Associate Agent/Full Agent and Director (Casa Grande, AZ)

Administration and Supervisory Duties

• Attends university, division, and county-level department head meetings.
• Negotiates county budgets.
• Interfaces with the County Board of Supervisors, Extension Advisory Board, and other community groups.
• Manages vacant county positions and resolves issues with volunteers and community partners.
• Directly supervises administrative staff and county-based faculty.
• Indirectly supervises 15-20 employees.
• Works collaboratively with the Business Manager to oversee budgetary and human resources decisions.

Program Development

• Conducts a systematic analysis of national, Arizona, and county data.
• Identifies resources (grants, contracts, in-kind contributions, etc.) to enhance agriculture and natural resource programs.
• Develops an annual Plan of Work in cooperation with community groups, local leaders, Extension advisory groups, and other Extension professionals.
• Consults with Extension faculty, Experiment Station researchers, and other experts in the development of educational programs, applied research, and scholarly works.

Program Implementation

• Conducts creative programming and utilizes new technology to address priority needs of target audiences.
• Participates in statewide working groups to develop new and creative programming efforts.
• Prepares educational material, evaluation instruments, teaching materials, and publicity information in support of state, county, and community initiatives.
• Promotes interaction and cooperation among various groups.
• Disseminates educational materials through county-wide and/or multicounty events, workshops, websites, newsletters, and other mass media methods.
• Provides for recruitment, training, and recognition of volunteers and assists them in the conduct of educational programs as appropriate.
• Promotes communication and teamwork with county and state Extension, other faculty, and youth professionals.
• Promotes Cooperative Extension as the outreach arm of the state land-grant university.

Program Results

• Evaluates and documents results and impacts of educational programs.
• Communicates program results to both professional peers and clientele through periodic reports, scholarly works, and various types of publications.
• Collaborates with peers to evaluate program effectiveness and personal achievements as an Extension faculty member.

Professionalism/Service

• Maintains professional competence through study, participation in professional activities, and the application of knowledge and skills on the job.
• Maintains high ethical and professional standards and is loyal to Cooperative Extension and the University of Arizona.
• Promotes public understanding and support for Extension and University programs.
• Performs as a collegial member of Arizona Cooperative Extension.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Strong ability to address problems that are both strategic and operational, and often complex without clear precedent.
• Proficiency in diplomatically working with others and creating collaboration and shared vision.
• Knowledge of and familiarity with the variety of topics and issues relevant to current Pinal County Cooperative Extension projects, programs, and activities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, and time management skills and the ability to strategically take initiative and creatively problem solve.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, Outlook), and digital communication tools such as Teams and Zoom.
• Strong ability to influence others outside of own job area on policies, practices, and procedures.
• Knowledge of public funding streams, grants, contracts, and fund development.
• Skill in developing and implementing interdisciplinary and community-based programs, including applied research and program evaluation.
• Knowledge of Arizona’s communities, including local economic, social, and governance challenges, as well as public health and nutrition issues.
• Skill working in areas of youth and adult education, including in curriculum development and in informal learning environments.
• Proficiency in data-driven decision-making and program evaluation methods.
• The ability to effectively engage various audiences across socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.
• Skill in working with Cooperative Extension, land-grant universities, or similar community outreach organization.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in an area related to the needs and efforts of the County Extension Programs.
• Minimum of seven years of related work experience, including three years of managerial experience, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and ability to drive according to the University Fleet Safety Policy.
• Must be able to travel statewide and nationally using all modes of transportation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Earned Doctorate Degree in a relevant field.
• Outstanding record of research-based Cooperative Extension/community-engaged programming.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, preferably land-grant systems, or comparable organizations with significant recognition within a field of specialization.
• Demonstrated experience engaging with local economic, social, and governance challenges and opportunities in Pinal County.
• Five or more years of experience as a high-level administrator or executive director.
• Demonstrated direct supervisory experience for 10 or more employees.
• Evidence of successful grant and contract acquisition and management for interdisciplinary approaches.
• Bilingual proficiency (English/Spanish) preferred.