Job Opportunity: Agricultural Worker Protection Trainer Manual Development

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AGRICULTURAL WORKER PROTECTION

TRAINER MANUAL DEVELOPMENT

Job Summary: Develop, design and edit a core farmworker pesticide

safety pilot manual for trainers.

Job Type:

Contractual / Special Services

Employer:

Agricultural Research Institute, Washington DC

Background:

In 2000 the Agricultural Research Institute in conjunction with the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) initiated a comprehensive review

of the Agricultural Worker Protection Program. The purpose of this

national assessment is to help determine whether the program, structured

around EPA's agricultural worker protection regulation, is adequately

meeting its intended goals of preventing or mitigating pesticide risks

to agricultural workers. To obtain recommendations on various issues,

the Agricultural Research Institute and EPA convened groups of experts

from around the country. One of these groups -- the " national

train-the-trainer pilot subgroup " -- has been charged with developing and

implementing a pesticide train-the-trainer pilot for trainers of

agricultural workers.

This subgroup framed out a draft pilot curriculum in March 2002 that

describes the content and format of the train-the-trainer program to be

piloted. The Agricultural Research Institute is soliciting to hire an

individual to bring the curriculum to completion in the form of a manual

based on the proposed framework outlined by the subgroup.

Job Description:

With the subgroup's " Draft Curriculum " as a guide, the individual

selected will:

1. Conduct a thorough review of existing train-the-trainer curricula

that will be provided by the subgroup

2. Design an appropriate format for a pilot manual

3. Following the outline developed by the subgroup, pull together and

synthesize key components of the existing curricula into one pilot

manual by cutting and pasting material as well as filling in the gaps

for continuity

4. Incorporate appropriate illustrations into the pilot manual

5. Assemble all this together in a logical, easy-to-use, and

attractive format in a form that can be sent to a printer.

6. Edit the final draft manual for correct grammar, spelling,

punctuation, consistency of voice, clarity, and consistency of style.

The product of this effort will be a draft pilot training manual subject

to the subgroup's review.

A subset of the subgroup has been identified to provide guidance

throughout the duration of the project in technical editing, reviewing

the material for accuracy and completeness, and selecting the best

illustrations, as necessary. Contact information will be provided at the

start of the project.

Expected Product:

The final product will be a printer-ready electronic file (Pager Maker

or Quark Xpress) of a pesticide safety train-the-trainer manual for use

in a pilot program approved by the subgroup. The manual will be in

English, and contain some pictures in black & white.

The manual should be in the version and type of software required

(PageMaker or Quark Xpress). The Agricultural Research Institute and EPA

must be provided with one hard copy each of the final product as well as

complete electronic files in the agreed upon format.

Required Experience and Qualities:

- Health, Agriculture and/or Education background

- Competence in using PageMaker or Quark Xpress software packages to

design a format and to cut/paste existing materials

- Excellent editing/writing skills

- Previous experience in designing adult learning tools and

educational manuals and adapting material to fit easy formats

- Familiarity with low literacy proficiency and English as a Second

Language (ESL) concepts

- Attentive to detail

- Able to meet deadlines

- Work well with the subgroup and address their recommendations.

Preferred Experience and Qualities:

- Previous experience with EPA's agricultural worker protection

regulation, pesticide safety training, EPA and state pesticide

regulations

Timeframe for Completion of Project:

At the start of the project the Agricultural Research Institute, EPA and

the selected individual will agree on a timetable for outlining quality

assurance steps and specifying a date for delivery of the final product.

The selected individual will be expected to be in weekly contact with

the Agricultural Research Institute to report on the status of progress

and to make sure that the final product is compatible with printing

format requirements.

The final product must be presented to Herrett, Executive

Director of the Agricultural Research Institute, by the date agreed upon

at the initiation of the project. A letter of acceptance of the final

product from the Agricultural Research Institute to the selected

individual finalizes the contractual relationship.

Budget:

The selected individual will be expected to devote between 20 and 40

hours/week to this project. We estimate that the project will take no

longer than eight weeks to complete. The project total budget is $9,000.

The person will be paid a third up front, a third upon delivery of a

draft manual, and a third upon delivery of an acceptable final product.

The product must be completed by August 31, 2002. Reproduction and

translation of the manual is not the responsibility of the selected

individual.

How to Apply:

Submit by mail (1) a cover letter explaining your qualifications and

experience (2) your resume or curriculum vitae, and (3) one writing

sample of a previous manual or educational product you designed and

produced, to:

Herrett

Executive Director

Agricultural Research Institute

505 Capitol Court NE

Suite # 200

Washington DC 20002

The application deadline is Wednesday, May 29, 2002. Applications

postmarked after May 29, 2002 will not be considered. Only final

candidates will be contacted.

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