County Extension Coordinator

Posting Details

Job Title

County Extension Coordinator

Posting Number

P0207F

Job Description Summary

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Auburn University, is looking for a dynamic leader to lead our Chilton County Extension program and serve the citizens of Chilton County. This individual will have an opportunity to build partnerships and collaborate with multiple entities to deliver research-based educational opportunities that transform lives and communities. In Chilton County, the County Extension Coordinator will also collaborate with the Chilton Research & Extension Center as well as the proposed Alabama Farm Center on relevant activities.

About Chilton County:
This rural, Central Alabama county offers residents the benefits of small town living with quick and easy access to the neighboring population centers of Birmingham and Montgomery. Number One in the state for fruit production, the county thrives on a strong and diverse Ag economy. The county has a population of over 43,000 residents, a strong school system, and unique landscapes that are perfect for outdoor recreational activities. Chilton County is also renowned for its annual week long Peach Festival held each summer.

The County Extension Coordinator is a non-tenure track faculty, community-based professional of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System ( ACES ) who represents the science-based resources and other resources available through Alabama A&M University and Auburn University. They are recognized as a community leader who addresses the contemporary challenges, issues, and opportunities facing the citizens of the county through university programs and knowledge. County Extension Coordinators build and strengthen relationships with key business, government, and education leaders and citizen stakeholders to build county leadership capacity and programmatic linkages. They assess community needs by engaging and involving citizens, plan and implement programs in conjunction with regional educators and state specialists, and document measurable outcomes over time. The County Extension Coordinator actively supports economic and community development initiatives. The County Extension Coordinator is the first line supervisor and manager of the county extension office and serves as the primary contact person with local governing bodies that provide funding.

County Extension Coordinators are responsible for implementing the management functions of the county office to include planning and organizing, directing, and staffing. Human resource management includes counseling during employee probationary periods, reviewing employee performance, making merit-pay and promotion recommendations, training staff, and advising staff in terms of career development. The County Extension Coordinator is responsible for generating financial support from local governing bodies and from new sources including grants, contracts, user fees, and donations; providing leadership to developing an annual plan-of-work; achieving program objectives and outcomes; and promoting teamwork among county funded staff, regional extension agents, urban regional extension agents, and state specialists. The County Extension Coordinator is responsible for complying with all federal and state laws (including civil rights) pertaining to program delivery and employment within the county office, and they work collaboratively with other ACES employees.

County Extension Coordinators having a particular subject-matter interest may develop their expertise to support programming in their assigned county. This secondary function would be determined in consultation with their supervisor. In Chilton County, the County Extension Coordinator will collaborate on relevant Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station activities.

Minimum Qualifications

A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Agriculture, Natural Resources, Forestry, Family and Consumer Sciences, Business Administration, Management, Education, Marketing, Public Relations or a related field is required.

The successful incumbent will be required to obtain a master’s degree within five years after successfully completing a probationary period.

Candidates must possess educational leadership, strong work ethic, a sense of responsibility, a high degree of objectivity, excellent and effective interpersonal and written communication skills, and the ability to work successfully with staff, volunteers, community leaders, and county officials. The position requires someone with exceptional communication, managerial and leadership skills. Excellent public relations skills and the ability to connect the local program needs with the ACES mission are required. The successful candidate must demonstrate a highly collaborative work style, have the ability to engage and motivate others, a positive attitude, show enthusiasm for the work, be a self-starter, and work with minimum supervision. The ability to act creatively, confidentially and professionally when working with people from diverse educational and cultural backgrounds; the ability to take initiative, work independently, and manage multiple projects; a high level of motivation and effective organizational management are expected.

Desired Qualifications

Desired qualifications include a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Agriculture, Animal Science, Horticulture, Plant Science, Food Science, Agronomy, Forestry or Natural resources, three years of supervisory experience & experience managing budgets, a Master’s degree from an accredited institution in a relevant field, and demonstrated leadership competencies that include servant leadership job experience.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Open Date

06/18/2021

Close Date

07/18/2021

EEO Statement

AUBURN UNIVERSITY IS AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION / EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER . It is our policy to provide equal employment opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, sex, religion, color, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by applicable law.

Open Until Filled

No

References required for this position?

Yes

If yes, minimum number requested

3
Supplemental Questions

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Optional & Required Documents
Required Documents

1. Cover Letter
2. Transcripts
3. Resume

Optional Documents