Extension Specialist, 4-H Youth Development Specialist

Description & Details:

Position Description Summary: This role is integral to a dynamic team committed to implementing high-quality, research-driven strategies that engage a diverse range of youth audiences across state, regional, county, and tribal nation levels in North Dakota. The position focuses on empowering youth with essential life and work readiness skills. This position will also engage in programmatic efforts towards culturally responsive learning environments to included diversity, equity and inclusion topic areas. Responsibilities include designing, implementing, evaluating, leading, and managing programs and committees using research-based methods, and teaching and facilitating learning through 4-H programming. Additionally, the role involves supporting new Extension agents and county Extension support staff development, fostering partnerships, volunteer training, and aligning programs with state curriculum standards and the National 4-H Thrive Model to ensure youth thrive in life and work. Oversight of 4-H project area guides and coordination with Extension agents to ensure relevancy is also included.

Key responsibilities include coordinating and collaborating on youth skill development and work readiness content with other specialists, and building relationships across NDSU Agriculture. The role leverages the collective strengths of the NDSU Agricultural Experiment Station, NDSU Extension, and the NDSU College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources (CAFSNR) to support NDSU Extension personnel in delivering quality 4-H Youth Development Programs. This position provides guidance, support, and expertise in positive youth development programming, educational design, and pedagogy, including the ND 4-H Camp. This position will work with youth and adult volunteer advisory groups to identify programmatic needs and outreach efforts.

The position serves as the advisor for the ND 4-H Ambassador Program, a group of youth ages 16 to 22 who support the ND 4-H Youth Development Program. These youth enhance county and state 4-H programs, promote educational opportunities, and assist with event planning and management.

Responsibility for the Work of Others: This position involves leadership and collaboration with co-advisors for the State 4-H Ambassador Program. It includes overseeing volunteers in various functions within any statewide 4-H program and ensuring strict adherence to all NDSU Extension, ND 4-H Youth Development, and national 4-H protocols. Responsibilities include monitoring compliance with

established procedures, maintaining meticulous record-keeping practices, and following expected behaviors.

Position Information & Duties: This position includes, but is not limited to, the following responsibilities:

• Provide leadership in planning, developing and delivering education and workshops around the 4-H Thrive Model, leadership development, civic engagement, goal setting, and skill development from introductory to mastery levels or Extension personnel and 4-H volunteers.

• Identify, lead and offer training and program to reach divers audiences that are culturally responsive learning environments and focus on diversity, equity, inclusion and access.

• Provide leadership in educational design for youth, fostering creativity in hands-on, innovative, and engaging quality programs.

• Conduct program assessments to gauge quality and guide improvement strategies. Gather and report programming outputs and impacts to demonstrate effectiveness and guide future priorities.

• Lead partnership and resource development by engaging NDSU Agriculture and community stakeholders, volunteers, youth and seeking diverse partnerships to reach new and underrepresented audiences.

• Secure extramural funding to support ND 4-H youth development program.

• Provide oversight of and serve as the advisor to the State ND 4-H Ambassador Program. This includes 4-H ambassador retreats, North Dakota State Fair efforts, and other events and actives.

• Help lead and organize other statewide efforts which may include Leadership Awareness Weekend (LAW), Communication Arts, Extension Youth Conference (EYC), and/or develop other engaging statewide opportunities.

• Actively participate in and develop professional development opportunities.

• In cooperation with the state 4-H Activities Coordinator, provide support and guidance for the ND 4-H camp located in Washburn, ND, including programming, content planning, and counselor training.

• Support other 4-H youth development program efforts as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. This is a full-time, 12-month non-tenure track position. Situated within NDSU Agricultural, this role operates under the supervision of the NDSU Extension 4-H Youth Development Assistant Director. This position requires occasional evening and weekend commitments without accruing overtime. Statewide travel is required. Occasionally, overnight trips may be required for meetings, contests, activities, training, and professional development. The office for this position is located on the NDSU campus in the Family Life Center (FLC) building, room 219.

Advertised Salary:

To be determined based on experience and qualifications.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's in education, youth development, sociology, or related field.

• Experience working with youth development programs.

• Experience in teaching (formal or non-formal) and positively interacting with and managing youth and adults.

• Ability to communicate effectively with various audiences, both verbally and in writing.

• Demonstrated personal/interpersonal skills, including effective oral and written communication.

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team to prioritize workloads and meet deadlines.

• Evidence of ability to effectively use established and emerging technologies related to education and youth development programming.

• Ability to travel locally and to surrounding communities, with occasional long-distance travel.

• Ability to lift and carry 10 - 40 pounds occasionally.

• Possession of a valid driver's license.

• Pass a background check and youth protection screening.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Earned Ph.D. in education, youth development, sociology, or related field.

• Five or more years of professional experience designing, conducting, and evaluating educational programs for youth and adults.

• Multiple years of experience working within 4-H or the Cooperative Extension System and the land-grant university.

• Demonstrated success in writing and securing grants with the ability to fulfill grant deliverables.

• Applied scholarly interest in experiential and inquiry-based education.

• Record of positive youth development and successful partnerships at community, state, and/or national levels.

• Experience in program planning and event management.

Screening will begin: 7/19/24

Benefits:

NDSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes single or family health insurance coverage with premiums paid for by the university - with an effective date for new employees the first of the month following date of hire. Other benefits include: wellness benefits, basic life insurance, retirement plan, tuition waiver, annual leave, EAP, sick leave and holiday pay. Optional benefits include: supplemental life, dental, vision, long-term care insurance, flexible spending account, and supplemental retirement plans.

About Us:

North Dakota State University is distinctive as a student focused, land-grant, research university. We educate leaders who solve national and global challenges by providing affordable access to an excellent education that combines teaching and research in a rich learning environment.

NDSU is in the highest Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, R1, granted to the top research institutions in the country.

NDSU has offices across the state of North Dakota, and the main campus is in Fargo, on the Minnesota border. Along with Moorhead, Minnesota, Fargo forms one of the largest metropolitan centers between Minneapolis and Seattle. The community is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live.

No Smoking Notice:

As an employer, the State of North Dakota prohibits smoking in all places of state employment in accordance with N.D.C.C. § 23-12-10.

EO/AA Statement:

North Dakota State University is an Equal Opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, gender expression/identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, participation in lawful off-campus activity, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, public assistance status, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, spousal relationship to current employee, or veteran status, as applicable.

Diversity Statement:

NDSU strives to be a community of belonging, recognizing unique differences as strengths of our university. We seek to recruit and retain a diverse workforce that supports a community in which diverse populations and perspectives will know and learn from one another. NDSU values candidates who are committed to our core values of respect, inclusivity, community, creativity, excellence, impact, innovation, integrity, resilience, responsiveness, and transformation. Successful candidates will be committed to and help advance our strategic goal to create and maintain an open and respectful environment to promote inclusivity and diversity as a cornerstone of education, research, and outreach.

Veteran's Preference Notice:

This position is subject to North Dakota Veteran's Preference requirements.

Reasonable Accommodation Information

North Dakota State University is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education, and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, please contact Human Resources at 701-231-8961 or ndsu.hr@ndsu.edu.