Healthy Communities Educator - Kingston, NY

Cornell Cooperative Extension•New York, NY

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Cornell Cooperative Extension Ulster County Healthy Communities Educator provides strategic and innovative program development, implementation, planning, and coordination of public education to improve healthy food and lifestyle choices among families and individuals encompassing all age groups throughout Ulster County. The educator will create a broad health and nutrition program that serves a large audience through educational programming, research, and hands-on workshops; the educator will also explore the creation of a “Master Food Volunteer” program in order to increase the reach of nutrition education in Ulster County. The Healthy Communities Educator also leads the county development and implementation of the Creating Healthy Schools and Communities Program (CHSC) in collaboration with other nutritionists in the Hudson Valley region. This position will work on local and regional efforts for CHSC duties in Ellenville, Ulster County. CHSC duties in Ellenville include: promoting the adoption of food service and nutrition guidelines for regional or system-level organizations; expanding or enhancing existing fruit and vegetable incentive programs; implementing physical activity and nutrition best practices in early care and education (ECE) programs; increasing opportunities for physical activity through community design to connect activity-friendly routes to everyday destinations; and, developing and implementing local school wellness policies focusing on nutrition, physical activity, social and emotional climate, and mental health. This position receives programmatic leadership and coordination for CHSC in Ellenville, Ulster County through the Hudson Valley Project Manager based in CCE Orange County. This position will work closely with the Hudson Valley Project Manager in CCE Orange for the 50% CHSC duties, and with the CCE Ulster County Program Leader for the 50% nutrition/health duties as well as overall supervision; this position is an integral player in program design and development, assessment, evaluation, management for both CHSC and the county-based nutrition/health program.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Nutrition, Health Education, or Public Health.
Experience relevant to the role of the position.
Ability to plan and present effective and relevant educational lessons to target low-income audiences of all ages.
Ability and willingness to work with various audiences, environments and settings while maintaining cultural sensitivity.
Ability to work independently and also work effectively as a professional team member within the regional program.
Able to budget for purchase and perform preparation of foods for demonstration utilizing business expense accounts and pragmatic use of resources.
Must be able to review and follow recipes and assure compliance to federal and state guidelines.
Ability to transport supplies and equipment, climb stairs with or without reasonable accommodation.
Ability to work flexible hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and occasional overnight travel.
Ability to meet the travel requirements of the position.
Proficiency in the use of modern electronic technology (e.g., video, audio, computers, texting, Microsoft Office Programs, etc.)
Must be able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Cooperative Extension or other similar educational organizations.
Bilingual in Spanish; read, write and speak.

Responsibilities

Develop methodology to assess the CHSC and county Nutrition/Health Program and ensure that program needs and strategic needs of the Association and the Grantor are being satisfied.
Ensure program assessment is aligned with the statewide Plan of Work and the Association Plan of Work along with Grantor requirements.
Develop program needs assessment.
Use subject matter knowledge to conduct youth, adult, Cornell faculty, and community-based needs assessment.
Identify program gaps and emerging needs and make recommendations to programmatic offerings, enhancements and/or improvements.
Develop educational strategies applying subject matter knowledge to meet identified needs and diverse interests of participants and volunteers.
Develop a “Master Food Volunteer” program within Ulster County if resources are available.
Develop educational programs, materials and activities to meet identified needs and to carry out program priorities and goals.
Research, identify, and select appropriate educational and community resources and identify additional resources required for initiatives within the programs.
Select, adapt and utilize curricula from approved CCE sources or apply in-depth knowledge to create curricula as needed.
Structure programs to meet the need of diverse program participants and meet changing local and/or regional issues.
Make programmatic changes based on program evaluation outcomes.
Create innovative educational programs to meet changing local needs.
Ensure program development is within the scope of the statewide, Association Plan of Work and Grantor requirements.
Maintain linkages with Cornell faculty and other subject matter specialists for guidance in program development.
Conduct creative educational programs, based on the use of regionally-selected, approved materials, to impact audiences through a variety of delivery methods – including virtual/digital education through various platforms, such as Zoom, You Tube, Facebook and others.
Deliver program/lessons to audiences at appropriate locations, requiring the transportation of program materials and oneself to the locations.
Utilize selected program materials and educational framework to implement education of adult and youth participants.
As integral team member, deliver adult and youth nutrition education to audiences as part of the implementation of innovative environmental strategies to realize outcomes.
Extend subject matter resource to the staff, program participants and other groups, as they are identified.
Implement programs that address audience needs and that consider the diversity of the community.
Serve as subject-matter expert to the staff, clientele and other groups, as they are identified.
Inform participants of other Extension programs, community agencies, and services about the program and its impact.
Represent CCE to the public, community leaders, government officials and Cornell University in a professional matter.
Represent the CHSC/Nutrition Program and Association at community functions and meetings or as requested as part of program delivery.
Utilize a variety of educational methods which may include direct teaching, group experiences, media, newsletters, electronic technology, internet, and distance learning to deliver programming.
Develop program evaluation framework and tools based on subject matter knowledge.
Apply subject matter knowledge to evaluate educational program.
Interact with program participants, Association staff, program committees, county/community leaders and other key stakeholders to collect evaluation data for strengthening improving programs.
Analyze and evaluate collected program evaluation data and communicate results and findings.
Communicate evaluation results and findings.
Ensure program evaluation is within scope of the statewide, Association Plan of Work and Grantor requirements.
Communicate social and economic changes to Cornell University and Grant specialists that may be studied and/or acted upon.
Assist in conducting applied research in conjunction with Land Grant University Faculty as outlined in CCE program definition and standards.
Assist in the collaboration with Cornell faculty to design and create applied research collection framework within the scope of the Grant requirements.
Utilize existing and developed program materials and educational framework to plan the recruitment and teaching of adult and youth participants in the nutrition/health program.
Plan the delivery of short and long-range educational programs within the Nutrition education subject area based upon a plan of work.
Provide input to the Project Manager/Program Leader in the planning of department budget.
Provide complex administrative tasks to support the planning of educational programs by interpreting Association and Cornell program direction.
Plan the implementation of programs that address audience needs and that consider the diversity of the community.
Provide leadership to total regional CCE program effort through joint planning of multi-disciplinary programs and association activities.
Play a county-level leadership role for the development of regional strategies.
Play an integral role in the strategic development of marketing materials for educational events and assist in mass media efforts related to programs.
Provide leadership in the development of public awareness initiatives in the form of impact statements, articles for progress/annual reports or news releases.
Recruit and support the involvement and evaluation of volunteers as needed to help implement the programs.
Assist CCE Ulster supervisor in the identification of proposals to secure additional program funding.
Monitor income/expenses to ensure spending within budget.
Guide the marketing and promotion of CHSC/ Nutrition programs through public relation initiatives and networking/collaborating with government, economic, educational and other organizations.
Assist CCE Orange CHSC Program Manager in administrative and program management activities, as requested.
Provide administrative support for program design and for the implementation of the assessment, development, delivery, research and evaluation of established educational program goals.
Maintain and prepare teaching materials necessary for CHSC/Nutrition programs applying existing subject matter knowledge.
Assist in coordinating program implementation, planning and activities efforts.
Recruit adult and youth participants, and volunteers where appropriate.
Collect evaluation and program needs assessment data from program participants based on existing framework.
Submit appropriate grant or other funding proposals, including financial documentation that may be required.
Complete reports on a timely basis.
Maintain communication with constituents and the community through a variety of methods such as newsletters, e-mails, electronic technology, internet, social media, website postings and content.
Provide information as requested to assist with preparation of reports, impact statements, and success stories on program progress and accomplishments for funders, committees, Board and others as necessary.
Follow CCE office procedures/policies for communication, documentation, work requests, and schedule/calendar availability to best allow for support staff and program colleagues interaction.
Maintain maximum confidentiality of information regarding all program participants.
Maintain record of class participants, complete reports, and accurately collect and prepare paperwork as required for the program evaluation process.
Complete necessary written documentation as required by programs and funders.
Assist CCE Ulster supervisor in the preparation of proposals to secure additional program funding.
Perform data collection as required by the program.
In cooperation with Supervisor and/or Executive Director, jointly develop and pursue a professional development plan as a means to increase competencies relative to position accountabilities and to address changes and Association priorities.
Carry out assignments and other duties as assigned by supervisor, including but not limited to local health fairs, community activities, etc.
Collaborate in activities that are in general support of Cornell Cooperative Extension including but not limited to attendance at staff meetings, timely reporting of expenses, working with other staff, general marketing of Cooperative Extension programs and other duties as assigned.
Support the Association to maintain a safe working environment.
Be familiar with and strive to follow any applicable federal, state, local regulations, Association health and safety policy/procedure/requirement and standard.
Act proactively to prevent accidents/injuries and communicate hazards to supervisors when identified.
Maintain professional and respectful interactions with clientele, staff, volunteers and the public.
Assist the Cornell Cooperative Extension system in reaching out to various audiences.
Aware of, and adheres to, established Cornell Cooperative Extension Association Ulster County policies, procedures and Cornell Cooperative Extension Skills for Success.
Contribute to the overall success of the organization by performing all assigned duties in a professional, timely and accurate manner.