Vice President for USU Extension

Buffkin / Baker•Logan, UT

13h

About The Position

Utah State University (USU) is seeking a Vice President of Extension to serve as the chief administrative and academic leader for Utah State University Extension. This role is responsible for advancing the statewide mission of Extension and will have a unique opportunity to shape its future, develop new priorities, and lead Extension to greater impact and excellence by advancing community-based scholarship and engagement. The Vice President will report to the President and will provide statewide leadership for Extension through the development, delivery, and evaluation of programs. This visible leader will build trust through presence and relationships, partner with program directors to develop and evaluate Extension and continuing education programs, and grow the resource base while advocating for sustainable funding. The role involves championing Extension as a core component of the land-grant mission, strengthening relationships with county, state, and federal partners, elected officials, and industry and community constituent groups. The Vice President will serve as an engaged leader across Utah, building trust with faculty, staff, and communities, and will support and empower Extension faculty and staff, ensuring they have the necessary tools and resources. Leadership and decision-making should be rooted in transparency and collaboration, with a focus on expanding Extension’s visibility, impact, and reputation statewide and nationally.

Requirements

Master's degree
Strategic Planning and Vision – The ability to think strategically and translate vision into actionable priorities that align institutional resources, people, and initiatives to advance long-term and organizational goals.
Exceptional Communication Skills – Outstanding written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to articulate a compelling vision, foster transparency, build trust, and engage effectively with internal and external stakeholders, including faculty, staff, students, alumni, industry partners, and governing bodies.
Organizational Leadership and Development – Proven and significant experience in Extension and leading complex organizations, strengthening operational effectiveness, empowering teams, and fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Relationship Building and Collaboration – A strong track record of cultivating meaningful partnerships across academic, industry, healthcare, governmental, and community sectors, with the interpersonal effectiveness to inspire trust and advance shared goals.
Commitment to the Land Grant Mission – A deep understanding of and commitment to the values of a Land Grant institution, including access, academic excellence, research, innovation, extension, service, and meaningful engagement with the state, region, and broader community.
Change Leadership and Innovation – The courage and agility to lead through complexity and uncertainty, embrace thoughtful risk-taking, and drive innovation in response to evolving challenges and emerging opportunities.
People-Centered Leadership – A leadership style grounded in integrity, humility, empathy, transparency, and active listening, with a demonstrated commitment to supporting faculty, staff, students, and shared governance.
Revenue Generation and Resource Stewardship – Demonstrated experience in fundraising, external relations, partnership development, and resource generation, coupled with strong financial acumen and the ability to align investments with strategic priorities to support sustainable growth and impact.

Nice To Haves

Doctoral degree

Responsibilities

Provide statewide leadership for Utah State University Extension through the development, delivery, and evaluation of statewide Extension programs
Be a highly visible, statewide leader who builds trust through presence and relationships
Partner with program directors to develop, implement, and evaluate Extension, continuing education and field programs that draw upon the University's teaching and research expertise
Grow the resource base and advocate for sustainable funding to support personnel and programs
Champion Extension as a core component of the land-grant mission
Strengthen relationships with county, state, and federal partners and elected officials, as well as industry and community constituent groups
Serve as a visible and engaged leader across Utah, building trust with faculty, staff, and communities
Support and empower Extension faculty and staff, ensuring they have the tools and resources needed to succeed
Exhibit leadership and decision-making rooted in transparency and collaboration
Expand Extension’s visibility, impact, and reputation statewide and nationally