Jobs at Member Institutions & APLU

Field Specialist in Community Development (emphasis in Early Childhood Impact) – St. Louis, MO

Please apply at: Job ID: 47947

Job Description

MU TITLE:  Assistant/Associate/Full Extension Professional                                

LOCATION: St. Louis, Missouri with service across the state as needed. 

Specialist Emphasis

The Community Development (CD) program works collaboratively with communities across Missouri to build civic capacity through fostering community belonging, civic contribution, collective leadership, and place-based vitality. The CD program is housed within the Business and Communities Extension program and partners closely with the Business Development, Regional Economic Development and Workforce Development teams.

EARLY CHILDHOOD COMMUNITY IMPACT SPECIALIST DESCRIPTION:

This is a grant-funded position designed to support community leaders in navigating the crisis of the shortage of quality early childhood education in rural and urban communities around the state. Through leadership training, collaboration and convening, this position will facilitate local civic, educational, and resident leaders working together to develop solutions for access to quality early childhood education and will connect Early Childhood Centers with the resources of MU Extension for ongoing educational programming and support. 

The Early Childhood Community Impact Specialist will:

• Provide leadership training for childcare administrators to strengthen quality and access to early childhood education in community through an asset-based community development lens
• Connect Early Childhood Centers with the resources of MU Extension for ongoing resource development and support
• Develop and lead research-based curriculum and programming for communities working together to increase availability to high quality early childhood programs in order to strengthen places
• Provide places and place-based organizations with planning, resource development support, and resident empowerment tools to improve access to high quality early childhood offerings
• Participate with the Missouri Strengthening Early Childhood Administrators (MO-SECA) leadership team, an initiative sponsored by DESE and led by UMKC
• Collaborate with other Business + Community Development specialists for statewide impact
• Collaborate with various UM System departments and programs for interdisciplinary impact
• Collaborate with external partners to broaden community impact
• Conduct inclusive and equitable engagement with special emphasis on underserved populations
• Assess, document, and evaluate programming
• Actively pursue resources to support both local and organizational operations and programming through grants, contracts, gifts, fees, and partnerships.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned to support the mission and purpose of MU Extension.

This position is a 12-month, ranked, non-tenure track appointment at the rank of assistant, associate, or full Extension Professional. Rank will be determined at the time of appointment based on qualifications and experience in accordance with the MU Extension faculty standards. This position will hold a working title of Field Specialist in Community Development.

As a Field Specialist, your workload distribution at appointment will be 90% Extension Teaching and 10% Traditional Service.

This appointment is renewable annually at the discretion of the University and workload distribution may change at the discretion of Extension leadership.  Circumstances affecting continued employment include, but are not limited to, work performance, fund availability, and educational priorities. 

CORE DUTIES OF MU EXTENSION SPECIALISTS

MU Extension Specialists deliver the University of Missouri to all Missourians. They serve all Missourians by bringing research-based solutions to work on local problems. MU Extension Specialists teach new and foundational concepts, link people to resources, support partner organizations, participate in research, train volunteers, evaluate programs, foster innovation, and serve communities. MU Extension Specialists work as a team to expand educational attainment, foster economic development, and improve health outcomes. These core duties fall into three major areas:

Educate, Create, and Connect.

• Educate. MU Extension specialists design, conduct, and evaluate educational programs. MU Extension specialists teach research-based information via meetings, in-person and online courses, continuing education classes, technical assistance, volunteer training, media, websites, consultation, and other educational methods. They provide inclusive educational programs that support the individual, organizational, and community goals of Missouri’s diverse learners and clients.
• Create. MU Extension specialists develop innovative and research-informed educational products, services, materials, and other scholarly works. These include curricula, publications, presentations, educational tools, websites, and similar resources. MU Extension specialists obtain and use extramural funding to support creative works. MU Extension specialists contribute to the scholarship of Extension and Engagement by evaluating programs that result in learning and behavior changes that impact individuals and communities.
• Connect. MU Extension specialists engage with learners, stakeholders, volunteers, and communities, including county extension councils, government officials and agencies, partners, and University and professional organizations. MU Extension specialists listen and respond with care. MU Extension specialists intentionally foster diversity, equity, and inclusiveness via engaged partnerships and robust connections to the wide array of programs offered by the whole University of Missouri System.

Professional Expectations

• Engage with stakeholders in all coverage counties to identify educational needs and then collaborate with appropriate internal and external partners to meet programming needs, incorporating timely marketing strategies.
• Create an annual plan-of-work that reflects local needs and aligns with statewide program area efforts.
• Collaborate with campus-based specialists on research projects and then deliver findings from those efforts via demonstrations, field days, courses, workshops, consultations, publications, and appropriate media.
• Effectively work with supervisors, other specialists, and local leaders to complete administrative tasks as needed to support county efforts.
• Demonstrate competency in communication, educational programming, subject matter knowledge, inclusivity, equity, educational delivery, volunteer management, grant acquisition, teamwork, interpersonal relations, organization knowledge, leadership, and professionalism.
• Offer timely, research-based information during times of natural disasters or unexpected catastrophic events.
• Represent the University of Missouri on boards and committees for assigned program area.
• Participate in professional development events to improve both technical and leadership skills.
• Conduct all activities per the Civil Rights Acts, Title IX, Rehabilitation, Americans with Disabilities Act, and local, state, and regional affirmative action plans.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned to support the mission of MU Extension.

Additional Expectations

• MU Extension Specialists travel regularly throughout Missouri and occasionally to out-of-state locations. MU Extension requires specialists to have a valid Missouri driver’s license, a legally operating vehicle, and wireless telephone/data service for University use. MU Extension specialists receive reimbursement for approved travel expenses, per University of Missouri policy.
• MU Extension programs often occur outside of normal business hours. MU Extension Specialists should expect to attend these events as needed, to meet the needs of learners, clients, and stakeholders.

MU EXTENSION LEADERSHIP RECEIVED

The Senior Program Director for Business & Communities Program provides overall programmatic leadership. Primary programmatic supervision comes from the Education Director for the Community Development. 

MU EXTENSION INFORMATION

The University of Missouri (MU) Office of Extension and Engagement’s distinct land-grant mission is to improve lives, communities, and economies by producing relevant, reliable, and responsive educational strategies throughout Missouri. Our dedicated and knowledgeable specialists and staff collaborate with researchers and community leaders to develop and deliver programs that address the needs of Missourians, including educational attainment, economic development, and healthy people. For more information about MU Extension and Engagement, please visit https://extension.missouri.edu/.

UNIVERSITY INFORMATION

The University of Missouri, also known as Mizzou and MU, is the Flagship University of the four-campus University of Missouri System. It is one of the state’s land-grant universities. MU’s comprehensive undergraduate programs and its graduate, professional, and research programs attract an annual enrollment of more than 30,000 students. MU Extension and Engagement programs are located on all four campuses and in 114 counties and St. Louis city.

QUALIFICATIONS

A master’s degree in community development, early childhood education, community social work, non-profit management or related degree with appropriate coursework demonstrating knowledge of the early childhood education field, leadership development, community processes, facilitation, and demonstrated cultural competency at time of appointment.

Candidates must demonstrate they are authorized to work in the United States at time of hire. Sponsorship of U.S. temporary employment visas will not be offered for this position.

Candidates will be evaluated on:

• Demonstrated knowledge of the early childhood education field
• Experience in facilitating coalitions and partnership building
• Experience in leadership development
• Expertise in building relationships with diverse audiences
• Strong listening, written, and oral communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively in teams and build partnerships, virtually and in person
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. MU is fully committed to achieving the goal of a diverse and inclusive academic community of faculty, staff, and students.  We seek individuals who are committed to this goal and our core campus values of respect, responsibility, discovery, and excellence. 

Application Materials   

Complete the brief online application and be prepared to upload:

• Cover Letter
• Resume/CV
• Copies of all academic transcripts, and
• a list of 3-5 references

For questions regarding the online application process contact MUHR@missouri.edu or call 573.882.7976.  For technical problems with the online application process contact Helpdesk@missouri.edu or call 573.882.5000.

SALARY

Minimum starting salary of $65,000.00, salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience of the applicant.

Benefit Eligibility

This position is eligible for University benefits.  The University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, and educational fee discounts.  For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at http://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits

Values Commitment

We value the uniqueness of every individual and strive to ensure each person’s success. Contributions from individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives promote intellectual pluralism and enable us to achieve the excellence that we seek in learning, research, and engagement.  This commitment makes our university a better place to work, learn and innovate.

In your application materials, please discuss your experiences and expertise that support these values and enrich our missions of teaching, research, and engagement.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Equal Opportunity is and shall be provided for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without unlawful discrimination on the basis of their race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable state or federal law. This policy shall not be interpreted in such a manner as to violate the legal rights of religious organizations, or the recruiting rights of military organizations associated with the Armed Forces or the Department of Homeland Security of the United States of America. For more information, call the Director of Employee and Labor Relations at 573-882-7976.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.

EEO IS THE LAW

Field Specialist in Community Development (emphasis in Early Childhood Impact) – St. Louis, MO

Please apply at: Job ID 47947