Requisition Number: F_240209

Department: NE Ext Engagement Zone 5-12354

Description of Work:

• People Attraction, Development and Retention - Support quality-of-life initiatives that make rural Nebraska communities great places that attract new residents and visitors and retain current community members.
• Entrepreneur-Focused Development – Create pathways to enhance rural economies by promoting and supporting local entrepreneurial development, diversification of new ventures, and building entrepreneurial networks.
• Leadership and Organizational Development – Community (particularly non-metro community) capacity building (e.g., leadership and organizational development, visioning, strategic planning, etc.). Build rural community capacity by fostering community-focused leadership, facilitation, strategic planning and organizational development.
• Regional Food Systems – Work with communities across the state to embark on building local food systems that meet the needs of everyone.

• Serves Nebraska communities by providing community coaching, a form of engagement that helps communities achieve their potential. This is accomplished by identifying development priorities, building networks, and offering assistance and resources tailored to their growth efforts. Conducts comprehensive mapping of communities within the region and identifies key players in community and economic development.
• Practices effective Extension scholarship by conducting needs assessments, identifying priorities, measuring program impact, and reporting results at professional meetings and in professional publications.
• Uses your networks to identify opportunities to connect communities to resources both within our team and external agencies and organizations (e.g., Extension, University and outside the University).
• Uses innovative strategies and cutting-edge technologies to design, develop, deliver, and evaluate programs for a robust statewide Extension education program in rural prosperity in collaboration with Extension specialists.
• Works within a multi-disciplinary team environment of extension professionals, faculty, and other partners to engage in research, translate, and teach the latest research-based information.
• Implements entrepreneurial practices to secure grants, program fees and partnerships to leverage the Extension educational program's resource base and reach.
• Develops a close and defined working relationship with the Rural Prosperity Nebraska (RPN) Program Area Leader and Engagement Zone Coordinator(s). Develop a plan to leverage your stakeholder reach and engagement within and beyond your RPN Accountability Region.
• Develops and implements 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
  • Cooperating with local faculty and staff in a team environment to promote Extension's educational opportunities and impact in the host county.
  • Cultivating a culture of collaboration with local leaders and community members that builds positive relationships between the University and the community.
  • 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:

• 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) OR 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). If hired as an instructor, the incumbent will be expected to complete a master's degree within the initial five-year appointment period and make satisfactory progress toward the approved master's, assessed annually.
• Successful experience teaching in a formal or non-formal setting.
• Demonstrated ability to clearly communicate in writing, orally, and/or online.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proven experience working with individuals, coworkers, and teams to accomplish individual and/or group goals, as evidenced by community, career, and/or college activities.
• Outstanding leadership skills as demonstrated by roles in community, career, and/or college activities.
• Related work with 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.
• Experience with or understanding of developing and delivering educational programs focused on rural prosperity Nebraska priority issues.
• Ability to speak language(s) other than English; Spanish preferred.

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.

Connections working at University of Nebraska Lincoln