County Extension Director

Auburn University•Pike Road, AL

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Auburn University, is seeking a dynamic County Extension Director to provide visionary leadership, oversee county-level programs, and serve the citizens of Montgomery County. This individual will build partnerships and collaborate with multiple entities to deliver research-based educational opportunities that transform lives and communities. The County Extension Director is a community-based professional of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) who knows and represents the research-based resources and other resources available through Alabama A&M University and Auburn University. They are recognized as a community leader who addresses the contemporary challenges, issues, and opportunities facing the citizens of the county through university programs and knowledge.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Agriculture, Natural Resources, Forestry, Family and Consumer Sciences, Business Administration, Management, Education, Marketing, Public Relations or a related field AND 7 years of experience in teaching and the delivery of educational programs and experience with fiscal management and business operations AND 3 years of experience in supervising full-time employees.
Master's degree from an accredited institution in Agriculture, Natural Resources, Forestry, Family and Consumer Sciences, Business Administration, Management, Education, Marketing, Public Relations or a related field AND 5 years of experience in teaching and the delivery of educational programs and experience with fiscal management and business operations AND 1 year of experience in supervising full-time employees.
Valid driver’s license required.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in a discipline directly related to one of our major program areas (Agriculture, Forestry, Natural Resources; Human Sciences; 4-H Youth Development; Community Engagement/Development) is highly preferred.
Demonstrated work history of coaching, training, performance evaluation, merit, and other Human Resources related tasks.
Proven success in securing financial resources such as grants and extramural funding, budget management, and fiscal accountability.

Responsibilities

Learns major programs and resources available across program areas (Agriculture, Forestry, Natural Resources, Human Sciences, 4-H and Community & Economic Development) to become actively involved in serving traditional audiences and new audiences in and outside the office.
Develops leadership and engagement skills to be confident and credible when engaging communities of place, practice, interest, and identity across a broad spectrum of issues.
Functions as a member of the County 4-H Team and contributes administrative and programmatic support.
Maintains a subject matter emphasis related to one of four major program areas and participates in the appropriate priority program team (PPT).
Participates in professional development related to educational programming, county office administration, customer service, and public relations and marketing.
Serves as ACES primary representative in the county and develops an ethic of customer service as the front-door to the state’s land grant universities.
Responsible for the recruitment, hiring, supervision, professional development, mentoring and performance assessment of administrative support position, agent assistants, 4-H Extension Agents (4-H EA), and potentially an administrative professional position or temporary staff.
Responsible for the daily operation of the office, including staffing, scheduling, promoting a positive culture, and teamwork within and outside the office.
Responsible for county budget administration and the interface with County Commissions and municipalities to provide local support for office space, utilities, equipment, and program supplies.
Ensures compliance with laws, statutes, and University policy that regulate the handling of public funds and program implementation.
Understands, implements, and promotes EEO, ADA, Civil Rights, and other affirmative action polies and procedures within the County Extension Office and in the countywide community.
Provides leadership for county program initiatives, a balanced and comprehensive county plan-of-work, some program delivery related to subject matter emphasis, to ensure county office is current on programs and resources.
Serves as role model for others in using innovative and creative approaches to program development and delivery.
Organizes a County Extension Advisory Committee and provides leadership in analyzing and interpreting information to assess needs through stakeholder input.
Meets regularly with colleagues across multiple counties (SET) to share needs assessment results, coordinate programs, and establish priorities and new initiatives.
Cooperates and informs Extension Agents, State Extension Specialists, and appropriate Assistant Director for Programs and Assistant Director for Field Operations and has a positive working relationship with staff and clients in SET and PPT.
Manages local data collection in line with program area requirements. Prepares an evaluation and success stories of delivered educational programs focused on short, intermediate, and long-term outcomes and impacts.
Provides leadership to develop working relationships with local stakeholder groups, organizations, and agencies and to function as ambassador for ACES.
Follows appropriate fiscal management for programmatic needs and appropriately administers the resources and completes all system reports when due.
Secures resources (volunteers, contracts, grants, fees, and donations) to support local and priority programs and initiatives within county and may participate in grant funded projects led by State Extension Specialists.
Utilizes multiple delivery modes to include face-to-face interactions, printed materials, online and digital formats that provide greater audience access, quick delivery of information, and convenience.
Serves as the primary contact for all forms of traditional and social media to disseminate information and market programs and has a professional presence in major forms of media.
Identifies innovative ways to engage targeted under-served and under-represented audiences.
Builds programmatic partnerships and networks to multiply organizational capacity

Benefits

Excellent full-time benefits that start on Day 1!
Medical, dental, and vision insurance options!
Work/life balance!
4 weeks of vacation accrued each year.
96 hours of sick leave accrued annually.
7 paid holidays with the possibility for additional days during the holiday season.
6 weeks of paid parental leave for the birth or adoption of a child (available for BOTH moms & dads).
AU tuition assistance for you and your dependents after a year of service.
Generous state retirement plan along with other voluntary retirement plan options and benefits.
Fun and flexible work environment. Every day is different!
Supportive leadership & peers. The ACES team supports you and your work!