Shawnee County 4-H Youth Development Extension Agent
About This Role:
Shawnee County is located in northeast Kansas, approximately 60 miles west of Kansas City. It has a diversified urban, suburban and rural population of more than 177,000, the third most populated county in Kansas. There are five incorporated cities in Shawnee County, with Topeka, the largest, having a population of more than 127,000. Other cities include Auburn, Silver Lake, Rossville and Willard. Topeka is the state capital and county seat.
Topeka is a multi-agent county with five agent positions. The 4-H Youth and Development program has approximately 400 members in volunteer-led community clubs and serves thousands more through school enrichment and after-school efforts.
Extension agents are community based faculty of Kansas State University who make a difference by connecting community needs with university resources. Agents are administratively responsible to the local extension director and the local extension board.
This position will lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of a comprehensive 4-H youth development program for school-aged youth in cooperation with local residents and extension colleagues. The primary focus of this position is youth development, adult volunteer development, youth education program development, expanding partnerships, and participation and membership growth. Programming will include but is not limited to: supporting community clubs, out-of-school programs, school enrichment, youth livestock projects, program promotion, volunteer management, and outreach to create new program opportunities with existing and new community partners. This agent will also be responsible for supervising a 4-H program assistant.
Primary Area of Responsibility:
4-H Youth Development
Location:
Topeka, KS
Duties/ Responsibilities:
Extension agents are professional educators who serve as a link between Kansas State University and communities across Kansas. Agents are administratively responsible to the Director of K-State Research and Extension (represented by a designated administrator) and the local extension board.
- Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of a comprehensive 4-H youth development program for school-aged youth in cooperation with local residents and extension colleagues. The primary focus of this position is youth development, adult volunteer development, youth education program development, expanding partnerships, and participation and membership growth. Programming will include but is not limited to: supporting community clubs, out-of-school programs, school enrichment, youth livestock projects, program promotion, volunteer management, and outreach to create new program opportunities with existing and new community partners. This agent will also be responsible for supervising a 4-H program assistant.
- Programming will include these steps:
- Identify local needs and emerging issues related to K-State Research and Extension’s five Grand Challenges (water, community vitality, health, developing tomorrow’s leaders and global food systems) by engaging with program development committees and other community organizations and professionals.
- Design appropriate educational strategies to engage clientele. These strategies might include delivering educational programming in a community-based setting, coordinating events and activities that provide experiential learning opportunities, using innovative technologies, providing individual educational consultations and facilitating groups seeking similar educational outcomes. Some overnight travel and evening and weekend work will be required.
- Develop and implement strategies to expand the reach of educational programming to under-served audiences and to make certain K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider of educational programming.
- Collect and communicate evidence of educational program impact.
- Develop specialized knowledge and skills by engaging as a member of a Program Focus Team.
- Secure external funding such as grants, gifts and cost recovery to supplement local tax revenue to support and expand educational programming.
- Serve as a member of the Shawnee County Extension team cooperating in the planning and delivery of county-wide programming and related events.
What You'll Need to Succeed:
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Academic coursework and/or professional employment related to the position responsibilities
- Evidence of strong academic and/or professional performance as documented by college transcripts, acceptance into a graduate program or documented success in increasingly responsible professional positions.
- Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with individuals, groups and through mass media.
- Leadership skills as evidenced by working with individuals, groups and co-workers.
- Access to a personal vehicle and the ability to obtain/maintain a valid driver’s license.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master’s Degree
- Experience working with adults and youth from various ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds.
- Commitment to personal professional development.
- Ability to utilize electronic communication and computer applications to fulfill programming responsibilities.
- Self-motivation and ability to work with a minimum of supervision, balancing multiple projects.
- Ability to design, promote, implement and evaluate educational programs.
- Skills in group facilitation.
- Knowledge of adult and youth teaching/learning processes.
- Experience in seeking and administering external grant funding.
- Ability to communicate effectively with both English and Spanish learners
Other Requirements:
- Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States at the time of employment
Salary, Benefits, and Professional Development:
- Salary commensurate with professional experience and available funding as negotiated by the regional extension director, the local extension board and the applicant. The base starting salary is $41,500 for a BS degree with no professional experience and $45,500 for a MS degree with no professional experience.
- Extension agents are Kansas State University educators and have the Board of Regents retirement plan, health and life insurance and vacation and sick leave. Depending on the date of hire there is a minimum of 30-day waiting period for health insurance. For a complete list of benefits see: http://www.k-state.edu/hcs/benefits/overview/
- Reimbursement for travel related to achieving program objectives.
- New agents are provided approximately 15 days of new agent professional development on the K-State campus or online during the first six to nine months. These 15 days are spread out in four different weeks. In addition, new agents spend at least three weeks with a mentor agent during the first year.
How to Apply:
Please submit the following documents:
- Cover Letter (detailing experiences related to responsibilities and qualifications)
- Resume
- Contact Information and Email addresses for three (3) professional references (include on application). References will be requested upon submission of application.
- Copy of academic transcripts showing degree(s) received. (For applicants still in college, a list of courses from the college/university website is acceptable.
Screening of Applications Begins:
Applications will be accepted until April 14, 2021
Equal Employment Opportunity:
Kansas State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans and actively seeks diversity among its employees.
Background Screening Statement:
In connection with your application for employment, Kansas State University will procure a Background Screen on you as part of the process of considering your candidacy as an employee.
