PRINCIPAL PURPOSE OF JOB: The Program Evaluation Specialist will serve as a member of the Program and Staff Development Unit. The Evaluation Specialist will provide leadership to build Cooperative Extension’s capacity to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of educational programs in achieving desired results and to contribute to individual, community and organizational learning and performance improvement.  This position will coordinate the implementation of the Cooperative Extension Program Strategic and Organizational Plan, and reporting for the NIFA Plan of Work, and Accomplishment Report. Serve as the primary contact when working with the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Program and Staff Development Unit. This position 100% Extension and will serve as a member of the Cooperative Extension Leadership Team and report to the Associate Extension Administrator.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: (ex: duties that are essential to performing the job with or without accommodation)

1.    Providing technical assistance to Extension colleagues in program design, logic model development, evaluation planning/design, & data collection/analysis methods

2.    Gather and analyze quantitative and qualitative data for Extension programing.

3.    Write and develop grant proposals and secure extramural funding for Cooperative Extension.

4.    Demonstrated ability in designing, implementing, evaluating and reporting impactful community-based non-formal education programs with a strong knowledge of Cooperative Extension.

5.    Develop evaluation strategies, assessment instruments, and impact reports for Extension educational programs and funded projects in assigned program areas.

6.    Serve as a resource to Extension professionals in assigned program areas in formulating evaluation plans during grant and program development.

7.    Develop and maintain a system of documenting effectiveness of Extension educational efforts in assigned program areas.

8.    Develop and deliver training and serve as a resource person to county and state Extension personnel in program development and evaluation.

9.    Using data compiled from Kentucky Extension Reporting System and other sources, write the Extension sections of the annual KSU Extension Report of Accomplishments (the federal report).

10.    Coordinate, prepare, and assist with the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture Federal Report of Accomplishments and Annual Plan of Work.

11.    Provide leadership over the impact statement and submission process including Extension program reports and communicate key impacts to stakeholders and funding agencies.

12.    Work with Media and Communications to develop and maintain strategies for communicating the mission and effectiveness of Extension programs for Kentucky.

13.    In coordination with Media and Communications, create reports and infographics to share program data and impacts with state and federal agencies and stakeholders. Reports should be databased, visually attractive, and timely for use at events such as Council for Agriculture Research Extension and Teaching (CARET) meetings and the Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) conference.

14.     Attend and actively participate in the Association of Extension Administrators winter and summer meetings.

15.    Attend the Southern Region Program Leaders Network (SRPLN) conference and participate in quarterly conference calls (Program and Staff Development).

16.    Attend the meetings such as the National Association Extension Program and Staff Development Professionals Conference (NAEPSDP) and the Extension Research and Administrative Officers Conference (NERAOC).

OTHER DUTIES: (ex: tasks that may be necessary, but are not the main reason(s) the job was created)

The position will conduct other duties as required.