The Program Director of Extension Learning and Development (ELD) and Program and Staff Development Specialist is a new position to both lead and contribute to a new unit to support the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service (OSU Extension) in its work. The Program Director role is expected to be a part-time (20 percent) administrative position with other responsibilities contributing directly to the mission of the ELD unit in supporting Extension faculty and staff in professional growth (80 percent). ELD will be responsible for delivering an up-to-date comprehensive faculty, educator, staff, and intern professional development experiences that use a combination of virtual platforms and face-to-face meetings with appropriate training materials to accomplish onboarding, in-service training, mentoring, leadership and professional development objectives. In addition, the unit will offer services for on-line course development and conference management to support Extension initiatives.

The Program Director will report to the Associate Vice President of the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service (OSU Extension) and will supervise Extension personnel with responsibilities in online course development, agricultural conference services and event management, and program and staff development. This is a 12-month staff position with a 100% Extension appointment contingent upon available funding.

As a part of the Associate Vice President’s core management team, the Program Director will work closely with program leaders–the Assistant Director, Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Community Economic Development; the Assistant Director, Family and Consumer Sciences; and the Assistant Director, 4-H Youth Development– and District Extension Directors to determine timelines, training needs, support requirements and standards. Other close working relationships will include:

OSU Agriculture’s Human Resources Director on issues related to personnel, human resources, civil rights, employee relations, customer service and leadership, Department Heads, other Unit Leaders and Specialists to set priorities for in-service training and to develop appropriate training Local Extension Directors to place interns
IT, Communications, Digital and other departments on use of technology for training support and management
Volunteer development and evaluation and reporting specialists in other units Administrative assistant to the Associate Vice President. Existing programs in program and staff development include: formal onboarding processes for new Extension educators, administrative assistants and faculty; mentoring for new educators; annual in-service training calendar; a career ladder process for educators and area/district specialists; scholarships and tuition waiver programs; summer intern program; undergraduate Extension scholar program; annual awards; biennial conferences for Extension, County Extension Directors (CED) and administrative assistants; triennial Leadership Academy for county personnel; new CED and administrative support staff onboarding as needed. Existing services include online course development and agricultural conference services. A new “all volunteer” conference has been launched in 2026.

OSU Extension is the outreach arm of Oklahoma State University. For more than a century, we have connected Oklahomans to practical research-based information to help them make decisions to benefit them, their families, their businesses and their communities. Extension serves clientele in the areas of agriculture, family and consumer sciences, 4-H, community economic development and health. 4-H programming leads to positive youth development while other programs help Oklahomans address local issues and concerns, promote leadership and manage resources wisely. OSU Extension employs more than 500 faculty, professional, and support staff. Extension Educators are the “front door” to the University, providing a link between OSU and the people of the state in all 77 Oklahoma counties. Together we make a difference in the lives of Oklahomans. To find out more, explore OSU Extension at https://extension.okstate.edu

Explore a career with the Oklahoma Extension.  Join our team and make a difference in the lives of Oklahomans!
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