K-State Research and Extension seeks an Extension Agent (Shawnee County, KS)
Position Summary
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.
Duties and responsibilities
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, volunteer
management, and outreach to create new program opportunities with
existing and new community partners.
• Supervise a 4-H Program Assistant, in cooperation with the Shawnee County
Extension Director.
• 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 the Youth
Development 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 team cooperating in the planning
and delivery of county-wide programming and related events.
minimum Qualifications
Academic coursework and/or professional development
and 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.
desired 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.
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States at the time of employment.
Access to a personal vehicle and the ability to
obtain/maintain a valid driver’s license.
·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 $43,000 for a BS degree with no professional experience
and $47,000 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. There is a 30-day waiting period for health insurance. See a complete list of benefits.
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 their 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.
LEARN MORE ABOUT WORKING WITH K-STATE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION:
Hear personal accounts from Extension Agents.
Visit the K-State Research and Extension website.
Contact Jennifer Wilson, Leader of Extension Operations via email (jrwilson@ksu.edu) or phone (785-532-5790) with questions about this position.
APPLICATION DEADLINE:
Wednesday, August 25, 2021
Interviews held on September 23, 2021
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY:
It is the policy of Kansas State University not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of his or her race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin , or because he or she is an individual with a disability or disabled or protected veterans. It is also the policy of Kansas State University to take affirmative action to employ and to advance in employment, all persons regardless of their status as individuals with disabilities or protected veterans, and to base all employment decisions only on valid job requirements. This policy shall apply to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, upgrading, promotion , transfer, demotion, layoff, recall, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation, and selection for training , including apprenticeship, at all levels of employment. Furthermore, the company will provide qualified applicants and employees who request an accommodation due to a disability with reasonable accommodations, as required by law.