Extension County Specialist, 4-H Youth Development, Animal & Equine Science, El Paso County

Job Description

Position Summary:

This is a full-time, twelve (12) month, non-tenure track Extension faculty position. Faculty rank is dependent upon the candidate’s academic credentials and professional experience and is subject to review by the Extension Promotion Committee. The faculty appointment, evaluation, and promotion standards are centered around the three core duties of extension faculty – educate, create, and connect. Candidates are sought with interests that complement and expand upon current initiatives and education activities in OEE and CSU Extension.

The El Paso County 4-H program annually enrolls approximately 400 youth participants in 4-H clubs and 200 adult volunteers who work with the 4-H Extension team to implement the 4-H program in El Paso County. Through outreach delivery modes in the community, we reach approximately 600 youth annually outside of the club program.

This individual works under the guidance and supervision of the El Paso County Extension Director. They also work as a member of the El Paso County Extension team, the El Paso County 4-H team, and as a local representative of Colorado State University. This position provides leadership, guidance, direction and educational programming related to all large and small animal projects including livestock and horse to support the 4-H youth development program in El Paso County. Other duties include: carrying out 4-H responsibilities at the county fair, representing 4-H at El Paso County Fair Board and Junior Livestock Sale Committee meetings, coordinating education on meat quality assurance, expanding and growing team activities, general volunteer development and management, and making contributions as needed to youth member recruitment, out-of-school programming, college and career prep, and state fair. This individual is expected to work closely with key volunteer leaders in the animal project areas including small animal, livestock and horse to assess and account for volunteer input in decision making and to empower volunteers as appropriate. The individual will manage relationships with the state 4-H team, CSU campus faculty, Parks/Fairgrounds staff, the livestock/equine industry, and other important partners. The individual will be responsible for evaluating and reporting programmatic impacts. An individual in this position may occasionally provide guidance on animal science to the broader (non-4-H) El Paso County community, including emergency response and management, and will be responsible for other duties as assigned.

The primary office location for this position is in Colorado Springs, Colorado. While this position has the opportunity to utilize professional scheduling, the individual in this position is expected to maintain a balance establishing a presence in the primary office, to effectively carry out the duties of the position. The work schedule will vary, evening/night and weekend work will be necessary. Time can be flexed in order to maintain a 40-hour work week.

For full consideration, all materials must be RECEIVED no later than 12:00 AM Mountain Time on Tuesday, September 29th.

Essential Job Duties:

• Plan, develop, deliver, evaluate, and report on livestock, equine and small animal educational programs for 4-H members, volunteers and other audiences.
• Work collaboratively with local government and organizational partners, including developing strong working relationships with Fairgrounds staff, the Fair Board, County Commissioners, and other key stakeholders.
• Provide management of volunteers, including training, guidance, direction, recognition, facilitated decision-making, conflict resolution, mediation, and corrective action as appropriate.
• Work collaboratively as part of the El Paso County 4-H team, including attending team meetings, participating in discussions and facilitated decision-making, contributing to event management, managing a team budget and pursuing funding opportunities.
• Actively participate in state 4-H work teams, meetings, and collaborative efforts to take advantage of and contribute to opportunities and to understand and meet statewide 4-H programmatic expectations.
• Conduct activities related to the preparation and execution of County Fair, including conducting tag-ins, leading fair book revisions and submission for approval, serving as Extension’s liaison to the El Paso County Fair Board, and coordinating use of facilities at County Fairgrounds and other locations we partner with.
• Communicate clearly verbally and in writing to colleagues, external stakeholders, volunteers, and 4-H families, including responding in a timely manner.
• Assess needs of the 4-H community through meetings with key leaders, other volunteers and youth, as well as conducting surveys, program evaluations, and other assessment methods.

Supervision:

• None

Conditions of Employment:

• Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires), travel.
• Must have a valid driver’s license or the ability to obtain a driver’s license by the employment start date.
• The successful candidate must be legally authorized to work in the United States by the proposed start date; Extension will not sponsor a visa for this position.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Completed master’s degree. Conferred degree must be in animal/equine science, agriculture, education or a closely related field.
• Course work and/or professional experience must provide a broad and significant understanding of livestock, equine, and animal science.
• 2+ years of professional experience relevant to theEssential Job Duties of this position.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional experience in youth education and development.
• Professional experience in adult volunteer development, leadership, and management experience including volunteer recruitment, selection, orientation, education and training, motivation, evaluation, recognition and support to prepare volunteers to take on increasing leadership, management, and diverse public education/information roles.
• Professional experience in the livestock and/or equine industry.

Application Instructions:

Please submit the following to apply:

• CV (not a resume) - Creating a Curriculum Vitae (CV) - Career Center
• Cover Letter
• Special Required Documentation – Statement (no more than 5 pages) of how you meet all applicable “Required” and “Preferred” Job Qualifications. Please respond to each bullet point separately.

Salary Range

$55,000-$87,000

Required Application Documents

To apply, please upload the following applicant documents. Ensure your materials fully address the required and preferred job qualifications of the position. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

Cover Letter, Resume/CV, Special Required Documentation

Employee Benefits

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• Review our detailed benefits information here.

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Background Check Policy Statement

Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

EEO

Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.