Job Description

Posting number: 2026-02169

Department: University of Hawai'i at Manoa - College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience

Division: Natural Resources and Environmental Management

Job classification: JR EXTENSION AGENT, 11-MO

Posting type: Open

Categories: Community Services, Education, Program Management

Summary

Title: Junior Extension Agent for Forestry, Agroforestry, and Resilience

Position Number: 0085966T

Hiring Unit: College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR), Natural Resources and Environmental Management (NREM)

Location: Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia

Date Posted: November 9, 2026

Closing Date: Application review begins December 10, 2026; Closing December 23, 2026, 11:59PM HST

Monthly Type: 11-Month

Tenure Track: Non-Tenure

Full Time/Part Time: Full-time

Temporary/Permanent: Temporary

Additional Salary Information: Salary Schedule

Other Conditions: First review to begin December 10, 2026 or soon thereafter. The initial appointment period is expected from May 3, 2027, or soon thereafter. This position is subject to availability of funding and renewal is contingent upon satisfactory performance, staffing requirements, and/or availability of funding. Must reside in the Federated States of Micronesia. Must be able to travel within the Federated States of Micronesia and occasionally to other Pacific Islands or Hawai‘i. For best consideration, all application materials should be submitted by December 23, 2026, 11:59PM HST. Complete applications and required document attachments must be submitted before close of vacancy. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed by the hiring committee. Please see application instructions.

Program Overview: The Junior Extension Agent will serve as part of the Pacific Forest Resilience Program (PFRP), a coordinated regional network of Junior Extension Agents and program staff across the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI) and Hawai‘i supporting forest and land stewardship, agroforestry, wildfire prevention, and community-based resource management and resilience. This team works in partnership with the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR), the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Pacific Southwest Region (R5), the Southwest Climate Hub (SWCH), land-grant colleges and universities across the USAPI, and State and territorial forestry programs (including agricultural and natural resources divisions where appropriate). While each position is based in and responsive to local needs, the Agents are expected to share knowledge, coordinate activities, and contribute to regional programming and activities through joint training, peer-to-peer learning, and collaborative projects. Together, this network of Junior Extension Agents supports the development and implementation of Forest Landowner Support Plans that align program delivery across project partners to meet the needs of local stakeholders at all scales, including but not limited to small-acreage forest landowners and stewards.

Duties and Responsibilities: Under general supervision with some latitude for independent judgment, carries out the details of the Extension Program prescribed in the Annual Program of Work to build capacity for forestry, agroforestry, resource management, and forest resilience within the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). Extension programming may include work at the scale of individual landowners, communities, agencies/organizations locally, and/or multiple Pacific Island territories or Freely-Associated States (FAS), depending on interests, needs, and priorities of local and regional stakeholders. The Junior Extension Agent, with support from experts at regional land-grant institutions, regional forestry offices, CTAHR, USFS, and SWCH may contribute to Program Areas as needed and requested by program staff, program partners, landowners, and land stewards. Program Areas include but are not limited to:

• Forest Stewardship and Reforestation: management, nursery operations, native species propagation, genetic conservation, outplanting, and invasive species control, etc.
• Forest Health and Resilience: assessment, monitoring, and management of pests and diseases; wildfire prevention, drought resilience, saltwater intrusion adaptation, storm/cyclone resilience, etc.
• Forest Resource Monitoring: inventory, mapping, modeling, change detection, etc.
• Agroforestry and Community Forestry: food and nutrition security, sustainable resource management, forest product development and marketing, etc.
• Market Intelligence: identifying current and emerging programs, incentives, and market opportunities for forest products, etc.
• Technology Applications: digital tool development, forestry technology and equipment training, etc.
• Capacity Building: program leadership and management training, professional development, grant management and administration support, decision-making tool development, etc.
• Education and Outreach: workshop delivery, peer-to-peer learning, sharing of best practices, integration of emerging research with extension activities, etc.

1. Extension Program Delivery

• *Collaborate with CTAHR, USFS, the College of the Micronesia-FSM - Cooperative Research and Extension (COM-FSM-CRE), and the FSM Department of Resources and Development (DRD) to co-develop a Program of Work and workplan that addresses the priorities and objectives of the FSM Forest Action Plan (2020-2030), and other local or regional strategic needs as identified by PFRP staff and project partners.
• *Work in partnership with PFRP staff, COM-FSM-CRE, the DRD, and subject-matter experts to deliver the annual Program of Work, including technical training and assistance, outreach, and education for DRD personnel, COM-FSM-CRE personnel, non-profit and non-governmental organizations, forest landowners and stewards, community-based initiatives, and other regional stakeholders.
• *Collaborate with CTAHR, USFS, and local project partners to develop and implement a local Forest Landowner Support Plan that aligns with the regional framework and addresses needs at all scales, including those of small-acreage forest landowners and stewards.
• *Work closely with the USFS, SWCH, and CTAHR to ensure program integration with regional resilience strategies.
• *Develop and deliver extension materials (factsheets, training modules, in-field workshops, presentations, etc.), resources, and content in-person and/or remotely with local language translation available, as requested.

1. Capacity Building and Network Development

• *Build and maintain positive working relationships with program partners, COM-FSM-CRE, the DRD, community associations, other local organizations engaged in relevant work, project beneficiaries, and other regional stakeholders
• *Engage in cross-jurisdiction collaboration with PFRP staff, subject-matter experts, and extension agents in other USAPI and Hawai'i locations.
• *Facilitate information exchange through workshops, community meetings, and peer-to-peer learning networks to share best practices, provide guidance on adaptive management, and integrate current and emerging research into extension program delivery.
• *Participate in and/or lead meetings, as necessary, with PFRP staff, project partners, stakeholders, and other extension personnel to share progress, facilitate knowledge exchange, and co-develop regional strategies.
• *Collaborate with CTAHR, USFS, and project partners to seek and apply for internal and external grant funding to support extension program objectives.

1. Program Support

• *Participate in workshops and meetings, as-needed, in Hawai‘i and USAPI locations to support program goals
• *Participate in meetings, as necessary, with PRFP staff to evaluate progress in extension program delivery and align project activities with emerging program needs or objectives
• *Document, track, and evaluate program activities, outputs, and outcomes for both internal program improvement (including in PEARS) and external reporting to funding agencies and partners.
• *Identify new stakeholder interests and issues and work with program partners to share success stories through narratives, podcasts, videos, or other media.

*Denotes Essential Functions

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from a college or university of recognized standing, with major work in agriculture, forestry, natural resources management, environmental science, or a related field.
• Evidence of ability to conduct extension and outreach programming in agriculture, forestry, natural resources management, environmental science, or a related field.
• Professionalism in meeting and conferring with others.
• Demonstrated proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Excellent written and verbal communication, and technical writing skills
• Must possess a valid driver’s license, or the ability to obtain one.

Desirable Qualifications

• Master of Science degree from a college or university of recognized standing, with major work in agriculture, forestry, natural resources management, environmental science, or a related field.
• Experience working in the Federated States of Micronesia, and/or tropical or subtropical island forestry, agroforestry, or natural resources management.
• Proficiency in a Micronesian language and/or another Pacific Island language
• Knowledge of Pacific Island plant species, nursery operations, and forest health monitoring.
• Familiarity with forestry and agroforestry stewardship practices, hazard prevention, and human health and nutrition.
• Experience conducting outreach, workshops, and field demonstrations for landowners, community groups, or agency staff.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with local agencies, educational institutions, and community organizations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare educational materials and technical reports.
• Ability to author grant applications and manage budgets.

TO APPLY: Click in the "Apply" button on the top right corner of the screen to complete an application and attach the required documents. If you have not applied for a position before using NeoGov, you will need to create an account.

1. Cover letter (1 to 2 pages) indicating how you satisfy the minimum and some, if not all, desirable qualifications;
2. Resume/Curriculum vitae (CV);
3. Statement of extension experience (1 to 2 pages) and interests related to forestry, agroforestry, land stewardship, community resilience, and/or other issues, priorities, or strategies identified in the Federated States of Micronesia Forest Action Plan (2020-2030).
4. Names of three (3) professional references (contact information including email address); and
5. Official transcripts or original documentation from the institution confirming the degree (copies acceptable; however, official transcripts sent directly from the degree-granting institution are required upon hire).

• Any confidential data should be redacted (e.g. social security number, date of birth, etc).
• Diplomas will not be accepted.

Note: Complete applications and required document attachments must be submitted before close of vacancy. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed by the hiring committee.

Inquiries: Ashley McGuigan; 808-969-8217; aamcguig@hawaii.edu

Examples of duties

The University of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Institution and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in employment, including on the basis of veteran and disability status. For more information, visit: https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eeo/policies/

Employment is contingent on satisfying employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; reference checks of previous employers; and for certain positions, criminal history record checks.

In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, annual campus crime statistics for the University of Hawai'i may be viewed at: https://www.hawaii.edu/titleix/help/campus-security/, or a paper copy may be obtained upon request from the respective UH Campus Security or Administrative Services Office.

Accommodation Request: The University of Hawai'i complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the EEO coordinator directly. Determination on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. For further information, please refer to the following link: https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eeo/accommodation-request/