State Specialized Extension Agent III or IV – Volunteer Management and Development (72748)

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is committed to creating an environment that affirms diversity across a variety of dimensions, including ability, class, ethnicity/race, gender identity and expression. We particularly welcome applicants who can contribute to such an environment through their scholarship, teaching, mentoring, and professional service. We strongly encourage historically underrepresented groups to apply.

If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 352-392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800-955-8771 (TDD) or visit Accessibility at UF .

The Univ. of Florida (UF) is a Land Grant institution with core values of unique purpose, excellence, integrity, collaboration and partnership, lifelong learning, diversity, responsiveness, innovation, communication, and global reach. IFAS employs more than 2,000 faculty and staff statewide. IFAS Extension employs 375 Extension Agents and has an office in each of Florida’s 67 counties.

Our mission in the Florida Cooperative Extension Service is to partner with communities to provide quality, relevant education and research-based expertise to foster healthy people, a healthy environment, and a healthy economy. We are the resource that helps educate Floridians to address issues related to agriculture, horticulture, natural resources, youth development, families and communities.

We are looking for candidates with both academic and people skills who work well in teams, honor their commitments, and innovate in a rapidly changing world. As a State Specialized Agent (SSA, 100% Extension) for volunteerism you will design, plan, implement, evaluate, and report on a scholarly education program in the area of volunteer management and development. Your responsibilities will include facilitating and coordinating collaboration and cooperation among state and county faculty who recruit and develop volunteers as integral parts of their extension programs. You will coordinate implementation of programmatic, risk management, and youth protection policies in our volunteer base including release procedures and you will provide training and guidance for faculty on volunteer recruiting, development, and retention.

You will provide leadership to state team on volunteerism under the supervision of the Associate Dean for Extension – State Program Leader for 4-H Youth Development, Families and Communities. This position will function as part of the state 4-H Executive Leadership team which is led by the 4-H Associate State Program Leader. Main office location negotiable pending space availability, if not Gainesville.

What you will do (programmatic, 80%):

• Provide statewide leadership for volunteer education and recognition.
• Promote and support statewide Extension priorities based on the UF/IFAS Extension long range plan (the IFAS Extension “Roadmap”).
• Provide direct teaching, leadership, resources, and scholarly contributions for volunteer management based on individual strengths and the vision of programmatic leadership.
• Contribute to the scholarly advancement of the 4-H Youth Development, Family and Consumer Sciences, and Residential Horticulture professions by providing statewide leadership and professional development programming related to the recruitment of diverse volunteers and volunteers for underserved populations, volunteer development, and volunteer management.

What you will do (organizational systems, 20%):

• Lead and manage state staff who assist with volunteer screening.
• Assist with applicant screening for vacant county faculty positions where volunteer management is a key responsibility (e.g., 4-H, Master Gardener coordinators, etc.).
• Work with the planning team to create relevant on-boarding experiences for new faculty who will recruit and develop volunteers.
• Collaborate with 4-H Associate State Program Leader, the state Master Gardener Program coordinator, state Extension Specialists, Regional Specialized Agents, County Agents, District Extension Directors, and County Extension Directors to proactively address volunteerism issues related to equity, access, Affirmative Action and opportunity, and youth protection.
• Collaborate with campus resources from Office of Youth Conference Services, Human Resources, and UF General Counsel to clarify policies regarding volunteer management.
• Work with communications and fundraising staff to promote UF/IFAS volunteer programs through traditional and social media, fundraising events, and other statewide opportunities (such as the Florida State Fair, Sunbelt, etc.).
• Provide leadership for UF/IFAS Extension Roadmap Initiative 7, Priority Working Group 2 (Organizational Systems) by facilitating communication and collaboration among the team and affiliated priority work groups.

Further information:

The UF/IFAS 4-H Youth Development Program ( http://florida4h.org ) is a non-formal, practical educational program for youth, ages 5-18, with over 200,000 young people participating in county 4-H programs across Florida. Florida 4-H is supported by more than 14,000 youth and adult volunteers. More than 6.5 million youth participate in 4-H nationwide.

The Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program is a volunteer-driven program that benefits UF/IFAS Extension and the citizens of Florida. The program relies on dedicated volunteers who have an interest in gardening and in giving back to their communities. The Master Gardener Volunteer program is active in 58 counties in Florida. There are 4,500 Florida Master Gardener Volunteers that contributed to the UF/IFAS Extension service and volunteered 186,000 hours in 2020.

Extension is a partnership between state, federal, and county governments to provide scientific knowledge and expertise to the public. As such, all partners are involved in the supervision of the office and contribute to the salary and support resources. The primary goal of Extension is to disseminate the latest knowledge and applicable technologies in agriculture, human and natural resources, and the life sciences in order to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. The UF/IFAS mission is accomplished through Extension faculty members, scientists, educators, administrative staff, and volunteers working cohesively throughout Florida’s 67 counties.

Candidates will be reviewed as applications are received, but please be aware that interviews might not be scheduled until 4 to 6 weeks after the position closing date.

What you will bring (required):

• An earned master’s degree from an accredited university in youth development or a closely related discipline. Degrees in other disciplines will be considered for candidates with professional 4-H Youth Development experience.
• At least 10 years of Extension volunteer development experience or equivalent.
• Demonstrated ability to work with volunteers and diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to design, promote, implement, and evaluate youth and adult development programs based on experiential learning principles.
• Willingness to work irregular hours, evenings and weekends with occasional overnight travel, as well as travel with a personal or university-assigned vehicle.
• Support for the mission of the Land Grant University system (teaching, research, and extension).
• A commitment to UF/IFAS core values of excellence, diversity, global involvement, and accountability.
• A commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA) guidelines of UF/IFAS Extension.
• Technological literacy, including the ability to learn new software and technology.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a valid Florida Driver’s license.
• Ability to pass a national background screening.

What you will bring (preferred):

• A doctoral degree.
• Demonstrated skills in verbal and written communication, interpersonal relationships, team leadership, problem-solving, and procurement of extramural funding.
• Skills in providing web-based learning.

This position has been re-posted. Previous applicants are under consideration and need not re-apply.

Apply at http://apply.interfolio.com/86229 by 11:59 p.m. (Eastern) of the posting end date, and attach:

• Cover letter that describes how your experience and qualifications have prepared you for this position
• Résumé or Curriculum vitae
• Unofficial copies of all transcripts and/or coursework of your academic degrees

The following documents are also required and may either be submitted through the above link at the time of application, or sent separately to our office (below).

• Current and Previous Employment Form (located at https://hr.ifas.ufl.edu/resources/form-index/current-and-previous-employment-form/ ).
• A minimum of 3 reference rating forms (located at http://hr.ifas.ufl.edu/assets/pdf/forms/ref_form.pdf ) from your professional/academic references. Reference forms will be kept on file for 1 year and will be automatically used with any of our extension agent positions you apply for during that time.

Reference rating forms and unofficial transcripts not submitted at the time of application should be submitted/postmarked by the next business day after the position’s closing date. They may be submitted to:

Ms. Dana LeCuyer
UF IFAS Human Resources
Faculty Recruitment and Hiring
P O Box 110281
Gainesville, FL 32611-0281

ifasrecruitment@ifas.ufl.edu

Fax: (352) 392-3226

Final candidate will be required to provide official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. A transcript will not be considered “official” if a designation of “Issued to Student” is visible. Degrees earned from an education institution outside of the United States are required to be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approved by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), which can be found at http://www.naces.org/ .

The University of Florida is an equal opportunity institution dedicated to building a broadly diverse and inclusive faculty and staff.

The University of Florida is An Equal Employment Opportunity Institution. If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 352/392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800/955-8771 (TDD). Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. Searches are conducted in accordance with Florida's Sunshine Law.

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The University of Florida is committed to non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations, genetic information and veteran status in all aspects of employment including recruitment, hiring, promotions, transfers, discipline, terminations, wage and salary administration, benefits, and training.