Visiting Extension Educator, Community and Economic Development (Community Development and Planning)

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign•East Saint Louis, IL

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Extension Educator is a full-time, 12-month academic professional responsible for developing, delivering, and evaluating educational programs that support the University of Illinois Extension mission. The role specializes in Community and Economic Development, with a focus on Community Development and Planning, and serves Unit 22—Madison, Monroe, and St. Clair Counties. The position is housed in St. Clair County in East St. Louis, Illinois. The educator assesses local needs, develops curricula and programs, delivers high-impact education, supports employees and volunteers, and evaluates program outcomes. The educator also represents Extension to external partners, contributes to organizational leadership and scholarship, and supports statewide Extension responsibilities as assigned. The position requires local, regional, and limited statewide travel, with personal transportation provided by the employee. Work takes place both in an office and in the communities served, and some evening or weekend work is required. This is a temporary, full-time, benefits-eligible, non-tenured academic professional position. It may become non-visiting later depending on funding or programmatic needs. The expected start date is as soon as possible after the closing date. The position is not eligible for work-authorization sponsorship.

Requirements

Master's degree in urban planning, public administration, community development, business, management, or a related field; a master's in another field may be considered with work experience demonstrating similar competencies.
A master's degree in progress may be considered for interviews, but the degree must be completed by the hire date.
Experience in planning processes, group facilitation, community engagement, working with adult learners, or other relevant experience.
Experience in needs assessment and strategic planning.
Strong communication skills.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work in a team environment.
Ability to build and maintain varied networks.
Ability to travel locally, regionally, and to a limited extent statewide, with personal transportation.
Ability to work some evenings and/or weekends.
Ability to work in an office and in served communities and to travel between locations in a timely manner.
Ability to move, transfer, and/or transport items weighing occasionally up to 40 pounds and frequently up to 20 pounds, and to perform twisting, pushing, and pulling movements.

Nice To Haves

Experience within the specialty field.
Teaching experience in informal and formal settings.
Experience with University of Illinois Extension.
Valid driver's license.

Responsibilities

Provide program leadership, interpret and integrate information, teach in the designated area of expertise, maintain program-development competencies, and connect clients with appropriate resources.
Systematically assess local clientele needs through analysis, networking, and collaboration with community organizations and other relevant groups.
Develop innovative curricula and programs that address local needs and align with broader state and national interdisciplinary initiatives.
Deliver high-impact programs through appropriate and innovative delivery methods, working with Extension employees and volunteers as appropriate.
Support program expansion and quality by teaching, training, and supporting employees or volunteers who work and teach in the program area.
Provide subject-matter expertise to support voluntary educational delivery systems.
Plan and conduct statistically relevant evaluations of program impacts, including short- and long-term changes in clientele practices.
Develop effective, contemporary ways to communicate with clientele, including electronic technologies.
Meet reporting deadlines and requirements, including plans of work and activity and impact reporting.
Represent Extension's interests to external partners and stakeholders in areas related to the educator's expertise.
Compete for internal and external resources and use available funds strategically to develop innovative educational programs and improve their quality and impact.
Work with the County Director on budget goals, staffing needs, grant initiatives, impact reporting, and other operational matters.
Develop professional collaborations with the County Director, other Educators, and Extension Council Members; support the broader Extension program and accept approved statewide responsibilities.
Lead the unit team under the direction of and in consultation with the County Director, serve as an effective team member, and volunteer for leadership roles as appropriate.
Perform other duties that contribute to the University of Illinois Extension mission, as assigned.
Build campus partnerships that connect academic programs and research with Extension programming, including collaborating with Extension Specialists or faculty on research projects as appropriate.
Participate in professional societies, pursue professional development, use research and evaluation findings to improve programs, and share evidence-based practices with peers.
Assist unit staff with collecting participant demographic information for civil-rights reporting requirements.