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Field Specialist in 4-H Youth Development – Pettis County, MO

Job Details



Job Description

MU TITLE: Extension Specialist/Assistant/Associate/Full Extension Professional

LOCATION: Sedalia, Missouri and primarily serves Pettis, Benton, and Henry in West Central Region, with additional service across the state as needed.

Specialist Emphasis

University of Missouri Extension 4-H youth development programs help children and teens become caring, capable, competent, and contributing through a series of progressive experiences over time with caring adults during non-school hours. 4-H youth development programs focus on the broader developmental needs of youth rather than preventing single issues or problems. 4-H youth development programs use a human ecological approach, recognizing that young people are part of systems, including family, school, community, and society.

Program specialization: The Field Specialist in 4-H Youth Development is responsible for planning, implementing, and evaluating positive youth and volunteer development programs through diverse delivery methods.

Extension Specialist positions are a 12-month appointment, not on a promotion track.

Field Specialist are Extension faculty positions on a 12-month, non-tenure track appointments to the promotable ranks of assistant, associate, or full Extension Professional. Rank will be determined at the time of appointment based on qualifications and experience in accordance with the MU Extension faculty standards.

This position will hold a working title of Field Specialist in 4-H Youth Development.

As a Field Specialist, your workload distribution at appointment will be 90% Extension Teaching and 10% Traditional Service.

This appointment is renewable annually at the discretion of the University and workload distribution may change at the discretion of Extension leadership. Circumstances affecting continued employment include, but are not limited to, work performance, fund availability, and educational priorities.

Duties and Responsibilities
  • Implement community-based 4-H PYD programs, in-school and after-school programs, short-term interest (SPIN) Clubs, and enrichment activities.
  • Use and recommend research-based curriculum and teaching methods.
  • Secure a culture of high-quality service for all the 4-H members and volunteers
  • Provide leadership to 4-H councils and committees
  • Recruit, develop, and train youth and adults to assist as leaders with implementing the 4-H program.
  • Conduct evaluations of the Missouri 4-H programs (evaluations provided).
  • Ensure that all the youth and adults in the county have an equal opportunity to participate in extension programs.
  • Ensure that 4-H leadership is representative of the diversity of the county population.
  • Apply for and administer local grants and other funding sources.
  • Provide supervision and development to program associate(s).
  • Other duties as assigned.
CORE DUTIES OF MU EXTENSION SPECIALISTS

MU Extension Specialists deliver the University of Missouri to all Missourians. They serve all Missourians by bringing research-based solutions to work on local problems. MU Extension Specialists teach new and foundational concepts, link people to resources, support partner organizations, participate in research, train volunteers, evaluate programs, foster innovation, and serve communities. MU Extension Specialists work as a team to expand educational attainment, foster economic development, and improve health outcomes. These core duties fall into three major areas:

Educate, Create, and Connect.
  • Educate. MU Extension specialists design, conduct, and evaluate educational programs. MU Extension specialists teach research-based information via meetings, in-person, and online courses, continuing education classes, technical assistance, volunteer training, media, websites, consultation, and other educational methods. They provide inclusive educational programs that support Missouri's diverse learners and clients' individual, organizational, and community goals.
  • Create. MU Extension specialists develop innovative and research-informed educational products, services, materials, and other scholarly works. These include curricula, publications, presentations, educational tools, websites, and similar resources. MU Extension specialists obtain and use extramural funding to support creative works. MU Extension specialists contribute to the scholarship of Extension and Engagement by evaluating programs that result in learning and behavior changes that impact individuals and communities.
  • Connect. MU Extension specialists engage with learners, stakeholders, volunteers, and communities, including county extension councils, government officials and agencies, partners, and University and professional organizations. MU Extension specialists listen and respond with care. MU Extension specialists intentionally foster diversity, equity, and inclusiveness via engaged partnerships and robust connections to the vast array of programs offered by the University of Missouri System.
Professional Expectations
  • Engage with stakeholders in all coverage counties to identify educational needs and then collaborate with appropriate internal and external partners to meet programming needs, incorporating timely marketing strategies.
  • Create an annual plan-of-work that reflects local needs and aligns with statewide program area efforts. Provide a monthly report for assigned county extension councils, supervisors, county commissioners and others, regarding programmatic efforts. Attend at least one county extension council meeting each month and provide a program review with feedback and analysis for the respective coverage area.
  • Collaborate with campus-based specialists on research projects and then deliver findings from those efforts via demonstrations, field days, courses, workshops, consultations, publications, and appropriate media.
  • Effectively work with supervisors, other specialists, and local leaders to complete administrative tasks as needed to support county efforts.
  • Demonstrate competency in communication, educational programming, subject matter knowledge, inclusivity, equity, educational delivery, volunteer management, grant acquisition, teamwork, interpersonal relations, organization knowledge, leadership, and professionalism.
  • Offer timely, research-based information during times of natural disasters or unexpected catastrophic events.
  • Represent the University of Missouri on boards and committees for assigned program area.
  • Participate in professional development events to improve both technical and leadership skills.
  • Conduct all activities per the Civil Rights Acts, Title IX, Rehabilitation, Americans with Disabilities Act, and local, state, and regional affirmative action plans.
  • Other duties and responsibilities as assigned to support the mission of MU Extension.
Additional Expectations
  • MU Extension Specialists regularly travel throughout Missouri and occasionally to out-of-state locations. MU Extension requires specialists to have a valid Missouri driver’s license, a legally operating vehicle, and wireless telephone/data service for University use. MU Extension specialists receive reimbursement for approved travel expenses, per University of Missouri policy.
  • MU Extension programs often occur outside of regular business hours. MU Extension Specialists should expect to attend these events as needed to meet the needs of learners, clients, and stakeholders.
MU EXTENSION LEADERSHIP RECEIVED

The Senior Program Director for 4-H Youth Development provides overall programmatic leadership. Programmatic supervision comes from the Assistant Director of Missouri 4-H (Education Director) for the Missouri 4-H and administrative oversight from the Regional Director.

MU EXTENSION INFORMATION

The University of Missouri (MU) Office of Extension and Engagement’s distinct land-grant mission is to improve lives, communities, and economies by producing relevant, reliable, and responsive educational strategies throughout Missouri. Our dedicated and knowledgeable specialists and staff collaborate with researchers and community leaders to develop and deliver programs that address the needs of Missourians, including educational attainment, economic development, and healthy people. For more information about MU Extension and Engagement, please visit https://extension.missouri.edu/ .

UNIVERSITY INFORMATION

The University of Missouri, also known as Mizzou and MU, is the Flagship University of the four-campus University of Missouri System. It is one of the state’s land-grant universities. MU’s comprehensive undergraduate and graduate, professional, and research programs attract an annual enrollment of more than 30,000 students. MU Extension and Engagement programs are located on all four campuses and in 114 counties and St. Louis city.

Qualifications

PhD or master's degree (ranked NTT appointment – Assistant Extension Professional title), bachelor's degree (non-ranked academic appointment - Extension Specialist title) in one or more of the following areas: child, adolescent, and adult human development; education, learning theory, and learning strategies; organizational systems and human resource management; community development/partnerships; and volunteerism at time of appointment.

Employment of a candidate with a bachelor’s degree will be as an extension specialist with the working title of field specialist. Faculty hired as an extension specialist will have the expectations of completing a master’s degree in an approved subject matter area. The faculty member will remain an extension specialist until completion of the approved master’s degree, or if he or she has a master's degree, has completed the agreed upon coursework.

Candidates must demonstrate they are authorized to work in the United States at time of hire. Sponsorship of U.S. temporary employment visas will not be offered for this position.

Candidates will be evaluated on:

Ideal candidates will also have successful experiences in youth and/or adult education.

Oral and written communication skills.

Application Materials

Complete the brief online application and be prepared to upload:

• Cover Letter

• Resume/CV

• Copies of all academic transcripts, and

• a list of 3-5 references

Benefit Eligibility

This position is eligible for University benefits. The University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, and educational fee discounts. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at http://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits

Values Commitment

We value the uniqueness of every individual and strive to ensure each person’s success. Contributions from individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives promote intellectual pluralism and enable us to achieve the excellence that we seek in learning, research and engagement. This commitment makes our university a better place to work, learn and innovate.

In your application materials, please discuss your experiences and expertise that support these values and enrich our missions of teaching, research and engagement.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Equal Opportunity is and shall be provided for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without unlawful discrimination on the basis of their race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable state or federal law. This policy shall not be interpreted in such a manner as to violate the legal rights of religious organizations or the recruiting rights of military organizations associated with the Armed Forces or the Department of Homeland Security of the United States of America. For more information, call the Director of Employee and Labor Relations at 573-882-7976.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.

Know Your Rights

To read more about Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) please use the following links:
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Company

Mizzou

The University of Missouri was founded in 1839 in Columbia, Mo., as the first public university west of the Mississippi River and the first state university in Thomas Jefferson's Louisiana Purchase territory. MU provides all the benefits of two universities in one — it's a major land-grant institution and Missouri's largest public research university.

Considered one of the nation's top-tier institutions, Mizzou has a reputation of excellence in teaching and research, and is the flagship campus of the four-campus University of Missouri System. It is one of only 34 public universities, and the only public institution in Missouri, to be selected for membership in the Association of American Universities. MU offers more than 280 degree programs — including more than 75 online degree options — and is designated as comprehensive doctoral with medical/veterinary by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

Mizzou is recognized nationally and receives top rankings for its programs in many areas, including journalismdispute resolutionfamily and community medicinecampus writing program and Freshman Interest Groups. As one of only six public universities in the country with medicineveterinary medicine and law all on one campus, MU provides Missouri with an educated work force of doctors, veterinarians and lawyers.

At Mizzou, we know how to make an impact—and our work reaches far beyond our campus. When you become part of our community, you’ll be part of our collective effort to teach, to learn and to drive change that results in better lives and brighter futures for the world.

Mizzou Tigers are lifelong learners, and that includes our faculty and staff members. All employees have the opportunity to pursue personal and professional growth and acquire new skills for their own benefit and the benefit of the university.

Our university seeks to support the whole employee, and that includes a competitive compensation and benefits package, support that will help you find work/life balance, a focus on career planning and plenty of opportunities to find and be recognized for your success.

We support an engaged and energized university community through competitive medical, dental and vision insurance as well as diverse programs to support whole-person wellness.

Mizzou empowers employees to make a lasting financial plan with retirement plan options, some of which are accessible to all faculty and staff, no matter their eligibility for other benefits.

Mizzou is a world-renowned educational and research institution, and our first-rate faculty, staff and students are part of something big. If you’re looking for a vibrant community that offers endless opportunities to grow and make a difference throughout our state, the nation and the world, our university may be the place for you. 

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