Position Summary
Position Description
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.
Required Qualifications
Lecturer II – A master’s degree, with either a bachelor's or master's degree in Water Resources, Environmental Science, Agricultural Engineering, or a related field. Teaching Assistant Professor – A Ph.D. in Water Resources, Environmental Science, Agricultural Engineering, or a related field. Assistant Professor – A Ph.D. in Water Resources, Environmental Science, Agricultural Engineering, or a related field. **For applicants with a Ph.D., the determination of tenure-track or non-tenure-track status is at the discretion of the hiring manager, following a discussion with the applicant. ** This position requires performing manual labor, lifting heavy objects greater than 20 pounds, driving long distance, working in inclement weather, working alone for extended periods and interacting collegially with small and large teams.
Preferred Qualifications
Minimum of 3 years of experience in water resource or agricultural water management. Background in community outreach or Extension education. Familiarity with irrigation technologies, conservation practices, and watershed/groundwater systems. Strong communication skills with the ability to simplify technical content for public audiences. Experience with grant writing and project management.
Other Requirements
Licensure A valid Class “C” driver’s license or higher operator’s license within 30 days of appointment. Schedule and Travel Work a flexible schedule, with periodic evening and weekend work. Periodically travel throughout the state to assist with multi-county or statewide efforts related to subject matter expertise or attend area and statewide Extension meetings This position involves working in both office settings and field environments. Travel within Nevada will be required to visit farms, small acreages, and community events.
Driver’s license or alternate transportation required?
yes
Equal Employer Statement(s)
The University of Nevada, Reno is committed to providing a place of work and learning free of discrimination on the basis of a person’s age (40 or older), disability, whether actual or perceived by others (including service-connected disabilities), gender (including pregnancy related conditions), military status or military obligations, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, race (including hair texture and protected hairstyles such as natural hairstyles, afros, bantu knots, curls, braids, locks and twists), color, or religion (protected classes).
About University of Nevada, Reno
The University of Nevada, Reno is a leading public research university committed to the promise of a future powered by knowledge. Founded in 1874 as Nevada’s original land-grant university, the University serves more than 23,000 undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and 63 countries.
Classified by the Carnegie® Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as an R1 (“Very High Research”) university, it is also recognized in the Carnegie® Community Engagement classification. The University is also ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the “Best National Universities” and “Best National Public Universities.” It also ranks in the top tier of the WSJ/Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the New York Times’ “Top Colleges for Economic Diversity.”
Since 2009, nearly $1 billion has been has invested in advanced labs, facilities, and residence halls on the main campus. The University is home to Nevada’s first medical school – the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine and the Wayne L. Prim Campus at Lake Tahoe, where education, research, and creative work thrive in a stunning mountain setting. The University delivers on its original land-grant mission with outreach across the state through the University of Nevada, Reno Extension, Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Nevada Small Business Development Center, the Nevada Seismological Laboratory, and Wolf Pack Athletics.
The main campus is in Reno, Nevada, a burgeoning global technology hub with a vibrant midtown and downtown. Found where the high desert of the Great Basin meets the High Sierra and Lake Tahoe, the beautiful, 290-acre main campus is also a Nevada State Arboretum. The University’s physical infrastructure is expanding with ongoing construction of the newly named John Tullock Business Building, set to open in fall 2025. Groundbreaking is also planned for a new State Public Health Laboratory Building on campus, alongside the recent acquisition of 16 parcels near campus, known as “University Village,” to provide affordable housing for graduate students and early career faculty.
Collaborating with world-renowned organizations, the University fosters innovation through initiatives such as the Digital Wolf Pack partnership with Apple, which ensures equitable access to technology for students, providing new incoming freshman or transfer students with an iPad Air and accessories. Google’s TechWise initiate is an 18-month program that fully supports undergraduate students in becoming entry-level software engineers by graduation.
In 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced that Nevada – led by the University of Nevada, Reno – was named one of the inaugural 31 Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (TechHubs). Nevada was selected from a competitive pool of 489 applicants from across the United States and its territories. Nevada’s Tech Hub will strengthen America’s lithium batteries, critical elements and other electric vehicle materials industry sectors within the state.
Through its commitment to high-impact education, world-improving research and creative activity, and outreach that’s transforming Nevada’s communities and businesses, the University continues its 150-year tradition of benefitting our state, nation and world.
The University recognizes that diversity promotes excellence in education and research. The inclusive and engaged community on campus recognizes the added value that students, faculty, and staff from different backgrounds bring to the educational experience.
Today, the University delivers on its original land-grant mission of access to education and knowledge by investing in the academics, facilities, support, engagement and vibrant campus life that promote our diverse students’ cognitive growth and academic achievement – all while remaining one of the best values in American higher education.