Career Center

Requisition Number: F_230082

Department: NE Ext Engagement Zone 5-12354

Description of Work:

• 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.

• Develops 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.
• Completes mapping of all your communities within your region and the major community economic development players.
• Uses 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 priority responsibility is serving Nebraska communities in a community coaching capacity. 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.
• Uses innovative strategies and cutting-edge technologies to design, develop, deliver, and evaluate programs for a robust statewide Extension education program in rural prosperity.
• Works in a multi-disciplinary team environment with extension professionals and other partners to translate and teach the latest research-based information.
• Works with both University and non-University resources to help rural communities network to achieve optimal assistance in their quest for greater prosperity.
• Uses entrepreneurial practices to secure grants, program fees and partnerships to leverage the Extension educational program's resource base and reach.
• Partners with research faculty to engage in action research that can be applied to educational programming.
• Practices effective Extension scholarship by conducting needs assessments, identifying priorities, measuring program impact, and reporting results at professional meetings and in professional publications.
• Develops a professional development plan to enhance and maintain professional expertise specific to community vitality and Extension pedagogy.

• Serves in, contributes to, or supports 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).
• Coordinates with Engagement Zone Coordinator(s) and other Extension professionals locally and in accountability region to develop a robust Nebraska Extension presence by:
  1. Cooperating with local faculty and staff in a team environment to promote Extension's educational opportunities and impact in the host county.
  2. Cultivating a culture of collaboration with local leaders and community members that builds positive relationships between the University and the community.
  3. Supporting engagement of advisory or policy groups such as the Extension Board, Ag Society, or County Commissioners/Board of Supervisors.
• Understands and adheres to Equal Employment Opportunities; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; and Civil Rights compliance efforts.
• Accepts committee assignments, reporting responsibilities, and other special ad hoc assignments as requested at the administrative unit, college/division, institute, and/or university level.

Minimum Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Organizational or Community Development; Economics; Leadership Studies; Community or Regional Planning; Education; Rural Sociology; Entrepreneurship; Business Administration; Landscape Architecture; Planning with a focus on community-based, regional, urban, environmental, and/or infrastructure; or a closely related field (extension instructor) OR Master's degree in Organizational or Community Development; Economics; Leadership Studies; Community or Regional Planning; Education; Rural Sociology; Entrepreneurship; Business Administration; Landscape Architecture; Planning with a focus on community-based, regional, urban, environmental and/or infrastructure; or a closely related field (extension educator).
• Successful experience teaching adults in a formal or non-formal setting.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate (i.e., publications, writing, 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 to assist underserved audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to network effectively with businesses and/or community leaders.
• Familiarity with rural communities in Nebraska.
• Understanding of, or experience with, developing and delivering educational programs focused on Rural Prosperity Nebraska priority issues.
• Expertise and/or experience in placemaking or leadership work.

Job Type: 12 Month (Faculty Only)

About University of Nebraska Lincoln

With over 25,000 students, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is a diverse educational insitution with international stature. The intellectual center for the state of Nebraska and beyond, we are a land-grant, top tier national research-extensive insitution. Part of the Big Ten conference, Big Ten Academic Alliance, our mission includes growing relationships and resources that enable the University of Nebraska to change lives.

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