Extension Educator,Asst - Carbon Co. Ag & Natural Resources

Assistant University Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources

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Why Choose Us?

At the University of Wyoming, we value our employees and invest in their success. Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to support your health, financial security, and work-life balance. Benefits include:

• Generous Retirement Contributions: The State contributes 14.94% of your gross salary, and you contribute 3.68%, totaling 18.62% toward your retirement plan.
• Exceptional Health & Prescription Coverage: Enjoy access to medical, dental, and vision insurance with competitive employer contributions, that include 4 deductible options to suit your needs.
• Paid Time Off: Benefit from ample vacation, sick leave, paid holidays, and paid winter closure.
• Tuition Waiver: Employees and eligible dependents can take advantage of tuition waivers, supporting continuous education and professional growth.
• Wellness and Employee Assistance Programs: Stay healthy with wellness initiatives, counseling services, and mental health resources.

At the University of Wyoming, we are committed to creating a supportive and enriching workplace. To learn more about what we offer, please refer to UW's Benefits Summary.

JOB PURPOSE:

Are you seeking a career that will allow you to positively impact Wyoming communities and people? Do you value public service and seek an outlet that allows you to serve the public through educational programs you create? Are you committed to lifelong learning and find value in sharing that with others? Then please consider applying for this open position.

The mission of University of Wyoming Extension (UWE) is to empower the people of Wyoming to make choices that enhance their quality of life. By actively involving Wyoming people, institutions, and communities, UWE shows a commitment to relevance, diversity, people, connectivity, accountability, innovation, entrepreneurship, and respect. With this in mind, UWE will be responsive to the needs, concerns, and aspirations of the people of Wyoming as we provide learning for better living.

UWE Educators are part of the University's educational outreach system. In keeping with the University's status as a land-grant institution, Extension Educators form an essential link between the people of Wyoming and the teaching, research, and service missions of the University by providing non-credit education to an off-campus clientele. Extension Educators provide Wyoming youth, adults, and communities with life-long learning opportunities, especially through the application of research-supported information and leadership skills in the areas of agriculture and natural resources (ANR).

For this position, we seek an educator with science communication skills and broad knowledge of ecosystems, including the role of humans in landscape management. The educator's programming will ideally engage the public in science-based outreach about ANR management and public-private partnerships in Carbon County, including ways the public can participate in planning processes (e.g., through public comment periods). Other relevant topics for programming include rangeland ecology and monitoring, plant invasions, rangeland livestock systems, human-wildlife interactions, and small acreage/horticulture/tree/greenspace management.

This position is based in Rawlins, Wyoming, the county seat for Carbon County.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program Development and Delivery

• Provide leadership in building mutual learning relationships with community members and leaders through a blend of educational outreach, technical assistance, and community coaching.
• Implement assessment and advisory strategies to identify educational needs (e.g., by gathering input from agricultural and natural resource (ANR) producers, agencies, and organizations, as well as community leaders, and other appropriate partners and experts about ANR-related needs in the county).
• Develop and maintain awareness of existing programs, resources, and businesses within local communities, being careful not to compete with or favor any.
• Conduct impactful Extension programming informed by assessments of local needs and assets.
• Establish professional partnerships with Extension Specialists and other scientific experts to ensure outreach programming is rooted in research-based information. As an Extension Educator advances in their career, this should involve collaborating on applied research projects or demonstration studies to inform educational programs.
• Provide primary leadership for the development, implementation, evaluation, and continual improvement of comprehensive educational programming that is responsive, relevant, and impactful in addressing ANR needs identified in assessments.
• Provide effective educational experiences using appropriate program delivery strategies, such as presentations, workshops, trainings, and other modes of outreach relevant to target audiences, which could range widely from youths to adults, and the general public to professionals.
• Support the development, delivery, and evaluation of signature programs or statewide initiatives of the ANR focus area.
• Support and promote general Extension operations and outputs in the county, such as helping meet the community's horticulture/Master Gardener needs, and cooperating with other UW programs or efforts in the county (e.g., promoting Ag Experiment Station outputs, and interacting with the public in ways supportive of UW recruiting).
• Provide pesticide applicator training (i.e., educational programs on pesticide safety, application techniques, and regulatory compliance) to individuals seeking certification or recertification.
• Develop and implement evaluation tools (formative and summative) for measuring and reporting consistent program impacts across the short and long term.
• Provide support for 4-H Youth Development in partnership with your local 4-H educator.

Volunteer Systems

• Establish and support volunteers/partners that have the ability to increase the capacity and long-term sustainability of the ANR focus area (e.g., event partners/volunteers).
• Cultivate relationships with and build capacity of volunteers/partners through a support system consisting of effective orientation, training, utilization, recognition, and evaluation (e.g., for 4-H programs).
• Address issues/conflicts that arise with volunteer/partner/clientele roles.

Communication and Reporting

• Use Extension resources, including Communications & Technology, to market educational programs and deliver outputs through various media sources (e.g., newspapers, radio, newsletters, websites, social media, podcasts, etc.) that attract community members from a wide variety of backgrounds.
• Develop and disseminate communication and reporting materials that reflect positively on the University and UW Extension.
• Collect data and prepare reports and presentations to share with local community members and leaders about the public value, impacts, and accomplishments of ANR programming.
• Develop and maintain respectful and responsive working relationships and communications with colleagues, community leaders/partners, volunteers, clientele, and the general public.

Program Operations

• Ensure civil rights compliance.
• Implement strategies to expand the reach of educational programming to new audiences, and ensure all participants (potential and current) have full access to programs, services, and facilities.
• Plan for and manage risk using established procedures and resources.
• Employ appropriate fiscal management practices to ensure accuracy and accountability.
• Secure external funding to support and expand educational programming.
• Engage in Collaboratives or similar internal funding opportunities to grow and contribute to team capacity for providing robust programming.
• Demonstrate objectivity, professionalism, and accountability.
• Maintain organized records and provide accurate reports in a timely manner.

Professional Development

• Demonstrate continuing professional development to advance capacity as an Educator and/or technical expertise relevant to the ANR focus area. These activities should support annual professional development goals approved by your supervisor.
• Participate fully in UWE's annual conference (EPIC or ENGAGE) as well as Spring Training.
• New employees: participate fully in New Employee Welcome Day, two New Employee Orientation sessions, and required Coaching Team sessions.
• Participate in professional societies relevant to your discipline, Extension, and/or industry.

Service

• Provide service to university, college, departmental, local government, and community efforts.

Primary Clientele Served by this Position

• Individuals, organizations, and business enterprises engaged in agricultural and natural resource issues in Wyoming, such as owners/operators of ranches, rural non-farm residents, small acreage agriculture producers, community organizations, local conservation districts, and city officials.
• State agriculture, wildlife, natural resources, and environmental regulatory agencies.