Assistant Extension Educator - Weston County Community Vitality & Health

JOB PURPOSE:

Are you seeking a career that will allow you to positively impact Wyoming communities and people? Do you value public service and seek an outlet that allows you to serve the public through educational programs you create? Are you committed to lifelong learning and find value in sharing that with others? Then please consider applying for this open position.

The mission of University of Wyoming Extension (UWE) is to empower the people of Wyoming to make choices that enhance their quality of life. By actively involving Wyoming people, institutions, and communities, UWE shows a commitment to people, connectivity, relevance, accountability, innovation, entrepreneurship, and respect. With this in mind, UWE will be responsive to the needs, concerns, and aspirations of the people of Wyoming as we provide learning for better living.

UWE educators are expected to develop relationships with key community leaders and groups to inform the design and delivery of research-based educational programs. They are expected to work within team settings that may consist of other Extension educators, community professionals, and faculty within and outside of UWE. 

For this position, educational programming will ideally emphasize either food preservation and safety, or civic capacity building (such as leadership development and board governance), but could also include economic/community development, human nutrition, physical activity, community wellness, or related topics identified through local needs assessments.

This position is based in Newcastle, Wyoming, the county seat for Weston County.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program Development and Delivery

• Provide leadership in building mutual learning relationships with community members and leaders through a blend of educational outreach, technical assistance, and community coaching.
• Implement assessment and advisory strategies to identify educational needs (e.g., by gathering input from community members, leaders, and organizations about educational needs in the county).
• Develop and maintain awareness of existing programs, resources, and businesses within local communities, being careful not to compete with or favor any.
• Conduct impactful Extension programming informed by assessments of local needs and assets.
• Establish professional partnerships with Extension Specialists and other scientific experts to ensure outreach programming is rooted in research-based information. As an Extension Educator advances in their career, this should involve collaborating on applied research projects or demonstration studies to inform educational programs. 
• Provide primary leadership for the development, implementation, evaluation, and continual improvement of comprehensive educational programming in community vitality and health (CVH) that is responsive, relevant and impactful in addressing needs identified in assessments. 
• Provide effective educational experiences using appropriate program delivery strategies, such as presentations, workshops, trainings, and other modes of outreach relevant to target audiences, which could range widely from youths to adults, and the general public to professionals. 
• Support the development, delivery, and evaluation of signature programs or statewide initiatives of the Community Vitality and Health (CVH) focus area.
• Support and promote general Extension operations and outputs in the county, and cooperate with other UW programs or efforts in the county (e.g., interacting with the public in ways supportive of UW recruiting).
• Develop and implement evaluation tools (formative and summative) for measuring and reporting consistent program impacts across the short and long term.
• Provide support for 4-H Youth Development in partnership with your local 4-H educator.

Volunteer/Community-Partner Systems

• Establish and support volunteers/partners that have the ability to increase the capacity and long-term sustainability of the CVH focus area (e.g., Master Food volunteers).
• Cultivate relationships with and build capacity of volunteers/partners through a support system consisting of effective orientation, training, utilization, recognition, and evaluation (e.g., for 4-H programs).
• Serve as a community-based representative of the University.
• Address issues/conflicts that arise with volunteer/partner/clientele roles.

Communication and Reporting 

• Develop and maintain respectful and responsive working relationships and communications with colleagues, community leaders/partners, volunteers, clientele, and the general public.
• Use Extension resources, including Communications & Technology, to market education programs and deliver outputs through various media sources (e.g., newspapers, radio, newsletters, websites, social media, podcasts, etc.) that attract community members from a wide variety of backgrounds.
• Develop and disseminate communication and reporting materials that reflect positively on the University and UW Extension.
• Collect data and prepare reports and presentations to share with local community members and leaders about the public value, impacts, and accomplishments of CVH programming.

Program Operations

• Ensure civil rights compliance.
• Implement strategies to expand the reach of educational programming to new audiences, and ensure all participants (potential and current) have full access to programs, services, and facilities.
• Plan for and manage risk through established procedures and resources.
• Employ appropriate fiscal management practices to ensure accuracy and accountability.
• Secure external funding to support and expand educational programming.
• Engage in Collaboratives or similar internal funding opportunities to grow and contribute to team capacity for providing robust programming.
• Demonstrate objectivity, professionalism, and accountability.
• Maintain organized records and provide accurate reports in a timely manner.

Professional Development

• Demonstrate continuing professional development to advance capacity as an Educator and/or technical expertise relevant to the CVH focus area. These activities should support annual professional development goals approved by your supervisor.
• Participate fully in UWE’s annual conference (EPIC or ENGAGE) as well as Spring Training.
• New employees: participate fully in New Employee Welcome Day, two New Employee Orientation sessions, and required Coaching Team sessions.
• Participate in professional societies relevant to your discipline, Extension, and/or industry.

Service

• Provide service to university, college, departmental, local government, and community efforts.

Approximate Time Distribution

Educational programming in CVH - 85% 

Support of 4-H Youth Development programs - 15%

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university. Candidates with a Master’s degree in progress may be considered for interviews, but degree must be completed by hire date.
• One degree (Master’s or Bachelor’s) must be awarded in family and consumer sciences, human nutrition and food, food science, food/agricultural/biological engineering, public or community health, economic/community development, public administration, business administration, leadership, or a related field from an accredited institution.
• Reliable transportation and valid driver's license with a motor vehicle record (MVR) compliant with the Driving for University Business SAP. 
• Ability to participate in some overnight travel, evening, and weekend work.  

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Training or experience in one or more of the following topics: food preservation, food safety, leadership development (for youths or adults), board governance, human nutrition, physical activity, community wellness, economic/community development, or other topics relevant to local needs. 
• Experience in developing and delivering science-based outreach to meet needs identified by community members.
• Experience developing partnerships with external organizations or government agencies.
• Experience fostering positive relationships with clientele in a community served.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal skills.
• Experience and/or training in teaching youth and adult audiences.
• Experience conducting needs assessments and program impact evaluations.
• Demonstrated ability to use diverse approaches to develop and deliver science-informed outreach related to improving individual, family, community, or economic health and well-being.
• Demonstrated knowledge/appreciation of rural communities and a commitment to work and travel in rural counties in Wyoming.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Extension and the land-grant university system.
• Demonstrated ability to engage effectively in and contribute positively to teamwork.
• Experience in planning and implementing applied research activities.

REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS:

• Completed UW application.
• A detailed letter of intent that specifically addresses your qualifications relative to the essential duties and responsibilities of the position.
• Current resume or curriculum vitae.
• Copies of all college transcripts; official transcripts required at time of hiring.
• Contact information for four (4) references who can address your professional qualifications.

Contact for application inquiries:

Ann Roberson, Business Manager

University of Wyoming Extension

1000 E. University Ave., Dept. 3354

Laramie, WY 82071

Phone: (307)766-3566

E-mail: [email protected] 

For specific position information, contact:

Dannele Peck, Associate Director

University of Wyoming Extension

Phone: (307)766-5124

Email: [email protected]

WORK LOCATION:

This position provides vital support to UW Extension clientele and requires the successful candidate to be available to work in person at the Weston County Extension Office in Newcastle, Wyoming.

WORK AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS:

The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the United States, as sponsorship for work authorization or work visas are not available for this position. 

HIRING STATEMENT/EEO:

ABOUT WESTON COUNTY:

Weston County is in northeastern Wyoming on the western edge of the Black Hills, approximately 1.5 hours from the Rapid City regional airport. The county covers approximately 2,398 square miles, with forested hills in the northeastern third and rangelands in the southwestern two-thirds. The county’s population is approximately 6,835 people, half of whom call Newcastle (the county seat) home. Weston County is rich in western history and hospitality, with abundant outdoor recreation opportunities, such as hunting, fishing, hiking, and snowmobiling in the adjacent Black Hills. Other major industries include mining, agriculture, and services. More information can be found at:

https://www.newcastlewyoming.com/

https://www.newcastlewyo.com/

https://wyoextension.org/westoncounty/

Posted Salary Range: 52,000 - 62,000