Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development (McLean Co)

• TITLE: Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development (McLean County)
  
  DEPARTMENT: Cooperative Extension Program
  
  REPORTS TO: Regional Extension Director-West Region
  
  EFFECTIVE DATE: Position will Remain Open until Filled
  
  EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Full-time
  
  EMPLOYMENT CLASSIFICATION: Exempt
  
  Internal Candidates are Encouraged to Apply
  
  PRINCIPAL PURPOSE OF JOB:
  
  Extension Agents are community-based professionals of Kentucky State University who make a difference by connecting community needs with university resources. The 4-H Youth Development Extension Agent will develop, conduct, and deliver educational programs based on locally identified needs, which lead to improved quality of life for children and underserved youth.
  
  SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY:
  
  The 4-H Youth Development Agent is a professional educator who provides leadership to the local 4-H program and manages its day-to-day operation. 4-H is a community of young people learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills. The mission of 4-H is to develop youth and adults working with those youth, to realize their full potential becoming effective, contributing citizens through participation in research-based, non-formal, hands-on educational experiences. The 4-H Agent will work closely with the 4-H Youth Development Program Leader for all programmatic efforts. The 4-H Agent is a member of the county operations team and is supervised by the Western Regional Extension Director. This position will serve all clientele and give them an equal opportunity to participate in programs regardless of race, gender, age, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin.
  
  ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
  

• Develop, implement, and evaluate a county plan of work based on locally identified needs; develop and implement research-based virtual and face-to-face 4-H educational programs in the county to meet the needs of diverse, underrepresented audiences, including Limited English Proficient youth.
• Create an advisory council to help identify local issues and needs for the 4-H Youth Development Program in the service area; identify, recruit, train youth and adults, support, and manage volunteers to implement and carry out the 4-H educational programming in the county.
• Provide leadership to an educational process through which youth and adults learn the skills of understanding self; acquiring, analyzing, and using information, communicating and relating to others;problem-solving and decision making; managing resources; and working with others.
• Assists in the implementation of assigned year-round statewide initiatives and summer youth programs.
• Collect, enter, and analyze statistical data, and report in Kentucky Extension Reporting System.
• Develop monthly newsletters for clientele.
• Work with specialists to provide cutting-edge information and creative programming; assist professional researchers, specialists, and directors of other youth outreach programs with the selection of student participants, counselors, and support staff, and with proper assignment of projects for implementation.
• Network and build coalitions with other agencies, organizations, and institutions to address and solve community problems and multiply effectiveness.
• Implement, evaluate, and report the county 4-H Youth Development program to key stakeholders and administration, reporting impacts to clientele, the public, supporters, and Land Grant/ administration.
• Maintain records, clientele sign-in sheets, submit reports as required by the Kentucky Extension Reporting System, and ensure that all Client Protection guidelines are implemented within the 4-H Youth Development program area.
• Use new technologies in order to promote the 4-H program and reach new audiences; provide opportunities for youth to be actively involved in events and programs outside the county on the district, state, and/or national level.

OTHER DUTIES: The position will conduct other duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree in Education, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Family and Consumer Science, Human Nutrition, Education, or related field. Three to five years of experience in youth program development. Master’s Degree in related area strongly preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES:

• Knowledge and experience in planning, conducting, and evaluating participatory Extension or non-formal education programs. Experience working with diverse populations.
• Excellent team-building skills.
• Excellent conflict resolution skills.
• Understanding and ability to conduct a community needs assessment to determine program priorities.
• Knowledge of child and human development.
• Knowledge and willingness of adult involvement and working relationships.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Basic knowledge of educational technologies and their appropriate use in the development and delivery of educational programs.
• Program marketing skills.
• Knowledge and willingness to involve and manage participants in delivery.
• Maintain a personal commitment to working with diverse clientele and colleagues, and a willingness to further the civil rights goals of KSU Cooperative Extension.

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL EFFORT:

• Must be able to lift large boxes up to 40 lbs.
• Must be able to travel (25%).
• Must be able to work evenings and weekends, especially during the summer (35%).
• A valid driver license and a personal vehicle for official duty travel are required. Mileage will be reimbursed at a rate established by the university.

KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY is an Equal Opportunity Employer

The functions, qualifications, knowledge/skills, and physical requirements listed in this job description represent the essential duties of the job, which the incumbent must be able to perform either with or without reasonable accommodation. The Job Functions listed do not necessarily include all activities that the individual may perform. The College of Agriculture, Community, and the Sciences strives for inclusive excellence and is interested in qualified candidates who can contribute to this effort through their research, teaching, and/or Extension programs.