Working Title:            4-H Program Associate (2 open positions)

Classification:           Extension Program Associate 2 (Job Code 8316A2), Civil Service

Appointment:             Part-time, 50% FTE (20 hours/week)

Pay range:                 $25.00-$28.75 an hour;depending on education/qualifications/experience

Reports To:               Program Leader in Youth Development

Apply By:                   March 18, 2025

Locations and Appointment (Positions work in the county area. City notes the location of the office.):

• Olmsted County (Rochester) â“ 50%, 20 hours a week
• Waseca County (Waseca) â“ 50%, 20 hours a week

About the Position

This 4-H Program Associate is a community-based position in University of Minnesota Extension. The position is a link between the land grant University research and Minnesota residents by creating learning opportunities that address local needs.

This position works in partnership and in collaboration with a full-time P&A level Extension Educator to support the county and works with adults to lead, manage and steward 4-H Youth Development programs and program operations and volunteer systems. This role will work collaboratively with the counties Extension educator, youth, families, volunteers, community partners, and University faculty/staff to reach two overarching program goals: 1) Youth will learn by developing a passion in their areas of interest; 2) Youth will lead by being innovators and social change agents. This role ensures program quality, growth, retention, and impact while ensuring potential and current participants have full access to programs, services, and facilities.

Job Duties include but are not limited to and change as determined by the supervisor: 

Program Leadership and Engagement â“ 40%

• Collaborate with 4-H Extension educator(s) to engage youth, volunteers, and partners to create a program plan that reflects the demographics of the county/tribal community, addresses local needs and opportunities, aligns with the strategic direction of the MN 4-H Youth Development program and leads to program growth and sustainability.
• Create and implement high quality, culturally relevant, impactful programs that support youth in learning and leading.
• Convene and facilitate planning meetings with youth, volunteers, and partners.
• Develop/adapt lesson plans and train/facilitate youth and adult learning using relevant content and instructional best practices (pedagogy/andragogy).
• Plan and manage the delivery of after school programs, camps, fair opportunities, and other events and activities.
• Plan and manage 4-H experiences during the county fair, providing opportunities for recruitment, education, and public recognition.
• Identify and implement strategies to diversify program participation, ensuring programs and processes are welcoming, accessible, and inclusive of youth, volunteers, and staff with varying backgrounds and experience.
• Build relationships with community partnerships that extend program reach and expand program impact.
• May recruit, supervise, and support short-term and part-time 4-H staff, interns, and volunteers as needed.
• Use established evaluation tools and processes to inform future program design, improve effectiveness, demonstrate value, and market the program.

Volunteer Systems â“ 35%

• Support a volunteer development system that builds the capacity and long-term sustainability of the 4-H program.
• Identify needs and opportunities for volunteers to serve in management and delivery roles, and recruit and place individuals in these roles.
• Ensure volunteers are appropriately screened for their role. 
• Manage the volunteer system (e.g., identify, select, train, utilize, recognize, evaluate volunteers). 
• Address problems that arise with volunteer or partner roles.

Program Operations â“10%

• Follow all fiscal policies, including reporting for tax purposes. Generate and manage revenue to enhance educational programming. 
• Apply risk management procedures to youth programs. 
• Manage established processes for youth enrollment, volunteer enrollment, event participation and reporting, and program agreements. 
• Manage use of facilities and equipment, including completion of required inventories and agreements.

Marketing, Recruitment, Evaluation & Reporting â“ 15%

• Develop and maintain respectful working relationships with youth, families, volunteers, colleagues, community partners, and other stakeholders.
• Communicate 4-H program opportunities to members, families, volunteers, and partners using email, social media, direct mail, etc.
• Promote and market the 4-H youth development program. Distribute marketing materials provided for regional, state, and national 4-H educational programs and events.
• Write content for various media sources (e.g., newspapers, radio, newsletters, web, social media) to promote programs, report on programs, and educate the public.
• Collect data and work with the Extension Educator to prepare and deliver reports and presentations to share the public value, impacts, and accomplishments of 4-H Youth Development with local stakeholders.

Required:

• Bachelor's degree and two (2) years of experience in a direct youth development role (as a member, volunteer, leader, paid staff member, or some combination) OR education and related experience to equal six (6) years. 
• Experience effectively interacting with people from various cultural backgrounds, including race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, socioeconomic status, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, and other aspects of human diversity.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks, timelines, and schedules while maintaining high quality of work and working with minimal supervision.
• Evidenced ability to effectively communicate in English using oral and written communication methods (e.g., business correspondence, publications, presentations, web, and social media).

Additional requirements/Working Conditions:

• Work within an office as well as in various educational settings, including outdoors (e.g., camps, fairs). 
• Will additionally work evenings, overnights, and weekends for events/programming to meet responsibilities of the position.
• Valid driver's license and own means of transportation with required liability insurance. Mileage reimbursement provided. 
• This position often works in the community.  Must be able to travel several times per week and regionally/statewide multiple times per year. 
• When not in the assigned office location, employees must be reachable with a mobile number at the employee's own expense. That number will be published in the Extension staff directory.
• Ability to bend, reach, twist, and lift or carry 10 pounds frequently and 30 pounds occasionally.
• Must be able to stand for 90 minutes at a time and sit for 90 minutes at a time. Some days will require hours of standing or sitting.
• This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship.

Preferred:

• Degree in education, sociology, youth development, or related field. 
• Experience creating high-quality, culturally relevant, educational programs. 
• Experience recruiting, guiding, and/or supervising volunteers, including volunteer boards, and/or staff. 
• Demonstrated ability to resolve conflicts. 
• Evidenced ability to work cooperatively with community partners or local governments to address educational needs. 
• Experience teaching youth and/or adults in a non-formal setting.
• Experience organizing and managing events and activities.
• Experience planning and applying relevant organizational policies, procedures and regulations (e.g., creating safe environments, financial practices).

About University of Minnesota Twin Cities

The University of Minnesota, founded in the belief that all people are enriched by understanding, is dedicated to the advancement of learning and the search for truth; to the sharing of this knowledge through education for a diverse community; and to the application of this knowledge to benefit the people of the state, the nation, and the world.

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