Extension County Director, Clear Creek County

Colorado State University•Black Hawk, CO

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

OEE invites applications and nominations for an Extension County Director. This is a full-time, twelve (12) month, non-tenure track Extension faculty position. Faculty rank is dependent upon the candidate’s academic credentials and professional experience and is subject to review by the Extension Promotion Committee. The faculty appointment, evaluation, and promotion standards are centered around the three core duties of extension faculty – educate, create, and connect. Candidates are sought with interests that complement and expand upon current initiatives and education activities in OEE and CSU Extension. The Extension County Director, Clear Creek leads and coordinates comprehensive Natural Resource programming, with a particular focus on the county’s established priorities of forest health, wildfire prevention, and community-based mitigation strategies. This role works closely with key partners such as the Clear Creek Fire Authority (CCFA), Evergreen Fire and Rescue, and the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) to identify, develop, and deliver collaborative wildfire mitigation opportunities. This includes advancing defensible space education, supporting community wildfire protection efforts, facilitating resident engagement, and strengthening prevention and preparedness messaging tailored to the unique challenges of a high-risk wildland–urban interface (WUI) county. The Extension County Director will proactively engage with community groups, schools, neighborhood organizations, county departments, and interagency partners to expand public education, build trusted relationships, and support the adoption of effective wildfire risk-reduction actions. They will also collaborate with OEM and CCFA on public outreach campaigns, resident workshops, mitigation project planning, and coordination of countywide efforts that enhance local resilience. In addition to natural resource programming, the Director is responsible for strengthening STEM-focused 4-H programming, both in-school and after-school, ensuring high-quality youth education aligned with community needs. The Director also serves as a key liaison to connect local priorities with regional and state-level Extension specialists, ensuring Clear Creek County has access to the most relevant technical expertise, research-based solutions, and evidence-informed educational resources. This position reports to the Extension Regional Director, Mountain Region. The office location for this position is in Georgetown, Colorado. While this position is eligible for some hybrid work, the individual in this position is expected to maintain a presence in the office to effectively balance the duties of the position. The work schedule will vary, and occasional nights and weekend work will be necessary.

Requirements

Completed bachelor’s degree.
The conferred degree may be in a variety of disciplines, including business, community development, Extension education, youth development, forestry, natural resources, or related degree that can significantly contribute to administrative and/or program responsibilities.
Course work and/or professional experience must provide a broad and significant understanding of forestry, community development or youth development associated with the position.
Must have a valid driver’s license or the ability to obtain a driver’s license or access to a licensed driver by the employment start date.
The successful candidate must be legally authorized to work in the United States by the proposed start date; the Office of Engagement and Extension will not sponsor a visa for this position.

Nice To Haves

Completed master’s degree.
The conferred degree may be in a variety of disciplines, including business, community development, Extension education, youth development, forestry, natural resources, or related degree that can significantly contribute to administrative and/or program responsibilities.
Professional experience or training in assisting small acreage residents with wildfire mitigation assessments, management of forests, noxious weed management, private well and septic system testing and maintenance, and other natural resources.
Ability to secure external funding in support of the land grant mission through pursuit of contract, foundation and grant funding, and/or evidence of development of fee-for-service programs.

Responsibilities

Actively participate in one or more Extension work teams to provide expertise for program and information development, delivery, and evaluation efforts statewide.
Develop and conduct educational programming for local audiences in response to local needs.
Engage and collaborate with community-based organizations and constituents to understand community needs and develop support for existing and new program efforts.
Develop and support strong equitable working relationships with Extension staff, CSU faculty, local/county agencies, community leaders and private industry organizations to address priority needs.
Develop relationships and work with advisory groups and local leaders; cooperate with Extension Specialists in other counties to assess informal education needs in the area, develop/revise plans of work, implement educational strategies, and measure and report programmatic impacts.
Maintain a strong working relationship with the Board of County Commissioners, including responding to requests for consultation, research, and other assistance.
Provide leadership and serve as a local Extension spokesperson and administrative liaison for the unit.
Devise innovative methods for securing the resources necessary to strengthen the operations in the unit including providing leadership for identifying and soliciting private and foundation gifts, external grants, and county resources.
Develop working relationships with both County and CSU staff and leadership, peers, staff, other departments, organizations and agencies, and the public that are effective, inspire loyalty, excellence and integrity.
Lead and coordinate comprehensive Natural Resource programming, with a particular focus on the county’s established priorities of forest health, wildfire prevention, and community-based mitigation strategies.
Work closely with key partners such as the Clear Creek Fire Authority (CCFA), Evergreen Fire and Rescue, and the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) to identify, develop, and deliver collaborative wildfire mitigation opportunities.
Advance defensible space education, support community wildfire protection efforts, facilitate resident engagement, and strengthen prevention and preparedness messaging tailored to the unique challenges of a high-risk wildland–urban interface (WUI) county.
Proactively engage with community groups, schools, neighborhood organizations, county departments, and interagency partners to expand public education, build trusted relationships, and support the adoption of effective wildfire risk-reduction actions.
Collaborate with OEM and CCFA on public outreach campaigns, resident workshops, mitigation project planning, and coordination of countywide efforts that enhance local resilience.
Strengthen STEM-focused 4-H programming, both in-school and after-school, ensuring high-quality youth education aligned with community needs.
Serve as a key liaison to connect local priorities with regional and state-level Extension specialists, ensuring Clear Creek County has access to the most relevant technical expertise, research-based solutions, and evidence-informed educational resources.