeted fact sheets, integration of energy assistance in UMass Extension talking points, and referrals from NRCS and UMass Extension to CEE for energy information and on-site visits and evaluations by the Specialist.
- Supports and educates NRCS staff through the delivery of trainings each year to NRCS staff and partners, over a range of farm energy topics provided by CEE or determined to best meet NRCS interests. Helps to upskill and expand NRCS staff and affiliates with energy information and market challenges that NRCS can use to expand or enhance their own programs and outreach.
- Works collaboratively to design and disseminate outreach materials and publications.
- Communicates best practices in the field, including, amplifying on-farm energy strategies that provide co-benefits for farms and agricultural operations, promotes community engagement, or fosters impactful collaborations.
- Supports CEE’s and UMass Extension’s activities, including developing program objectives, preparing reports, and identifying grants to support activities.
- Represents CEE and UMass Extension at the campus, regional, state, and national levels in routine matters of organization and procedure relating to work activities.
- Co-supervises one student worker each semester and assists in their training.
- Works closely with CEE and UMass Extension staff to implement programs and establish collaborations to foster adaptation to climate change.
Other Functions
- Works collaboratively and effectively to promote teamwork, diversity, equality and inclusiveness.
- Works in partnership with colleagues within the CNS community and across the campus to support the Dean’s strategic priorities.
- Performs other duties as assigned in support of the mission and goals of the College of Natural Sciences.
Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)
- Bachelor's degree.
- Four (4) years of experience relevant to agricultural energy systems and agricultural engineering. Advanced degree in related field can substitute for two (2) years.
- Energy assessment experience with working familiarity in areas such as:
- Standard Energy Diagnostic and Auditing Equipment
- Building Science & HVAC
- Assessment and Visual Inspection
- Customer Interview & Sit Down – articulate findings and recommendations
- Strong interpersonal, client interviewing and communication skills.
- Must be able to handle a wide work variety and work in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong data entry skills in entering information in tracking systems/databases.
- Detail-oriented, organized, self-starter, and have an ability to prioritize workload.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office, specifically Word, Excel and Outlook.
- Demonstrated excellent written, presenting, and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to travel throughout Massachusetts for meetings and site visits.
- Ability to establish collaborative working relationships and facilitate group discussions.
Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)
- Master's degree in discipline related to engineering, energy systems, building science, and/or agricultural systems and operations.
- Degree and/or work experience in educational disciplines, pedagogy, and communications.
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
- Experience writing proposals and/or managing technical reporting for grants.
- Familiarity with state and federal energy policy and incentive programs.
- Experience delivering education and/or outreach programs, or presentations to clients or technical audiences.
- BPI Fundamentals certification or above.
Additional Details
- This is a grant-funded, 5-year position. Strong possibility of renewal pending additional funds.
- Local, regional, and national travel may be required.
- Will participate in trainings required to become an NRCS Technical Service Provider (TSP).
- The Specialist will dedicate 50% of their time to the NRCS farm energy conservation scope, with the other 50% of time dedicated to agricultural engineering assistance needs of UMass Extension. With NRCS staff cooperation, the Specialist will become expert on Massachusetts NRCS programs, technical areas of priority, processes and requirements, and incentive structures.
Work Schedule
- Monday - Friday, 8:30-4:30 or flexibility with work schedule to be determined with successful candidate.
Salary Information
Level 28
PSU Hiring Ranges
Special Instructions to Applicants
Along with the application, please submit a resume and cover letter which includes Contributions to Inclusive Excellence Statement (see below). References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references. Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis until the position is filled. Early submissions are encouraged.
At UMass Amherst and in CNS, we strive to be a community where every individual feels a sense of belonging, where every individual is included, and where every individual is valued. You can find these values and goals here: https://www.umass.edu/strategicplan/strategic-plan. For this reason, we request that all applicants submit a Contributions to Inclusive Excellence Statement that addresses how you see yourself contributing to our community and campus climate and/or our shared goals of building a more inclusive, equitable, and diverse community.
UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.