Wild West District consists of Haskell, Seward, and Stevens Counties in Southwest Kansas. The district has a combined population of 31,824. Offices are located in Sublette, Liberal, and Hugoton. When fully staffed, the district employs seven Extension agents and three office professionals. There is a strong 4-H youth development program with 205 members and great potential to expand this program.

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 a comprehensive 4-H youth development program for school-aged youth in cooperation with local residents and extension colleagues. The primary focus of this position is youth development, adult volunteer development, youth education program development, expanding partnerships, and participation and membership growth. Programming will include but is not limited to: supporting community clubs, out-of-school programs, school enrichment, volunteer management, and outreach to create new program opportunities with existing and new community partners.

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 a comprehensive 4-H youth development program for school-aged youth in cooperation with local residents and extension colleagues. The primary focus of this position is youth development, adult volunteer development, youth education program development, expanding partnerships, and participation and membership growth. Programming will include but is not limited to: supporting community clubs, out-of-school programs, school enrichment, volunteer management, and outreach to create new program opportunities with existing and new community partners.
• Provide supervision for any 4-H program assistants employed by the district.
• 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 Youth Development 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 Wild West District team cooperating in the planning and delivery of district-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.
• 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.