Assistant/Associate Extension Agent (Community Development

Louisiana State University

5d

About The Position

The Assistant/Associate Extension Agent will lead community and economic development programming in assigned Louisiana regions through the LSU AgCenter Cooperative Extension Service. The role supports community engagement, capacity building, local economic development, resilience, and long-term economic stability. The successful candidate will work with Extension agents and multidisciplinary Extension and research teams to help communities identify and pursue funding, make informed decisions, and implement development initiatives.

The position involves planning, delivering, evaluating, and reporting on educational programs; providing technical assistance and training; presenting at conferences; and developing outreach and communication materials. The agent will build partnerships with community leaders, elected officials, agencies, businesses, industry leaders, and other stakeholders, and will support needs assessments, surveys, strategic planning, business retention and expansion, entrepreneurship education, and related initiatives. The role also includes securing external funding and developing sustainable partnerships.

Two positions are available. Each position will cover two to three programmatic regions in Louisiana, with the exact domicile determined upon hire. The position reports to the Regional Director in the domicile region. A personal automobile and appropriate insurance coverage are required; a travel allowance is provided. Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience. A specific graduate-level extension course must be completed in the second or third year of employment before promotion eligibility to associate agent. Additional related graduate coursework or qualifying agent experience may also be required for promotion, as described in the posting.

Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree in extension education, education, agricultural economics, agricultural sciences, economic development, sociology, public administration, public planning, community nutrition, public health, family and consumer sciences, or a closely related field from an accredited college or university.
• Meet one of the stated academic performance standards: at least a 2.5 overall undergraduate GPA and a 3.0 GPA for graduate work attempted; or a master's degree with at least a 3.0 overall GPA; or a current GPA of at least 3.0 on at least 12 hours of graduate credit.
• Demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrate organizational skills, effective written and verbal communication, and comfort presenting to small and large audiences.
• Ability to use social media in a variety of formats.
• Ability to establish strong partnerships and demonstrated skills in partnership development and project management.
• Highly self-motivated, with innovative audience engagement and development skills.
• Ability to work with and through others and to function with minimum supervision.
• A personal automobile and appropriate insurance coverage are required.
• Complete one specific three-credit graduate-level extension course in the second or third year of employment, before promotion eligibility to associate agent.

Nice To Haves

• A master's degree in one of the listed or related fields.
• Experience recruiting, training, and supervising volunteers.
• Experience teaching and applying leadership development principles with youth and adults.
• Knowledge of public relations.
• Ability to cope with change.
• Related graduate coursework or additional agent experience relevant to promotion to associate agent.

Responsibilities

• Lead community and economic development programming in assigned regions through the LSU AgCenter Cooperative Extension Service.
• Help communities identify and pursue state, federal, private, and philanthropic funding opportunities.
• Provide technical assistance on community and economic development, community resilience, strategic planning, and related topics.
• Support communities in implementing development initiatives that strengthen long-term economic stability.
• Plan, implement, evaluate, and report outcomes of educational programs.
• Deliver training for Extension personnel, community leaders, and stakeholders.
• Present at conferences and develop outreach and communication materials.
• Cultivate partnerships with community leaders, elected officials, agency representatives, business and industry leaders, and other stakeholders.
• Support needs assessments, surveys, strategic planning, business retention and expansion activities, entrepreneurship education, and other community development initiatives.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary Extension and research teams to help communities make informed decisions that promote economic growth and resilience.
• Secure external funding and develop sustainable partnerships to support program expansion and long-term impact.

Benefits

• Retirement benefits.
• Multiple medical insurance options.
• Supplemental insurance options, including dental, life, long-term disability, accident, vision, and long-term care insurance.
• Tax Saver Flexible Benefits Plan for eligible child care and medical expenses.
• Fourteen university holidays, typically including a week off at Christmas.
• Annual vacation and sick leave.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Possible educational leave and tuition exemption for coursework at LSU System campuses.
• Travel allowance.

What This Job Offers

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