The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) appreciates your interest in employment at our growing institution. We want your application process to go smoothly and quickly. Final applications must be submitted prior to the close of the recruitment.

If you need assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please contact our recruitment helpline at (775) 784-1495 or jobs@unr.edu. For UNR Med professional job postings, please contact the Office of Professional Recruitment at (775) 784-6778. 

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.

Lecturer Statement

The University of Nevada, Reno reserves the right to hire at any level of Lecturer (I-IV) or Teaching Assistant/Associate (terminal degree candidates) that is appropriate for the hire.  If you have questions about title, please inquire during the interview process.

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.

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.

Compensation

12-month position

Lecturer II / Teaching Assistant Professor, non-tenure track

Assistant Professor, tenure-track

To view the salary schedule for this position, please visit Salary Schedules and select Academic Faculty.

Our Benefits

Great Retirement!

Our retirement plan is beyond compare. The University generously matches your 19.25% contribution.   With the faculty retirement plan, you are 100% vested on your first day. Sit back and watch your retirement dollars grow!  All permanent employees on an annual "A" or "B" contract employed at least 50% full-time are eligible to participate in the NSHE retirement program unless they are members of PERS of Nevada. 

“I had no idea the values of the faculty retirement plan when I joined UNR. I discovered I was fully vested in my contributions and the company’s 19.25% matching on my first day. I have watched my retirement grow over the years, not only in contributions but with investments.  It is hard to describe how appreciative I am to feel so secure in my future” – Michelle B.

Perks of Working at UNR!

• Health insurance options including dental and vision - Health Insurance

• Generous annual and sick leave and life insurance – Faculty Benefits

• E. L. Wiegand Fitness Center offers annual or semester membership and family membership options.  E.L. Wiegand Fitness Center

• Reno is proud to be a University town! Many local businesses offer discounts to WolfCard holders

• Mountain EAP supports employees (and eligible dependents) through difficult moments. Mountain EAP is located in Reno and specializes in counseling and advising services for personal or interpersonal issues.

• Faculty Senate is the principal representing body for faculty. Its membership includes representatives from each academic and administrative major unit of the University. Faculty Senate

• No state income tax!

Grants-in-aid for Faculty Employees

The University is proud to provide a reduced-rate tuition benefit to faculty and qualified dependents. Faculty can take up to six credits per semester at a reduced rate. Faculty dependents have unlimited credits, but to be eligible, children must be unmarried and under 24. They must receive at least 50% of their financial support from the employee and/or the employee’s spouse or domestic partner.  Faculty Grants-in-Aid

Faculty Dual Career Assistance Program

The University of Nevada, Reno recognizes the importance of addressing dual-career couples’ professional needs. We offer a dual career assistance program to newly hired faculty spouses/partners that provides resources and assists them in identifying career opportunities in Northern Nevada. Dual Career Assistance Program

College/Department Information

Extension is a major unit of the University of Nevada, Reno, and resides in the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & 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 and disseminate, preserve, and use knowledge to strengthen the social, economic, and environmental well-being of people and their communities.  Extension has offices in 15 of Nevada’s 17 counties with programs that span very large urban centers to isolated ranching and farming communities.

Search Contacts

Holly Gatzke, Northern Area Director and Hiring Manager: gatzkeh@unr.edu

Leslie Lynn, Search Coordinator: lynnle@unr.edu

Full-Time Equivalent

Required Attachment(s)

Please note, once you submit your application the only attachment/s viewable to you will be the attachment/s to the resume/CV section of the application. Any additional required attachment/s to the cover letter, references, additional documents sections of the application, will not be viewable to you after you submit your application. All uploaded attachment/s will be on the application for the committee to review. To request updates to attachments, prior to the committee review of applications, please contact the candidate helpdesk at jobs@unr.edu  

Attach the following attachments to your application
1) Resume/CV - required
2) Cover Letter - required
3) Contact Information for Three Professional References - required
4) Please write a brief statement (one-page maximum) about how you would contribute toward our mission of creating a culturally inclusive environment in the role for which you are applying. - required
 

Posting Close Time

This posting will close at 12:00 am on the date listed below. The posting will no longer be available to apply to after 11:59 pm the day prior.

Posting Close Date

Note to Applicant

A background check will be conducted on the candidate(s) selected for hire.

HR will attempt to verify academic credentials upon receipt of hiring documents. If the academic credentials cannot be verified, HR will notify the faculty member that an official transcript of their highest degree must be submitted within thirty days of the faculty member’s first day of employment.

References will be contacted at the appropriate phase of the recruitment process.

Applicants hired on a federal contract may be subject to E-Verify.

As part of the hiring process, applicants for positions in the Nevada System of Higher Education may be required to demonstrate the ability to perform job-related tasks.

For positions that require driving, evidence of a valid driver's license will be required at the time of employment and as a condition of continued employment.

Schedules are subject to change based on organizational needs.

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 Us

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.

For more information, please visit the University’s website.