Michigan State University seeks an Extension Educator

Position Title                                                                                                                                                                    

This position will have statewide responsibilities and will collaborate across work teams, Institutes, and community groups, working with faculty, specialists, and educators for overall advancement of the needs of the Institute clientele.

Position Summary

Michigan State University Extension is committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive organization, which requires all staff to contribute towards a vision for success. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to our work, regardless of title or position within the organization. This means that all staff at MSU Extension are dedicated to the following:

• We work together to ensure that programming is delivered to diverse audiences, produces equitable impacts for all participants, and demonstrates partnership and inclusion for all groups.
• We embrace that it is everyone’s job to create a culture that promotes diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
• We ensure that every team member is prepared with the skills and resources to contribute to our welcoming and inclusive culture.
• We foster inclusion by recognizing and valuing diverse perspectives, skills, experiences, and work to create equal access to programming for communities.
• We commit to continuous learning for diversity, equity, and cultural competency, in order to achieve inclusive excellence.
• We understand that diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential elements to our work and are vital to the organizational culture and programmatic success of MSU Extension.
• We embrace a culture of understanding, coaching and feedback towards achieving a vision of success for the entire organization and its staff.
• Together we will achieve success and we commit to these goals in our work, continued education, and ongoing efforts.  

POSITION SUMMARY

As part of MSU Extension (MSUE) and the Health and Nutrition Institute (HNI), this position provides local as well as statewide leadership and educational programming expertise in online instructional design, and proven practices for online learning and teaching for delivery of nutrition and physical activity education to limited resourced adults, youth, and families. This position will have statewide responsibilities and will collaborate across work teams, Institutes, and community groups, working with faculty, specialists, and educators for overall advancement of the needs of the Institute clientele.

In this position, you will identify, design, implement, and evaluate research-based online educational programs and materials that provide engaging online learning activities to meet current and projected outreach needs, and to equitably  improve participant’s food and nutrition security in alignment with the goals of MSU Extension’s  programming developed and delivered in support of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) and Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). You will be expected to learn grant compliance requirements, approved curriculum, and policy, systems, and environmental change strategies to allow you to effectively utilize research- or evidence-based instructional design theories, practices, and methods, as you support the online instruction for the Nutrition and Physical Activity work team.

Through your leadership, you will assess priority clienteles’ and internal staff needs in the development of nutrition and physical activity educational programs and materials for delivery in-person, hybrid, and online, and you will create and evaluate engaging online learning activities, and identify, seek approval for, and convert appropriate in-person educational materials to hybrid or online format. You will also provide training, coaching, and support for internal staff teams, specific to Nutrition and Physical Activity (NPA), in the delivery and evaluation of online educational programming that meets the varied needs of the community and clientele. You will be expected to maintain the NPA team’s web presence and will assist the team with the inclusive practice in maintaining accessibility standards for all educational programs, materials, and web presence.

Through collaboration in research, engagement with community members, and dissemination of research-based information through various methods, including in-person and multimedia programming, and written communications, you will explore and implement programs that lead to public knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors that empower Michigan’s limited resource adults, families and youth to gain crucial knowledge about nutrition and healthy foods, increase their daily physical activity, and equitably increase their food and nutrition security. You will also develop, produce, and deliver nutrition and physical activity outreach materials with messaging and content that is accessible and inclusive, and is consistent with the Health and Nutrition Institute, SNAP-Ed and EFNEP messaging.

Your work will include close collaboration with colleagues at MSU and MSU Extension, as well as the diverse network of partner groups to ensure that programming with individuals and groups meets the needs of clientele and is in alignment with funder and/or MSU Extension Health and Nutrition Institute expectations. You will collaborate with other specialists and educators and will actively participate as part of the Nutrition and Physical Activity team.

Although negotiable, there will be space available for this position to work from the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan, or at a county MSU Extension office determined at the time an offer is extended.

This position is a full-time, fixed term end-dated appointment renewable annually based upon successful performance and continued funding.

Characteristic Duties/Responsibilities

• Identify, edit, develop, conduct, and evaluate innovative online educational programs and materials that meet current and projected statewide needs, and supports growth and understanding of critical issues facing people in Michigan.
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships intra- and inter-organizationally and create and promote positive public relations for MSU Extension and the Health and Nutrition Institute.
• Understand and support the Health and Nutrition Institute’s  efforts in diversity, equity, inclusion, and Civil Rights, with a special emphasis on removing barriers from participation and reaching diverse populations, including but not limited to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status, socio-economic class and other human differences in rural, suburban, and urban communities, and where applicable, increasing programmatic delivery that results in positive and equitable impacts.
• Communicate and interact with community groups to evaluate the needs of the clientele.
• Serve as an information resource to clientele, partners, and Extension staff.
• Develop, edit, and utilize appropriate media methods to communicate current and timely information, research results, and relevant industry updates, as well as a schedule of current and future activities.
• Collaborate with MSU Extension staff to gather and report programming outputs and impacts, to demonstrate program effectiveness and to guide future program priorities for MSU Extension, the Health and Nutrition Institute and work teams. 
• In concert with the MSU Extension work team(s), work with federal, state and county agencies to complete needs assessment of the community and develop effective programming.
• Author, produce and submit regular research-based educational materials and articles.
• Actively participate in professional development opportunities.
• Other duties or projects as assigned by the Institute Director and Associate Institute Director.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Masters -Instructional Design, Curriculum Develop

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s degree from an accredited institution in a field of study related to instructional design, curriculum development, educational technology, human development, nutrition, psychology, sociology, public health, or related field must be earned by date of hire.
• Experience and knowledge of various learning management systems, program development and editing, video technology, web conferencing, and other multimedia platforms.
• Experience and proven ability working productively with a team serving in both leadership and contributor roles.
• Self-motivated with demonstrated ability to work independently in an office environment without daily supervision and/or coaching.
• Demonstrated ability and skill in educational program planning, implementation, and evaluation.
• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity, knowledge, and use of appropriate approaches, skills, and techniques, which reflect an understanding and awareness of social, cultural, and economic diversity of the target population served.
• Demonstrated skills and professional development from the last five years related to cultural competency and inclusive excellence.
• Demonstrated success in program development and delivery to diverse audiences/communities, and proven ability in establishing and working with a diverse network of constituents and community members across race, color, gender, national origin, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, veteran status, socioeconomic class, and other differences.
• Understanding of and ability to implement Civil Rights principles and compliance standards.
• Ability to create and carryout a project plan from research of initial concept to project completion and follow-up.
• Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Proficiency in use of technology (e.g., web research, Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook for mail/calendaring, distance technology, etc.) for day-to-day work and educational program delivery, record keeping, reporting, team-based communications, and overall management.
• Experience with marketing/promotion of educational programs.
• Ability to travel in local and surrounding communities and occasional long-distance travel are required as a regular part of this position.
• Other skills and/or physical abilities required to perform duties of the position.

Desired Qualifications

• 3-years of experience in Extension program delivery or demonstrated ability and skill in educational program planning, implementation, and evaluation (relevant experience acquired within the last 5-years, preferred).
• Demonstrated drive and initiative, with proven ability to manage multiple responsibilities and tasks simultaneously.
• Experience in successful contract and grant writing, including securing and managing grant funds and resources.
• Familiarity and experience with the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) and Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP).

Required Application Materials

Current resume/CV.

Cover letter.

Four (4) professional references including two (2) current or previous supervisors.

For full job description and to apply, visit here. 

Together-we-will Statement

Special Instructions

This position is a full-time, fixed term end-dated appointment renewable annually based upon successful performance and continued funding.

Website

https://youtu.be/d4nOSa6xLy8

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.

Advertised: Oct 4, 2021Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: Nov 1, 2021Eastern Daylight Time