Assistant Extension Agent, 4-H

North Carolina State University•Raleigh, NC

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About The Position

The 4-H Extension Agent is an employee of North Carolina State University and a professional educator. The 4-H Extension Agent has primary responsibility for planning, executing, and evaluating effective and comprehensive 4-H programs that will meet the needs of the county population and support the mission of the 4-H organization, which is to develop youth and adults working with those youth to realize their full potential, becoming effective contributing citizens through participation in research-based, non-formal, hands-on educational experiences. The 4-H Extension Agent cooperates with colleagues in North Carolina Cooperative Extension and county leaders in performing assigned responsibilities. The performance of assigned responsibilities is governed by the philosophy, objectives, policies, and procedures of North Carolina Cooperative Extension. The individual in the position will provide leadership for the total 4-H program and will be responsible for determining programming needs, planning, marketing, implementing, and evaluating programs. This position will also be involved in training 4-H volunteers, supporting 4-H clubs, and providing opportunities for school-based 4-H programs. NC State Extension is the educational outreach arm of the North Carolina State University College of Agriculture & Life Sciences. NC State Extension provides research-based information, programming and technical assistance to all North Carolina citizens, addressing a varied range of issues in four programmatic areas - Agriculture & Natural Resources; Family & Consumer Sciences; Community and Rural Development, and 4-H Youth Development. Together, with its partners - North Carolina A&T State University Extension, U.S. Department of Agriculture, state and county governments, NC State Extension is able to bring a wide variety of resources to all 100 North Carolina counties and the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians The Extension 4-H Agent will be located in Durham County and will be responsible for directing and growing a comprehensive 4-H professional youth development program, meeting the needs of youth, ages 5 through 18. These programs will engage youth in positive, life-skill development activities to address issues of everyday life, enhance the community and environment where they live, and give them access to high-quality, experiential programming. The 4-H Agent is a leadership position, serving on the office's Management team, and is responsible for supervising a Juntos Program Coordinator and a 4-H Program Assistant. The County provides a salary supplement to maintain parity within the County and to provide compensation for the supervisory responsibilities.

Requirements

One of the following educational requirements: - A Bachelor's degree with a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 overall or a 3.0 (based on a 4.0 scale) in child or youth development or related field. The minimum GPA requirement will be waived for NCCE Program Associates with a Bachelor's degree. - A Bachelor's degree and the completion of at least one-half of coursework in a Master's degree curriculum with a cumulative grade point average 3.0 or higher with at least one of the degrees in child or youth development or related field, or - Completion of a Master's degree with at least one of the degrees in child or youth development or related field.
Ability to work independently without direct supervision.
Ability to work with, interact with, and respect, broad populations.
Ability to recruit, train, and supervise volunteer leaders to extend youth programming to the broadest audience possible.
Computer literacy (proficiency in MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Office).
Strong oral and written communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to handle multiple demands and set priorities.
Ability to travel and work after-hours and weekends as needed (will be seasonally extensive).
Ability to network with community partners and agencies and maintain working relationships.
Must be able to lift and carry training supplies, publications, and equipment needed for training and youth programs.
Drivers License

Nice To Haves

Experience working effectively as a team member.
Ability to manage and organize time, as well as program, financial, and human resources.
Experience and knowledge in mass media, marketing, and presentations.
Skills in leadership, citizenship, budget management, planning, and public relations.
Knowledge of the local (Durham) community and community resources.
Experience building community partnerships.
Experience supervising employees and volunteers.
Experience working with a bilingual (Spanish) community and/or bilingual skills.

Responsibilities

Be responsible for assuring that positive youth development principles are being utilized across the program to help youth identify and develop their passion and life skills.
Be responsible for forming relationships in the county that lead to recruiting, training, managing, and rewarding the volunteer leaders who will guide 4-H clubs, assist with the planning and coordination of events and activities, and generally support and promote the 4-H agent and programs
Manage and grow the 4-H Youth Development program through clubs, afterschool programs, school enrichment, summer programs, and traditional 4-H camps.
Manage a county-wide 4-H advisory council that will help identify programmatic needs, support programmatic efforts, and champion 4-H in the local community.
Develop a marketing program that attracts youth and volunteers from all sectors of the county, to assure efficient impact of programs.
Evaluate programming efforts to determine individual program and overall 4-H program effectiveness for reporting and further marketing of the 4-H youth development program.
Be self-directed and possess a strong work ethic with skills in leadership, communication, public relations, planning, implementation, and evaluation.
Respond promptly to client requests for specific and technical information regarding youth education and related topics.
Maintain accurate records for youth and volunteer leaders and ensure that the program complies with local, state, and national regulations
Work with youth organizations and schools to promote and quote school; enrichment programs.