County Extension Director

About the role

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Auburn University, is seeking a dynamic County Extension Director to provide visionary leadership, oversee county-level programs, and serve the citizens of Clay County. This individual will build partnerships and collaborate with multiple entities to deliver research-based educational opportunities that transform lives and communities.

Responsibilities

• Program Competence and Capacity
• Learns major programs and resources available across program areas (Agriculture, Forestry, Natural Resources, Human Sciences, 4-H and Community & Economic Development) to become actively involved in serving traditional audiences and new audiences in and outside the office.
• Develops leadership and engagement skills to be confident and credible when engaging communities of place, practice, interest, and identity across a broad spectrum of issues.
• Serves as a member of the County 4-H Team and contributes administrative and programmatic support.
• Maintains a subject matter emphasis related to one of four major program areas and participates in the appropriate priority program team (PPT).
• Participates in professional development related to educational programming, county office administration, customer service, and public relations and marketing.
• County Office Administration
• Serves as ACES primary representative in the county and develops an ethic of customer service as the front-door to the state's land grant universities.
• Responsible for the recruitment, hiring, supervision, professional development, mentoring and performance assessment of administrative support position, agent assistants, 4-H Extension Agents (4-H EA), and potentially an administrative professional position or temporary staff.
• Responsible for the daily operation of the office, including staffing, scheduling, promoting a positive culture, and teamwork within and outside the office.
• Responsible for county budget administration and the interface with County Commissions and municipalities to provide local support for office space, utilities, equipment, and program supplies.
• Ensures compliance with laws, statutes, and University policy that regulate the handling of public funds and program implementation.
• Program Leadership
• Provides leadership for county program initiatives, a balanced and comprehensive county plan-of-work, some program delivery related to subject matter emphasis, to ensure county office is current on programs and resources.
• Serves as role model for others in using innovative and creative approaches to program development and delivery.
• Organizes a County Extension Advisory Committee and provides leadership in analyzing and interpreting information to assess needs through stakeholder input.
• Meets regularly with colleagues across multiple counties (SET) to share needs assessment results, coordinate programs, and establish priorities and new initiatives.
• Cooperates and informs Extension Agents, State Extension Specialists, and appropriate Assistant Director for Programs and Assistant Director for Field Operations and has a positive working relationship with staff and clients in SET and PPT.
• Manages local data collection in line with program area requirements.
• Prepares an evaluation and success stories of delivered educational programs focused on short, intermediate, and long-term outcomes and impacts.
• Program Management and Marketing
• Provides leadership to develop working relationships with local stakeholder groups, organizations, and agencies and to function as ambassador for ACES.
• Follows appropriate fiscal management for programmatic needs and appropriately administers the resources and completes all system reports when due.
• Secures resources (volunteers, contracts, grants, fees, and donations) to support local and priority programs and initiatives within county and may participate in grant funded projects led by State Extension Specialists.
• Utilizes multiple delivery modes to include face-to-face interactions, printed materials, online and digital formats that provide greater audience access, quick delivery of information, and convenience.
• Serves as the primary contact for all forms of traditional and social media to disseminate information and market programs and has a professional presence in major forms of media.
• Identifies innovative ways to engage targeted under-served and under-represented audiences.
• Builds programmatic partnerships and networks to multiply organizational capacity.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Agriculture, Natural Resources, Forestry, Family and Consumer Sciences, Business Administration, Management, Education, Marketing, Public Relations or a related field AND 7 years of experience in teaching and the delivery of educational programs and experience with fiscal management and business operations AND 3 years of experience in supervising full-time employees. Internal candidates only may substitute completion of both the Leading Self and Leading People Leadership Programs, or equivalent.
• Master’s degree from an accredited institution in Agriculture, Natural Resources, Forestry, Family and Consumer Sciences, Business Administration, Management, Education, Marketing, Public Relations or a related field AND 5 years of experience in teaching and the delivery of educational programs and experience with fiscal management and business operations AND 1 year of experience in supervising full-time employees. Internal candidates only may substitute completion of both the Leading Self and Leading People Leadership Programs, or equivalent.

Benefits

Includes excellent full-time benefits that start on Day 1!

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance options!
• Work/life balance!
• 4 weeks of vacation accrued each year.
• 96 hours of sick leave accrued annually.
• 7 paid holidays with the possibility for additional days during the holiday season.
• 6 weeks of paid parental leave for the birth or adoption of a child (available for BOTH moms & dads).
• AU tuition assistance for you and your dependents after a year of service.
• Generous state retirement plan along with other voluntary retirement plan options and benefits.

Pay

Expected salary range for this position: $67,900 – $90,530.

Schedule

Contract Type: Continuing