Working Title:                          Extension Educator – 4-H Youth Development (multiple openings)

Appointment:                           Assistant Extension Educator (9625ST), Academic Professional (P&A)

Reports To:                              Extension Educator in Youth Development

Application Deadline:             June 1, 2022 priority deadline; positions open until filled

Locations and Percentage Times

Becker (Detroit Lakes) - 100%

Dakota (Farmington) - 100%

Kittson (Hallock) - 100%

Nicollet (St. Peter) - 100%

Scott (Jordan) - 100%

About the Position

Extension Educators are community-based academic professionals of the University of Minnesota Extension.  They are a link between the land grant University research and Minnesota residents by creating learning opportunities that address local needs.

This position leads, manages and stewards the full range of 4-H Youth Development programming in the county/tribal community.  4-H Educators work collaboratively with youth, volunteers, community partners, and University faculty/staff to reach two overarching program goals:  Youth will learn by developing a passion in their areas of interest; Youth will lead by being innovators and social change agents. 4-H Educators ensure program quality, growth, retention, and impact. They also:  

• Build relationships with youth, parents, volunteers, partners and stakeholders
• Recruit, train, supervise and support volunteers
• Plan, manage, deliver, and evaluate educational programs and events
• Develop outreach and educational materials
• Teach and provide information to youth, volunteers, and community youth workers
• Promote and market the 4-H Youth Development program
• Provide financial guidance
• Ensure policies and expected procedures are communicated and followed.
• Prioritize responsibilities based upon the 4-H Educator’s percentage of time and additional staffing available for the local program.  

The 4-H Educator position is supervised by a regional Extension Educator in Youth Development.

Responsibilities

1. Program Development and Delivery – 40%
   • Engage youth, volunteers, and partners to create a program plan that reflects the demographics of the county/tribal community, addresses local needs and opportunities, aligns with the strategic direction of the MN 4-H Youth Development program and leads to program growth and sustainability.
   • Design and develop high quality, culturally-relevant, impactful programs that support youth in learning and leading.
   • Convene and facilitate planning meetings with youth, volunteers, and partners.
   • Develop/adapt lesson plans and teach/facilitate youth/adult learning using relevant content and pedagogy/andragogy.
   • Plan and manage the delivery of 4-H clubs, camps, after school programs, showcase opportunities, and other events and activities.
   • Plan and manage 4-H experiences during the county fair, providing opportunities for recruitment, education, judging, and public recognition.
   • Coordinate youth and volunteer involvement in regional, state and national 4-H programs and showcase events.
   • Identify and implement strategies to diversify program participation, ensuring programs and processes are welcoming, accessible, and inclusive of youth, volunteers, and staff with varying backgrounds and experience.
   • Develop and support community partnerships that extend programmatic reach and expand programmatic impact; complete program agreements.
   • Establish and maintain an effective staffing plan including partners, volunteers, interns, and seasonal employees.
   • Determine fiscal resources needed for each program and identify potential funding sources.
   • Utilize established evaluation tools and processes to inform future program design, improve effectiveness, demonstrate value, and market the program.

2. Volunteer Systems – 35%
   • Establish and support a volunteer development system that builds the capacity and long-term sustainability of the 4-H program.
   • Identify needs/opportunities for volunteers to serve in management and delivery roles, and recruit and place individuals in these roles.
   • Ensure the volunteer screening process is implemented and up to date.
   • Cultivate relationships with and build capacity of volunteers through a support system consisting of effective orientation, training, utilization, recognition, and evaluation.
   • Teach and/or facilitate training for volunteers and community youth workers.
   • Address problems that arise with volunteer roles.

3. Program Operations – 15%
   • Manage and monitor compliance with organizational policies and procedures.
   • Recruit, orientate, supervise and support interns and seasonal employees.
   • Guide and monitor operations of local governing boards (4-H federations/councils) and county/tribal committees, ensuring compliance with requirements for group exemption status.
   • Oversee and ensure completion of chartering process for 4-H Federation/Council and 4-H clubs/groups.
   • Manage established processes for youth enrollment, volunteer enrollment, event participation, and program agreements.
   • Ensure potential and current participants have full access to programs, services, and facilities.
   • Plan for and manage risk-utilizing resources and established procedures.
   • Guide budget development, secure and leverage resources, monitor spending, ensure financial accountability.
   • Manage use of facilities and equipment, including completion of required inventories and agreements.
   • Maintain organized records and provide reports.

4. Communication and Reporting – 10%
   • Develop and maintain respectful working relationships with youth, families, volunteers, colleagues, community partners, and other stakeholders.
   • Develop/adapt and implement a year-round promotion and marketing strategy that attracts youth, families, and volunteers from diverse backgrounds and leads to enrollment and retention.
   • Develop/adapt and implement a communication plan with program participants, families, volunteers and partners that utilizes effective and contemporary approaches, including current electronic technologies.
   • Distribute marketing materials created for regional, state, and national 4-H educational programs and events.
   • Write content for various media sources (e.g., newspapers, radio, newsletters, web, social media) to promote programs, report on programs, and educate the public.
   • Collect data and prepare reports and presentations to share the public value, impacts, and accomplishments of 4-H Youth Development with local stakeholders.

Appointment/Salary/Benefits

1. The position has an annual University academic professional appointment as Assistant Extension Educator, Job code 9625ST.
2. The appointment is reviewed for renewal annually, with continuation dependent on performance, results, availability of county funds, and program needs.
3. Internal promotion is available. Meeting the promotion policy criteria to achieve promotion is expected.
4. Salary commensurate with education and experience, minimum start pay rate is $45,400 for a 100% time position.
5. Reimbursement for travel and subsistence is available in accordance with University policy.
6. University of Minnesota offers a comprehensive benefits package, based on percentage of appointment:
   • Medical, dental, and pharmacy plans https://humanresources.umn.edu/new-employees/benefits-summaries.
   • University Paid Leaves, Flexible Spending Accounts, Retirement Plans, paid Life Insurance, Disability Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, EAP, Wellbeing Programs, and more. To learn about these excellent benefits, go to https://humanresources.umn.edu/benefits.

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in a subject/discipline relevant to the programmatic responsibilities of this position.
• Experience (paid or unpaid) leading, teaching, and/or managing programs for youth.
• Evidenced ability to effectively communicate in English using oral and written communication methods (e.g., publications, presentations, web, and social media).
• Experience effectively interacting with people from various cultural backgrounds, including race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, socioeconomic status, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, and other aspects of human diversity.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends.
• Use personal vehicle and cell phone for work, to include applicable driver license and vehicle insurance.
• Access to a reliable internet connection and ability to work remotely when Extension offices are closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Strongly Preferred:

• Two (2) or more years of post-Bachelor’s degree experience relevant to youth development, program development, and/or volunteer systems development.  
• Evidenced knowledge of youth development theory and practice (e.g., college coursework, volunteer training)  
• Experience designing, developing, delivering, and/or evaluating educational programs.
• Experience recruiting, guiding, and/or supervising volunteers and/or staff.
• Strong interpersonal skills including demonstrated ability to resolve conflicts.
• Proficient use of technology for communicating, locating information, monitoring trends, designing, delivering, and evaluating programs, and reporting.

Preferred:

• Master’s degree in a subject matter/academic discipline relevant to the programmatic responsibilities of this position.
• Evidenced ability to work cooperatively with community partners and local governments to address educational needs. 
• Demonstrated success in creating and sustaining high quality, culturally-relevant, educational programs for youth. 
• Experience teaching youth and/or adults in a non-formal setting.
• Experience organizing and managing events and activities.
• Experience with board leadership or development.
• Experience applying relevant organizational policies, procedures and regulations.
• Experience planning for youth safety and managing risk.   
• Experience developing budgets and managing finances.
• Bilingual; fluent in a second language relevant to the location of the position.
• Strong skills in analytical thinking, decision-making, judgement.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks, timelines, and schedules while maintaining high quality of work.
• Evidence of working productively with minimal supervision.

Additional Requirements/Working Conditions:

• Work within an office (or hybrid setting during pandemic) as well as in various educational settings.
• Work days, evenings, and weekends, as needed, to meet responsibilities of the position.
• This position often works in the community.  Must be able to travel several times per week and regionally/statewide multiple times per year. Must provide vehicle or make individual arrangements for transportation. Mileage reimbursement provided.
• Cell phone required to meet responsibilities of this position. Cell phone number will be published in the Extension directory.
• Must have the ability to lift, carry, pull, and push 20 pounds.
• Must be able to stand for 90 minutes at a time and sit for 90 minutes at a time.  Some days will require hours of standing or sitting.
• Must be able to submit proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit a completed religious/medical exemption and agree to comply with the University's testing requirement.
• This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship.