Associate Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development - Grayson County

Job Description

The successful applicant will be working in Grayson County. Grayson County is a rural county with a population just under 16,000 residents. Grayson County shares its southern border with North Carolina and Tennessee, and boasts many of the highest mountain peaks in Virginia. Grayson County has a vast array of outdoor education and recreation opportunities. Grayson’s terrain concentrates the population in somewhat separated, closely-knit communities tied together by schools, community centers, and places of worship. Grayson County has one countywide public high school based in Independence, and a private boarding school, Oak Hill Academy. As a 4-H program, Grayson County has a good relationship with the local public school system as a partner for both in-school and after-school activities. 4-H in Grayson County Schools focuses on SOL-related topics and experiential learning. Outside of the schools, the 4-H program has Teen and Livestock Clubs, and a summer camping program. The 4-H program has access to the Grayson Agriculture and Technical Education (GATE) Center with a technology-enhanced conference room and a commercial kitchen. Citizens who support our program expect traditional programming, and a highly visible staff invested in the success of our county’s youth.

The 4-H Youth Development Agent is a professional educator who provides leadership to the local 4-H program and manages its day-to-day operation. 4-H is a community of young people learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills. The mission of 4-H is to develop youth, and adults working with those youth, to realize their full potential and become effective, contributing citizens. This is achieved through the development and delivery of research-based, non-formal, hands-on educational experiences.

Responsibilities: Develops and delivers objective, research-based educational programs to meet the needs of diverse audiences, specifies program goals and objectives, and identifies resources needed; provides leadership for 4-H Youth Development programs that meet the needs of all youth; identifies, recruits, trains, supports, and manages volunteers to implement and carry out the 4-H educational programming in the unit; determines unit program needs by monitoring trends and issues, and conducting unit assessments involving the unit Extension Leadership Council (ELC) and other leadership committees; networks and builds coalitions with other agencies, organizations and institutions to address the complex youth and family issues and the needs of the 4-H program; coordinates day-to-day activities and events associated with the unit 4-H program including 4-H delivery (community 4-H clubs, project 4-H clubs, school enrichment 4-H, after-school 4-H, special interest 4-H, and 4-H camping).

Individuals will be hired at the Associate Extension Agent title level. A master's degree and promotion to Extension Agent are required no later than the sixth year of employment.

Virginia Tech has an excellent benefits package, including graduate tuition waiver.

Extension agents recognize the importance of diversity and inclusion in the development and delivery of Extension programs, actively work to diversify program participation and are responsible for VCE’s civil rights policies and compliance with affirmative action.

Required Qualifications

Must have a minimum of a Bachelor's Degree (BA or BS) in a relevant discipline from an accredited college or university. A master's degree and promotion to Extension Agent are required no later than the sixth year of employment.

Knowledge and experience in planning, conducting, and evaluating Extension or non formal education programs; Understanding and ability to conduct community needs assessment to determine program priorities; Knowledge of child and human development. Excellent communication skills; Basic knowledge in educational technologies and their appropriate use in the development and delivery of educational programs; Program marketing skills; Knowledge and willingness to involve and manage volunteers in program development and delivery. The expectation is that these duties and all others listed are to be completed in-person with few exceptions for telework.

Extension Agents demonstrate flexibility, adaptability; A team oriented mindset, yet are able to work independently, and; strong desire to help clients succeed. Extension agents recognize the importance of diversity and inclusion in the development and delivery of Extension programs, actively work to diversify program participation, and are responsible for VCE's civil rights policies and compliance with affirmative action.

Virginia Tech is unable to sponsor applicants for work visas for this vacancy.

Preferred Qualifications

A Master's Degree is preferred.

Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

Commensurate with Experience

Review Date

September 12, 2023

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Must have a driver's license check with an acceptable and safe driving record.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.