Jobs at Member Institutions & APLU

Working Title: Extension Educator, Community Economics

Classification: Assistant Extension Professor (9623), Academic Professional and Admin

Program Area: Community Vitality (CV)/Community Economics (CE)

Estimated Salary: $60,000 – $70,000, DOQ

Office L Office Location: Moorhead, MN (some optional hybrid work)

Initial Deadline:   March 26, 2023 

ABOUT COMMUNITY VITALITY

The Center for Community Vitality makes a difference by engaging Minnesotans to strengthen the social, civic, economic, and technological capacity of their communities. Faculty and staff of the center specialize in, Community Economics (CE), Leadership and Civic Engagement (LCE) and Tourism. See more about the Center at https://extension.umn.edu/community-development 

ABOUT THIS POSITION

Community economics educators partner with community members to lead economic transformation. Our goal is to help communities create a positive economic climate. Your role will involve teaching, conducting community-based research, and community coaching. Team members represent the Center for Community Vitality in different regions of the state. We are a highly collaborative team, connecting via technology. At times, campus-based faculty partner with the Center educators.

You will join a team of people that are passionate about communities. Our values include authentic engagement, holistic and equitable prosperity, creativity, and innovation, all grounded in research. Our team is a high impact and high-performance group and a leader in the field of community development. The team partners with and reports to the Community Vitality program leader for community economics. For information about specific Extension programs and initiatives in Community Economics, go to: http://www.extension.umn.edu/community/community-economics/

RESPONSIBILITIES AND PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS

To meet the mission of Extension and the Center for Community Vitality, the Community Economics Extension Educator will:  

Deliver Educational Programming (45%)

• Design, deliver, market, and evaluate educational and developmental programs based in scholarly/scientific theory and research appropriate for the audience. An emphasis for this position is working with communities to address issues focused on the workforce and workforce development.
• Design, adapt and deliver programs that address local and/or regional needs, including those for new, diverse, and historically underserved audiences. Of particular interest are the native nations and the Latino residents.
• Assume program leadership, education, and management roles as designated and appropriate. 

Enhance Scholarship (15%)

• Use and conduct scholarly/scientific research in the community economics area of expertise. Create practical knowledge that can impact real-life issues in Minnesota communities.
• Share research and new practical knowledge through academic journals and professional papers.
• Continue professional development in scholarship/research and program development, and delivery via conferences, additional graduate work, self-directed study, and other appropriate means of maintaining a high level of expertise.

Conduct Outreach (30%)

• Develop and maintain effective local, regional, university and state partnerships that further the development and delivery of Extension educational programs. 
• Engage with diverse individuals to discover what is needed for local economic transformation. This involves in-person visits followed by emails, newsletters, and phone calls. 
• Foster and contribute to a positive work climate and effective teamwork and collaboration with Extension colleagues, advisory groups, audiences, and partnerships.
• Represent Extension through service on county, community, regional and/or professional boards. All these opportunities are expected to be congruent with area of expertise and professional goals. 

Administer Programs (10%)

• Assume program support functions as needed such as contract and/or fiscal management, data-management, public relations and marketing with Center leaders and Regional Directors.
• Secure funds and resources to support educational programs through fee for service, third party reimbursement, grants, and other means as outlined in the Community Economic program business plan.
• Make contributions to the four promotion criteria, Extension program leadership, teaching, scholarship and engagement and service.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree at time of appointment. Degrees in education, economics, business, and social sciences such as public policy, planning, sociology, or related fields.
• One year of experience in a community development related field. Relevant settings for this experience might come from higher education, adult education, Extension, state/regional/local government or development agencies, community or interest-based organizations and/or foundations.
• Experience in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with colleagues, partners and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience working in diverse settings with diverse populations.
• Ability to utilize economic development research in educational program design, delivery, and evaluation.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Able to translate academic community development research into language useful for the non-professional.
• Evidence of ability to use technology for program delivery.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Ability to seek out, analyze, and communicate new information, data, and approaches that would be of use to community and economic development decision makers. 
• Experience addressing community level workforce development issues.
• Demonstrated success in working with individuals, organizations and communities, especially in Greater Minnesota and with a variety of cultural, ethnic, language and/or literacy backgrounds.
• A successful record of applying, conducting, and initiating research to inform community challenges and opportunities. 
• Experience in using IMPLAN or other analysis tools to measure economic impact of industries.
• Mastery and expertise in addressing community development issues in cooperation with governmental entities, higher education, or interest-based organizations and/or foundations.
• Experience in the development of curriculum or adult education materials, adult pedagogy, popular education or similar areas in an adult, non-credit educational environment.
• Knowledge and experience in the use of internet technologies to achieve educational goals and community impacts. For instance, developing and sharing educational videos, marketing events via social media, creating interactive databases, soliciting consumer input via web surveys, or connecting stakeholders with social media tools, etc.
• Demonstrated intermediate skills in statistical analysis.
• Commitment to professional development.
• Ability to implement and meet administrative responsibilities necessary for effective project, budget, grants and program management and implementation.

Additional Requirements: 

• Valid driver’s license and own means of transportation with required liability insurance. 
• When not in the assigned office location, employees must be reachable with a mobile number at the employee’s own expense. That number will be published in the Extension staff directory. 
• This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship
• Must have reliable internet if/when working outside of assigned office location. 
• Must be able to travel within the designated communities and provide in-person programming. Average travel is under 250 miles per week.
• Ability to maintain a flexible work schedule, including occasional evening or weekend work, and overnight stays. 

LOCATION OF POSITION

This educator will be in the Moorhead Regional Extension office and will primarily serve a region of 15 counties in central Minnesota. Nearly every community is within 110 miles of Moorhead. Many of the educator responsibilities are conducted in the surrounding cities, so the regional office space is available for planning time, high-speed internet, and connecting with other Extension staff who serve this area. Hybrid office arrangements are possible.

ABOUT EXTENSION
University of Minnesota Extension is a major outreach arm of the University of Minnesota with a mission to serve the public through applied research and education. Our mission is to make a difference by connecting community needs and University resources to address critical issues in Minnesota. Extension strives to attract and retain high-quality, passionate employees, and weave diversity, equity and inclusion into all aspects of Extension’s programming and employee engagement https://extension.umn.edu/