Assistant/Associate Extension Agent (Nutrition & Community Health)

Louisiana State University • 0101 West Baton Rouge Parish Extension Office, LA

70d • Onsite

About The Position

This is a non-tenure track, agent level position (100% Extension NCH). The Nutrition & Community Health (NCH) Extension Agent will work under the supervision and direction of the Parish Chair, NCH Regional Coordinator, Regional Director, and NCH state office faculty. This position includes a one hundred percent (100%) Flavors of Health (FOH) appointment. The Agent will develop and maintain a plan of work for general nutrition education programming based on current FOH expectations and for serving as a primary point of contact for nutrition programming in West Baton Rouge and Iberville parishes. This will include recruiting clientele for nutrition programs; implementing core curricula; preparing nutrition education materials, communications, and activities that respond to local needs or requests; and facilitating a community advisory committee to provide programmatic direction to strengthen outreach efforts. Flavors of Health programming include delivering programs on chronic disease prevention and management through healthy lifestyle changes. Additionally, the incumbent will be expected to disseminate research-based information, identify educational opportunities, and participate in other educational meetings aimed at serving stakeholders in WBR and Iberville parishes. The Agent is expected to use a variety of delivery methods to deliver information and provide educational opportunities, which could include newsletters, social media posts, workshops and other educational events, and contributing to parish websites. The agent will organize community-based advisory committees involving stakeholders, local government, volunteers, other health professionals and community residents to identify the most critical needs in the communities served, strategies to address those needs, ways to overcome barriers to good nutrition and health in communities and build community advocacy. Following those needs identified by the advisory committees, the Agent will work with advisory committees and community groups to promote healthy behaviors in the parish(es). The Agent provides primary leadership in planning, implementing, evaluating and reporting food and physical activity policy, environmental and systems interventions as well as implementing health and nutrition education programming for adult and youth in the parish leading up to and because of these efforts. Additionally, the incumbent will be the catalyst to educate existing and potential community and programming partners about the importance of nutrition education and complementary policy, systems and environmental strategies for audiences that address nutrition, physical activity, food safety and food security needs. The agent will work under the administrative supervision and direction of the parish chair, NCH Regional Coordinator, NCH State office staff, and regional director. To attend and conduct training to meet the needs of the clientele, this position requires some overnight travel and work on evenings and weekends.

Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree in dietetics, community and family nutrition, human ecology, public health, wellness and health, family and consumer sciences, food science, kinesiology, hospitality management, or closely related areas.
• An undergraduate degree with an overall grade-point average of at least 2.5 (all GPA requirements based on a 4.0 system).
• A 3.0 GPA for graduate work attempted, if any.
• A master’s degree with an overall grade-point average of at least 3.0 or a current grade-point average of at least 3.0 on at least 12 hours of graduate credit.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work with and through others is essential.
• Ability to function with minimum supervision.
• A personal automobile and appropriate insurance coverage is required (travel allowance provided).

Nice To Haves

• A master’s degree in the field listed above is desired.
• Experience in recruiting, training and supervising volunteers is desired.
• Experience in teaching and applying principles of leadership development to both youth and adults is desired.
• Knowledge of public relations is highly desirable.
• Ability to cope with change is a highly desirable characteristic.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a plan of work for general nutrition education programming based on current FOH expectations.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for nutrition programming in West Baton Rouge and Iberville parishes.
• Recruit clientele for nutrition programs.
• Implement core curricula.
• Prepare nutrition education materials, communications, and activities that respond to local needs or requests.
• Facilitate a community advisory committee to provide programmatic direction to strengthen outreach efforts.
• Deliver programs on chronic disease prevention and management through healthy lifestyle changes.
• Disseminate research-based information.
• Identify educational opportunities.
• Participate in other educational meetings aimed at serving stakeholders in WBR and Iberville parishes.
• Use a variety of delivery methods to deliver information and provide educational opportunities, including newsletters, social media posts, workshops, and other educational events.
• Contribute to parish websites.
• Organize community-based advisory committees involving stakeholders, local government, volunteers, other health professionals and community residents to identify critical needs, strategies, and barriers to good nutrition and health.
• Build community advocacy.
• Work with advisory committees and community groups to promote healthy behaviors.
• Provide primary leadership in planning, implementing, evaluating and reporting food and physical activity policy, environmental and systems interventions.
• Implement health and nutrition education programming for adult and youth.
• Educate existing and potential community and programming partners about the importance of nutrition education and complementary policy, systems and environmental strategies.
• Attend and conduct training to meet the needs of the clientele.

Benefits

• Retirement
• Multiple medical insurance options
• Supplemental insurances (dental, life, long-term disability, accident, vision, long-term care, etc.)
• Tax Saver Flexible Benefits Plan (saves tax dollars on some child care and medical expenses)
• University holidays (14 per year, typically includes a week off at Christmas)
• Generous annual (vacation) and sick leave benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Possible educational leave and tuition exemption for coursework at campuses of the LSU System

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level