Fruit Crop Specialist

**Fruit Crop Specialist**:

- **Job ID**:

- 235313
- **Posting status**:

- Open
- **Organization**:

- Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness
- **Division**:

- Agriculture Development Branch
- **City**:

- Simcoe
- **Position(s) language**:

- English
- **Job term**:

- 1 Temporary 13 months with possible extension
- **Job code**:

- 12124 - Industrial Development Officer 3
- **Salary**:

- $1,627.28 - $2,077.03 Per week*
*Indicates the salary listed as per the OPSEU Collective Agreement.
- **Empowering innovation in fruit production for a sustainable Ontario**

Would you enjoy working outdoors, solving problems and building partnerships with the academic community and agricultural stakeholders?

If so, please consider this opportunity to help us create and transform new research and ideas into practical programs, products and services that will ensure Ontario's fruit production industry remains competitive and environmentally responsible.

**About the job**:

- act as the lead provincial specialist on an assigned portfolio of fruit crops including but not limited to, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and cranberries
- lead Ontario's technology transfer activities through the development, coordination and implementation of strategies, policies and programs
- coordinate projects designed to assess the presence and impact of new and existing approaches and activities
- prepare educational and awareness building tools to facilitate change
- act as a liaison between agricultural stakeholders and industry
- manage contentious and high priority issues-
- **What you bring to the team**:

- **
Mandatory requirement**:

- You must have valid class “G” driver's license or equivalent as recognized by the Province of Ontario.
- In order to conduct site visits at rural and remote locations, you must have the ability to travel to locations not serviced by public transportation.

**
Technical knowledge**:

- You have expert knowledge of fruit crop production theories, principles and best practices.
- You have strong knowledge of the Ontario agricultural industry (production systems, economics, agri-businesses).
- You have an understanding of related disciplines in the agricultural industry enabling you to review new and existing methods, techniques, programs and policies in order to investigate and identify their suitability for Ontario conditions.

**
Communication and interpersonal skills**:

- You can develop professional documents, reports and educational materials using clear, concise language.
- You can present information, options and recommendations in a clear, concise and logical manner.
- You have interpersonal skills to develop and maintain effective provincial, national and international working relationships and partnerships with clients.
- You can deliver information using a variety of methods (e.g. workshops, speaking engagements, media releases, internet, etc.).

**
Consultation and facilitation skills**:

- You can conduct needs assessments and set priorities in the development of training and educational materials.
- You have an understanding of adult education principles and techniques to deliver training materials.
- You have an understanding of program evaluation methods.
- You can encourage and motivate producers, agri-businesses and agricultural organizations to develop and support policies and programs that encourage the adoption and maintenance of sustainable agriculture and environmental practices.

**
Research, analysis, evaluation and problem solving skills**:

- You have knowledge of research methods and practices to investigate the viability and applicability of new methods and technologies.
- You are able to analyze research findings and make recommendations.
- You can develop innovative strategies and solutions in response to client requirements.
- You can investigate relevant issues, trends and developments.

**
Other important skills**:

- You have planning and coordination skills to manage project activities and resource requirements.

**How we support diversity, inclusion and accessibility**: We are building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We encourage everyone interested in working with us to apply, including people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black and racialized individuals, as well as people from all ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.

Our hiring process is accessible, consistent with Ontario's _Human Rights Code_ and the _Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005._ We are working to prevent and remove barriers in our hiring processes and can offer accommodation to address specific needs related to Code-protected grounds such as disability, family status and religion. For more information about accommodation during the hiring process please contact us.

Learn more about the work the OPS is doing to create an inclusive, anti-racist, accessible and diverse workplace:

- d