What does an extension specialist do?
Extension specialists develop educational programs for a variety of populations, including students, veterinarians, and agricultural producers. They may deliver the programs themselves, or they may train extension agents deliver them. Extension specialists also work with research scientists to develop tools to apply biology, genetics, natural resources, and crop science to help farmers. This position requires expertise in the agricultural system.
Extension specialist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real extension specialist resumes:
- Manage FDA regulate products requirements for ISO2000 quality assurance.
- Prepare personnel action forms for completion in PeopleSoft.
- Coordinate statewide IPM monitoring program in sweet corn.
- Full body waxing with hard wax, certify and train for eyelash extensions.
- Develop an online resource for grandparents raising grandchildren in collaboration with CSU faculty, legal experts, and extension agents.
- Evaluate existing farming and irrigation technology on Uzbek farms and introduce appropriate modern techniques and equipment.
- Maintain data integrity between parallel systems, including auditing and reconciling payroll and benefits interface discrepancy and edit reports.
- Evaluate existing farming and irrigation technology on Uzbek farms and introduce appropriate modern techniques and equipment.
Extension specialist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 60% of Extension Specialists are proficient in Educational Programs, Technical Assistance, and Community Organizations. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Computer skills, and Patience.
We break down the percentage of Extension Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Educational Programs, 60%
Developed educational programs for school and participated in school educational programs.
- Technical Assistance, 24%
Provided on-site technical assistance to farmers.
- Community Organizations, 4%
Worked with businesses, schools and community organizations to promote the Girl Scout Organization.
- Food Safety, 4%
Updated and maintained the largest food safety website in the world, reaching more than 7 million people each year.
- CSU, 3%
Developed an online resource for grandparents raising grandchildren in collaboration with CSU faculty, legal experts, and extension agents.
- Volunteer Recruitment, 1%
Designed adult volunteer recruitment brochures, girl recruitment flyers and recruitment boards for marketing and community events.
Most extension specialists use their skills in "educational programs," "technical assistance," and "community organizations" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential extension specialist responsibilities here:
Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for an extension specialist to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what extension specialists do because "customer service representatives must be able to provide clear information in writing, by phone, or in person." Additionally, an extension specialist resume shows how extension specialists use communication skills: "utilized pos computer system to assist with communication of billing, events, and membership/merchandise sales. "
Patience. extension specialists are also known for patience, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to extension specialist responsibilities, because "representatives should be patient and polite, especially when interacting with dissatisfied customers." An extension specialist resume example shows how patience is used in the workplace: "combine patience, determination, and persistence to troubleshoot utility department issues by contacting vendors daily. "
Listening skills. For certain extension specialist responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "listening skills." The day-to-day duties of an extension specialist rely on this skill, as "representatives must listen carefully to ensure that they understand customers in order to assist them." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what extension specialists do: "communicated with customer to achieve desired hair style. "
Interpersonal skills. Another crucial skill for an extension specialist to carry out their responsibilities is "interpersonal skills." A big part of what extension specialists relies on this skill, since "representatives should be able to create positive interactions with customers." How this skill relates to extension specialist duties can be seen in an example from an extension specialist resume snippet: "developed lasting client relationships by applying effective communication and interpersonal skills in resolving problems and responding to customer inquiries. "
Customer-service skills. While "customer-service skills" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to extension specialist responsibilities. Much of what an extension specialist does relies on this skill, seeing as "representatives help companies retain customers by professionally answering questions and helping to resolve complaints." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of extension specialists: "verified customer eligibility, preparing and following for return and final processing. "
The three companies that hire the most extension specialists are:
- University of Arkansas5 extension specialists jobs
- Delaware Systems Technology, Inc.3 extension specialists jobs
- WTS International
1 extension specialists jobs
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Compare different extension specialists
Extension specialist vs. Program manager
A program manager is responsible for monitoring the project's progress, improving and developing new strategies, and coordinate various projects across the organization to ensure the success of the business objective. Program managers also manage the program's expenses, ensuring that the projects adhere to the budget goals without compromising the quality and accuracy of the result. A program manager should regularly connect with the different teams of every project under the program to keep track of the processes and procedures for the timely delivery of the product.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, extension specialist responsibilities require skills like "educational programs," "community organizations," "food safety," and "usda." Meanwhile a typical program manager has skills in areas such as "project management," "program management," "oversight," and "customer service." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Program managers tend to make the most money working in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $115,112. In contrast, extension specialists make the biggest average salary, $62,646, in the education industry.The education levels that program managers earn slightly differ from extension specialists. In particular, program managers are 4.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an extension specialist. Additionally, they're 4.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Extension specialist vs. Managing member
A managing member is an individual who has an ownership interest of a limited liability company (LLC) and is involved in its daily management. Managing members have an authoritative position that allows them to represent the company in contract negotiations and agree to the terms of a binding contract. They can purchase and sell properties owned by the company and can hire or terminate employees. Managing members also receive salaries and are not entitled to share in the profit or loss of the company.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that extension specialist responsibilities requires skills like "educational programs," "technical assistance," "community organizations," and "food safety." But a managing member might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "financial statements," "real estate," "payroll," and "business development."
Managing members may earn a higher salary than extension specialists, but managing members earn the most pay in the government industry with an average salary of $96,032. On the other hand, extension specialists receive higher pay in the education industry, where they earn an average salary of $62,646.In general, managing members achieve similar levels of education than extension specialists. They're 1.0% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 4.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Extension specialist vs. Assistant project manager
An assistant project manager is an individual who works directly under a project manager to support the planning and execution of projects. Associate project managers keep track of a project's progress and communicate with stakeholders about project needs and goals. They help procure materials and other essential items to meet project goals and avoid delays in completing a project. They are also responsible for resolving complex issues that arise in a project.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, extension specialists are more likely to have skills like "educational programs," "technical assistance," "community organizations," and "food safety." But a assistant project manager is more likely to have skills like "project management," "construction management," "general contractors," and "construction projects."
Assistant project managers earn the highest salary when working in the technology industry, where they receive an average salary of $80,365. Comparatively, extension specialists have the highest earning potential in the education industry, with an average salary of $62,646.Most assistant project managers achieve a similar degree level compared to extension specialists. For example, they're 4.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 4.9% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Extension specialist vs. Program/project manager
The program manager and project manager are two important positions within a company that are thought to be similar. However, program managers direct diverse projects and programs while project managers head the team who is responsible for ensuring a project is completed on time and within budget. Program managers are responsible for the conveyance of the company goals and generally act as a customer interface that helps clients get their desired update and change of a project. Project managers, on the other hand, focus on the project's schedule, scope, and resources needed to complete it on time.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between extension specialists and program/project managers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, an extension specialist might have more use for skills like "educational programs," "technical assistance," "community organizations," and "food safety." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of program/project managers require skills like "project management," "program management," "pmp," and "status reports. "
The professional industry tends to pay the highest salaries for program/project managers, with average annual pay of $123,832. Comparatively, the highest extension specialist annual salary comes from the education industry.The average resume of program/project managers showed that they earn higher levels of education compared to extension specialists. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 6.0% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 4.8%.Types of extension specialist
Updated January 8, 2025
