About This Role:

Primary Area of Responsibility:

Location:

Duties/ Responsibilities:

• Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of a comprehensive 4-H youth development program for school-aged youth in cooperation with local residents and extension colleagues. The primary focus of this position is youth development, adult volunteer development, youth education program development, expanding partnerships, and participation and membership growth. Programming will include but is not limited to: supporting community clubs, out-of-school programs, school enrichment, volunteer management, and outreach to create new program opportunities with existing and new community partners.
• Provide supervision for Cottonwood District’s 4-H summer intern.
• Share responsibility for community vitality programming that helps our communities become better places to live, work, and play. Programming will strengthen the social, civic, economic, and technological capacity of communities through leadership development and civic engagement.
• Programming will include these steps:

1. Identify local needs and emerging issues related to K-State Research and Extension’s five Grand Challenges: (water, community vitality, health, developing tomorrow’s leaders and global food systems) by engaging with program development committees and other community organizations and professionals.
2. Design appropriate educational strategies to engage clientele. These strategies might include delivering educational programming in a community-based setting, coordinating events and activities that provide experiential learning opportunities, using innovative technologies, providing individual educational consultations and facilitating groups seeking similar educational outcomes. Some overnight travel and evening and weekend work will be required.
3. Develop and implement strategies to expand the reach of educational programming to under-served audiences and to make certain K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider of educational programming.
4. Collect and communicate evidence of educational program impact.
5. Develop specialized knowledge and skills by engaging as a member of the Youth Development Program Focus Team.

• Secure external funding such as grants, gifts and cost recovery to supplement local tax revenue to support and expand educational programming.
• Serve as a member of the Cottonwood District team cooperating in the planning and delivery of district-wide programming and related events.

What You'll Need to Succeed:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Academic coursework, professional development, or prior employment related to the position responsibilities.
• Evidence of strong academic and/or professional performance, as documented by college transcripts or documented success in increasingly responsible professional positions.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with individuals, groups, and through mass media.
• Familiarity with various ethnic and socio-economic audiences; an interest in working with people from diverse backgrounds; and a commitment to supporting and enhancing K-State Research and Extension’s initiative for diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule which will include some nights, weekends, and overnight travel.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree.
• Commitment to personal and professional development.
• Experience working with youth across multiple age groups in both formal and informal settings.
• Competence using electronic communication and computer applications to fulfill programming responsibilities.
• Self-motivation and ability to work with minimal supervision while balancing multiple projects.
• Understanding of educational program design, promotion, implementation, and evaluation.
• Experience with volunteer recruitment, support, and management.
• Skills in group facilitation.
• Knowledge of adult and youth teaching/learning processes.
• Experience seeking and administering external grant funding.
• Ability to communicate effectively with both English and Spanish-speaking learners.

Other Requirements:

• Access to a personal vehicle and the ability to obtain/maintain a valid driver’s license
• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States at the time of employment

Salary, Benefits, and Professional Development:

• Salary commensurate with professional experience and available funding as negotiated by the regional extension director, the local extension board and the applicant. The base starting salary is $43,000 for a BS degree with no professional experience and $47,000 for a MS degree with no professional experience.
• Extension agents are Kansas State University educators and have the Board of Regents retirement plan, health and life insurance and vacation and sick leave. For a complete list of benefits see: http://www.k-state.edu/hcs/benefits
• Reimbursement for travel related to achieving program objectives.
• New agents will be provided with comprehensive Early Career Professional Development training throughout their onboarding period. This series will include both virtual and in-person training and networking opportunities.
• Tuition assistance is available to full-time employees and their spouse/dependents

How to Apply:

• Cover Letter (detailing experiences related to responsibilities and qualifications)
• Resume
• Contact Information and Email addresses for three (3) professional references (include on application). References will be requested upon submission of application.
• Copy of academic transcripts showing degree(s) received. (For applicants still in college, a list of courses from the college/university website is acceptable.)