Extension Instructor or Open Rank Extension Educator - HLES (Scotts Bluff County)

About the role

This is a full-time, 12-month non-tenure track position based in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska. The primary responsibility is to develop and deliver educational programs and resources in horticulture or related fields. The position is part of the Horticulture, Landscape, and Environmental Systems (HLES) program and involves interacting with individuals, homeowners, producers, institutions, and organizations.

Responsibilities

• Exemplifies positive and professional behavior and attitude towards colleagues, clients, and partner organizations.
• Develops and delivers proactive, innovative, and engaging educational programs and products, using teaching methods and strategies that have significant reach, engagement, and impact in your county, accountability region, and, as appropriate, statewide and nationally.
• Establishes and sustains a strong local and regional clientele base and programming portfolio that is documented and shared with colleagues.
• Employs innovative strategies and technologies to design, develop, implement, and assess programs for a strong Extension education program/engagement at the county, accountability region, and statewide levels.
• Engages and teaches in a collaborative learning and problem-solving environment, working with assistants, educators, and specialists to encourage learners to adopt research-based decision-making information.
• Collaborates with specialists and research faculty to conduct applied and validation research (e.g., on-farm, ranch, or community) that can be amplified via multiple engagement platforms.
• Fosters a culture of collaboration with local, regional, and statewide leaders that nurtures and strengthens positive relationships among the University, its partners, and the people we serve.
• Employs entrepreneurial practices to obtain funding and partnerships, enhancing Extension’s program reach and impact.
• Creates ongoing programming revenue that supports the viability of individuals, teams, units, and the System.
• Leads and contributes value to high-performing Extension programming teams.
• Engages in personal and professional development opportunities that enhance knowledge, skills, and competencies relevant to your role.
• Supports youth development programs by contributing to areas related to your specific assignment.
• Conducts need assessments, identifies priorities, develops various program and engagement platforms to connect with a variety of audiences, measure program impact, and report the results in your annual report as well as to Extension boards, County Commissioners and Supervisors, State Senators, key stakeholders, at professional meetings, and in professional and Extension publications when appropriate.
• Educators will collaborate with lead educators, Extension specialists, Extension advisory committees, and local stakeholders within their accountability region to assess needs and offer access to engagement opportunities through various platforms (e.g., focus groups, surveys, stakeholder meetings, etc.).
• Participates in teams comprised of assistants, educators, specialists, other staff or faculty, industry, and community leaders. These teams focus on current or future needs or strengths and strategize in program areas where you contribute.

Organizational Citizenship/Lead Educator Role

• Serves in, contributes to, or supports the specific lead educator roles as described in the Roles and Responsibilities of the Lead Educator document as determined in partnership with the supervisor(s).
• Coordinates with Engagement Zone Coordinator(s) and other Extension professionals locally and in accountability region to develop a robust Nebraska Extension presence.
• Cultivates a culture of collaboration with local leaders and community members that builds positive relationships between the University and the community.
• Sustains and supports engagement of advisory or policy groups such as the Extension Board, Ag Society, or County Commissioners/Board of Supervisors.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in horticulture, landscape design/management/sustainability, environmental science, horticulture entomology, fruit and vegetable production, plant health care, or a closely related field (extension educator)
• Bachelor’s degree in horticulture, landscape design/management/sustainability, environmental science, horticulture entomology, fruit and vegetable production, plant health care, or a closely related field (extension instructor)
• If hired as an instructor, the incumbent will be expected to make satisfactory progress towards and complete a master’s degree within the initial five-year appointment period.
• Successful experience teaching in a formal or non-formal setting.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate (i.e., publications, presentations, web, and social media).
• Experience with and/or teaching urban or landscape horticulture similar to Nebraska systems.