Assistant/Associate Extension Agent (Nutrition)

Louisiana State University • Baton Rouge, LA

79d

About The Position

This is a partially grant-funded, non-tenure track position. Funding must be available for any continuation of appointment. The assistant/associate nutrition agent will provide 75% effort as the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) supervising agent. The employee will provide leadership to EFNEP, including the hiring, training, evaluating and the supervision of local EFNEP personnel; develop and sustain collaborative relationships with community agencies and grassroots organizations; train and support volunteers' role within the program; collect and analyze program data, create reports and communicate outcomes; manage program assets and funds; and promote goals and objectives that meet the requirements of federal EFNEP policy guidelines. Additionally, the agent will spend time (25%) directing efforts focusing on nutrition, health, and wellness by planning, implementing, and evaluating educational workshops, series of lessons and other teaching activities for the general public in Calcasieu Parish with the Flavors of Health (FOH) program. The agent will also serve as a point of contact for Cameron parish on as needed basis. The agent will work on Healthy Community projects in Calcasieu parish for both EFNEP and FOH. Healthy Community projects are designed to improve the nutrition and health of all community members using a model that is being replicated throughout the state. These projects will promote broad programs and create opportunities in health, nutrition education, and physical activity in local communities within the designated parishes. The agent will organize community-based nutrition advisory committees involving stakeholders, volunteers, community partners, and health professionals to identify the most critical needs in the communities served as well as programs to address those needs. The agent will identify, recruit, and maintain relations with community partners for EFNEP in conjunction with the FOH program. Collaborations with key local individuals and organizations to develop a plan for delivering nutrition education and complimentary policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) strategies for limited-resource audiences. Additionally, the incumbent will be the catalyst to educate existing and potential community and programming partners about the importance of nutrition education and complementary PSE strategies for limited-resource audiences that address nutrition, physical activity, food safety, and food security needs. Coordination and collaboration with other LSU AgCenter Extension faculty and staff will be essential. The incumbent is expected to be computer literate and able use various types of technology such as tablets, phones, etc. as teaching tools for nutrition education training and outreach. The incumbent will support community nutrition outreach for target populations within neighborhoods and communities. The incumbent is expected to complete an annual plan of work with teaching objectives and will be responsible for reporting programmatic results to parish, regional and/or state partners as required by local or regional supervisor(s), state office personnel or state nutrition administrators. This employee must maintain an extensive record keeping system which involves evaluation of knowledge, skills, and behavior change for accountability purposes. As an extension employee, the agent must be willing to continue professional improvement to maintain professional competence as a faculty member of the LSU AgCenter. To attend and conduct programming to meet the needs of clientele, this position requires overnight travel and work on evenings and weekends. Additionally, the agent is expected to perform other tasks that may be as assigned by supervisor(s).

Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree in dietetics, community and family nutrition, human ecology, public health, wellness and/or health, food science, food systems management, or closely related field.
• A master's degree in nutrition or health promotion is preferred.
• Undergraduate degree with an overall GPA of at least 2.5 and a 3.0 for graduate work attempted.
• Demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of programming planning, development, implementation, and evaluation.
• Experience in recruiting, training, and managing volunteers.
• Experience in teaching and applying principles of leadership development.
• Knowledge of public relations and ability to cope with change.
• Ability to work with and through others with minimal supervision.
• Exemplify a positive attitude and a passion to improve the lives of others.

Nice To Haves

• Supervisory experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP).
• Hire, train, evaluate, and supervise local EFNEP personnel.
• Develop and sustain collaborative relationships with community agencies and grassroots organizations.
• Train and support volunteers' roles within the program.
• Collect and analyze program data, create reports, and communicate outcomes.
• Manage program assets and funds.
• Promote goals and objectives that meet federal EFNEP policy guidelines.
• Plan, implement, and evaluate educational workshops and teaching activities for the general public.
• Serve as a point of contact for Cameron parish as needed.
• Work on Healthy Community projects to improve nutrition and health.
• Organize community-based nutrition advisory committees.
• Identify, recruit, and maintain relations with community partners.
• Collaborate with local individuals and organizations for nutrition education delivery.
• Support community nutrition outreach for target populations.
• Complete an annual plan of work with teaching objectives.
• Report programmatic results to relevant partners.
• Maintain an extensive record keeping system for accountability.
• Continue professional improvement to maintain competence.

Benefits

• Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience.
• Attractive benefits package including retirement and multiple medical insurance options.
• Supplemental insurances (dental, life, long-term disability, accident, vision, long-term care, etc.).
• Tax Saver Flexible Benefits Plan.
• University holidays (14 per year).
• 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
• Industry: Educational Services
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree