Requisition Number: F_210179
Department: Cooperative Ext Division-0788
Description of Work:
Overview:
Based in David City, NE, the incumbent serves Butler, Colfax, Platte, Nance, Merrick, Hamilton, Polk, York, and Seward Counties. Communities across Nebraska can create opportunities to thrive with effective leadership and an engaged citizenry. Nebraska Extension's role is to catalyze these opportunities with communities who demonstrate readiness and willingness. Core to this role is the ability to conduct community outreach, visitation and engagement with community leaders and residents. Expected outcomes include: 1) a community engagement strategy based on lasting and trusted relationships implemented with communities and leaders, 2) identification and training of community leaders and organizations prepared to facilitate locally driven strategies and solutions, and 3) identifying development needs and opportunities.
This Rural Prosperity Nebraska Educator will contribute to the integrated (extension, research, and teaching) land-grant mission of IANR as an effective scholar and citizen. Nebraska Extension is an organization that values excellence. As a member of the Nebraska Extension team, you are expected to create and deliver world-class learning experiences focused on critical issues that empower Nebraskans to improve their lives.
Incumbent will have interest, experience and expertise in one or more of the following mission areas:
- People Attraction, Development and Retention. In many Nebraska communities, chronic and severe depopulation of younger generations is a major development threat, as well as an opportunity.
- Quality of Life Placemaking. Central to community prosperity is quality of life placemaking. Placemaking is the art and science of helping communities understand their genuine place assets and developing smart placemaking strategies.
- Entrepreneur-Focused Development. Economic diversification (both within and beyond agriculture) is foundational to community prosperity across Nebraska but particularly in farm- and ranch-dependent communities. Our central pathway to a more diverse economy is community-centered entrepreneur-led economic development.
- Leadership and Organizational Development. Community (particularly non-metro community) capacity building (e.g., leadership and organizational development, visioning, strategic planning, etc.).
- Regional Food Systems. Fostering and strengthening local food systems. Work with communities across the State to embark on building a food system that meets the needs of everyone.
Nebraska Extension Educators are committed to engaging with community partners, organizations, and all audiences, as well as individuals in ways that reflect an understanding and value for individual differences (e.g., race/ethnicity, abilities, gender, sexual orientation, religion). Nebraska Extension strives to ensure that innovative programming, translational research, and learning opportunities promote equity and inclusion.
Rural Prosperity Nebraska Educator (approximately 80%)
- Develop a close and defined working relationship with the RPN program leader and Engagement Zone Coordinator(s). Develop a plan to leverage your stakeholder reach and engagement within and beyond your RPN Accountability Region.
- Complete mapping of all your communities within your region and the major community economic development players.
- Use your networks to identify transactional assistance opportunities to connect them to resources both within our Team and externally (e.g., Extension, University and outside the University).
- A primary technology employed by our team in working with Nebraska communities is community coaching. Community coaching is a form of community engagement to help communities identify their development priorities and network communities to assistance and resources relevant to their development efforts.
- Use innovative strategies and cutting-edge technologies to design, develop, deliver and evaluate programs for a robust statewide Extension education program in rural prosperity.
- Work in a multi-disciplinary team environment with Extension professionals and other partners to translate and teach the latest research-based information.
- Work with both University and non-University resources to help rural communities network to achieve optimal assistance in their quest for greater prosperity.
- Use entrepreneurial practices to secure grants, program fees and partnerships to leverage the Extension educational program's resource base and reach.
- Partner with research faculty to engage in action research that can be applied to educational programming.
- Practice effective Extension scholarship by conducting needs assessments, identifying priorities, measuring program impact and reporting results at professional meetings and in professional publications.
- Develop a professional development plan to enhance and maintain professional expertise specific to community vitality and Extension pedagogy.
Organizational Citizenship/Lead Educator Role (approximately 20%):
Serve in, contribute to, or support the Lead Educator role. Coordinate with Engagement Zone Coordinator(s) and other Extension professionals locally and in accountability region to develop a robust Nebraska Extension presence.
- Serve in the specific Lead Educator roles as described in the Roles and Responsibilities of the Lead Educator document found at https://myextension.unl.edu/lead-educator-position-description as determined in partnership with the supervisor(s).
- Cooperate with local faculty and staff in a team environment to promote Extension's educational opportunities and impact in the host county.
- Cultivate a culture of collaboration with local leaders and community members that builds positive relationships between the University and the community.
- Support engagement of advisory or policy groups such as the Extension Board, Ag Society, or County Commissioners/Board of Supervisors.
- Understand and adhere to Equal Employment Opportunities; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; and Civil Rights compliance efforts.
In addition to the above-described duties, the individual will be expected to accept committee assignments, reporting responsibilities, and other special ad hoc assignments as requested at the administrative unit, college/division, institute, and/or university level.
Some travel is required. Must meet driver standards according to
UNL policy and have a valid driver's license. Criminal history background check will be conducted.
Recognizing that diversity within a context of inclusivity enhances creativity, innovation, impact, and a sense of belonging, the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (
IANR) and Nebraska Extension are committed to creating learning, research, Extension programming, and work environments that are inclusive of all forms of human diversity. We actively encourage applications from and nominations of individuals from underrepresented groups.
As an EO/AA employer, qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation. See
http://www.unl.edu/equity/notice-nondiscrimination.
Minimum Required Qualifications:
- Master's degree required; one degree in Organizational or Community Development, Economics, Community or Regional Planning, Education, Rural Sociology, Entrepreneurship, Business Administration, or closely related field. Master's degree must be completed by start date.
- Successful experience teaching in a formal or non-formal setting.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate (i.e. publications, presentations, web, and social media).
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience working with individuals, coworkers, and teams to accomplish individual and/or group goals, as evidenced by college, career, and/or community activities.
- Outstanding leadership skills as demonstrated by roles in college, career, and/or community activities.
- Understanding of different ethnic and socioeconomic audiences and a commitment to developing and delivering both inclusive and targeted programming.
- Demonstrated ability to network with business and community leaders.
Job Type: Full-Time
