University of Arizona Seeks Cooperative Extension

The incumbent will be responsible for leadership, strategic planning, and oversight of statewide nutrition and physical activity programs including, but not limited to, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Education (SNAP-Ed) and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) delivered statewide through the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. This position will serve as a representative of these programs and other programs, and may sit on state and national boards related to SNAP-Ed, EFNEP and nutrition and physical activity programming. The incumbent is expected to produce scholarly works collaboratively with faculty in Extension, other departments at the University of Arizona, colleagues in state and federal agencies, and other universities nationwide. We are seeking candidates who contribute in meaningful ways to the diversity and intercultural goals of the university.

Position Highlights
Arizona Cooperative Extension and the Department of Nutritional Sciences are a vital link connecting the resources of the University to citizens across the state, and their innovation and excellence have resulted in nationally recognized programs and faculty. Programs are research- or evidence-based with an evaluation component that documents impact. Nutritional Sciences has an outstanding record of external funding, currently generating over $8 million annually in grants and contracts to support Extension educational programs and applied research.

SNAP-Ed and EFNEP are the largest federally-funded nutrition education programs in the U.S. SNAP-Ed provides community-based initiatives to reduce health disparities by increasing the likelihood that SNAP-eligible families will choose a healthful diet and physical activity behaviors on a limited budget. SNAP-Ed’s program design centers upon an evidence-based systems approach that integrates the implementation of policy, system, and environment (PSE) approaches with direct educational outreach (DE). In Arizona, funding for this program is allocated through a competitive grant process administered through the Arizona Department of Health Services. UA’s SNAP-Ed program ($5.7million/year) currently serves 13 of 15 counties and has over 90 staff including coordinators and educators.
EFNEP focuses on reaching families with limited resources to address the health disparities associated with some of our most pervasive societal challenges – hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and obesity. EFNEP provides practical, hands-on nutrition education that changes behavior. Currently, EFNEP ($756,000/year) serves 5 of 15 counties and has 30 staff. The funding for EFNEP is allocated through formula funds from the USDA to Cooperative Extension.

Other responsibilities include:
- Plan strategically and work collaboratively with Family, Consumer, and Health Sciences (FCHS) Extension faculty (i.e. agents) and professionals (i.e. Co-PI’s/program coordinators) to incorporate best practices and implement effective nutrition and physical activity programming statewide.
- Develop and support reciprocal, beneficial relationships with Cooperative Extension colleagues, and state agencies throughout Arizona.
- Identify and address Agent/Co-PI and stakeholder needs related to planning, developing, and executing SNAP-Ed, EFNEP, and related program areas addressed through Cooperative Extension.
- Coordinate with the County Agents to understand community partners to assure that programs and policies focus on issues of equity and provide access to opportunities for under-resourced communities.
- Travel throughout the State on a regular basis to promote and foster effective working relationships with FCHS Agents and professional staff, to build networks with current and potential funders for the various aspects of programmatic initiatives, and to provide support for program quality and continuous improvement.
- Represent SNAP-Ed, EFNEP and other programming at local, regional, state, and/or national programmatic workgroups, conferences, and committees.
- Collaborate with other universities (including land-grant universities) to leverage resources for current and future partnerships that enhance the capacity to deliver effective nutrition and physical activity programming.
- Participate in scholarly activity, including author/co-author articles on research and evaluation projects from SNAP-Ed, EFNEP and other initiatives with County Agents and other colleagues.
- Supervise EFNEP and SNAP-Ed accounting and operations staff.
- Oversee the preparation of periodic reports to funding agencies or institutions.
- Create and maintain effective partnerships and working relationships both internally and among external stakeholders and other diverse audiences.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Commitment to quality and collegiality.
• Proven record of obtaining and leveraging extramural funding.
• Record of scholarly accomplishments.
• Budget administration experience.
• Experience supervising personnel.
• A track record of promoting and fostering diversity.
• Willingness to travel. 

• An earned doctorate in Nutritional Sciences or a related discipline.
• 3 years of experience in grant management.
• Prior experience which demonstrates the abilities necessary to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this position.

- A one-page statement on how the applicant’s outreach, scholarship, and service specifically address issues of race, social justice, and inclusive excellence in nutrition education must be included.
- Names, addresses, e-mail and telephone numbers of three professional references required (applications will be kept confidential and applicants will be advised before references are contacted).
Note: Both documents please put in the Additional Document slot.

For full job description and to apply visit here.