Wyandotte County is comprised of three cities: Kansas City, KS, Bonner Springs, and Edwardsville.  As of 2021, the population was 165,645, making Wyandotte the 5th largest county in Kansas.  Kansas City has four school districts that provide services to the public and private school students living in Wyandotte County. When fully staffed, Wyandotte County Extension’s staff will consist of a director, five agents, three office professionals, one 4-H program assistant, and one nutrition program assistant.

Extension agents are community based faculty of Kansas State University who make a difference by connecting community needs with university resources. Agents are administratively responsible to the local extension director and the local extension board.

This position will lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of research-based nutrition educational programming to support successful families and the systems that serve them. Programming will include, but is not limited to: food preparation, nutrition, food safety, food resource management, household food security, and physical activity.  Major efforts will target limited-resource families and individuals.

Position Description

Extension agents are professional educators who serve as a link between Kansas State University and communities across Kansas. Agents are administratively responsible to the Director of K-State Research and Extension (represented by a designated administrator) and the local extension board.

• Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of research-based nutrition educational programming to support successful families and the systems that serve them. Programming will include, but is not limited to: food preparation, nutrition, food safety, food resource management, household food security, and physical activity. Major efforts will target limited-resource families and individuals.
• Supervise any EFNEP Nutrition Assistants employed by the county.
• Programming will include these steps:

1. Identify local needs and emerging issues related to K-State Research and Extension’s five Grand Challenges (water, community vitality, health, developing tomorrow’s leaders and global food systems) by engaging with program development committees and other community organizations and professionals.
2. Design appropriate educational strategies to engage clientele. These strategies might include delivering educational programming in a community-based setting, coordinating events and activities that provide experiential learning opportunities, using innovative technologies, providing individual educational consultations, and facilitating groups seeking similar educational outcomes. Some overnight travel and evening and weekend work will be required.
3. Develop and implement strategies to expand the reach of educational programming to under-served audiences and to make certain K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider of educational programming.
4. Collect and communicate evidence of educational program impact.
5. Develop specialized knowledge and skills by engaging as a member of the Nutrition, Food Safety and Health Program Focus Team.

• Secure external funding such as grants, gifts, and cost recovery to supplement local tax revenue to support and expand educational programming.
• Serve as a member of the Wyandotte County team cooperating in the planning and delivery of county-wide programming and related events.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Academic coursework and/or professional development and professional employment related to the position responsibilities.
• Evidence of strong academic and/or professional performance as documented by college transcripts, acceptance into a graduate program or documented success in increasingly responsible professional positions.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with individuals, groups and through mass media.
• Leadership skills as evidenced by working with individuals, groups, and co-workers.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree.
• Registered dietitian, licensed nutritionist, or related certification
• Experience working with adults and youth from various ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Commitment to personal professional development.
• Ability to utilize electronic communication and computer applications to fulfill programming responsibilities.
• Self-motivation and ability to work with a minimum of supervision, balancing multiple projects.
• Ability to design, promote, implement, and evaluate educational programs.
• Skills in group facilitation.
• Knowledge of adult and youth teaching/learning processes.
• Experience in seeking and administering external grant funding.
• Ability to communicate effectively with both English and Spanish learners.

Other Qualifications

• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States at the time of employment.
• Access to a personal vehicle and the ability to obtain/maintain a valid driver’s license.