Extension Agent – FCS and 4-H/Youth Development Glacier County

Position Description

The primary areas of focus for the agent in this full-time position will be to provide leadership and educational programming in the disciplines of Family and Consumer Sciences and 4-H/Youth Development, with secondary focus on Community Development. The Glacier County Extension Office is staffed by one other Extension Agent who serves as the Agriculture and Natural Resources and 4-H/Youth Development Agent.

General Statement
This position is located in Cut Bank, MT.
Glacier County is located on the northwest edge of the Golden Triangle area of Montana. Cut Bank is the county seat and has a population of 3,019 according to 2020 U.S. Census estimates. Total county population, according to that same estimate, is 13,594. Other towns and communities in Glacier County include Browning, East Glacier Park and Babb. Cut Bank is located approximately 50 miles east of Glacier National Park and sits about 100 miles northwest of Great Falls. Primary industries in Glacier County include agriculture, tourism, oil and gas exploration/production, and government employment. A large portion of the county is comprised of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation and the east half of Glacier National Park. There are seven Hutterite Colonies in the county. The Glacier County 4-H program has 73 youth members, 22 adult volunteers, and four organized clubs. There is an Extension Office on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Browning that serves an additional eight 4-H clubs. In addition to this position, Glacier County Extension is staffed with an Agriculture and 4-H/Youth Development Extension Agent.

The primary focus of this position is to provide leadership for MSU Extension Family and Consumer Sciences and 4-H/Youth Development education programs in Glacier County, with a secondary focus on Community Development education. The successful candidate will plan, implement, and evaluate educational programs to enhance physical, mental, and economic well-being for individuals and families across Glacier County, which may include family economics, family and human development, food and nutrition, health and wellness, and housing and environmental health. Additionally, the successful candidate will collaborate with the Agriculture and 4-H/Youth Development Agent to provide leadership for 4-H and other youth development programs in Glacier County. The successful candidate will work to identify and address community development needs in Glacier County as a secondary focus.

We seek individuals who work professionally and effectively with diverse individuals, foster and maintain effective interpersonal relationships, exhibit excellent written and verbal communication skills and have the ability to contribute positively to the academic success of students and the mission of Montana State University.

Duties and Responsibilities
Develop, plan, implement, facilitate, and evaluate successful, research-based educational programs in Family and Consumer Sciences, 4-H Youth Development, and Community Development that result in positive community impacts.
Strengthen the impact and scope of the Family and Consumer Science and Community Development programs across Glacier County.
Share leadership for the Glacier County 4-H program and office administrative duties with the Agriculture and 4-H/Youth Development Agent.
Recruit, educate, train, develop, and recognize youth and adult 4-H volunteer leaders.
Collaborate with local Extension staff and stakeholder groups to conduct continuous needs assessments in Family and Consumer Sciences, 4-H/Youth Development, and Community Development to inform programming priorities in Glacier County.
Embrace a team approach to planning, developing, and implementing the overall MSU Extension program in Glacier County.
Build and maintain collaborative working relationships with the county commission and appropriate individuals, groups, boards, agencies, and organizations to leverage educational programming in Glacier County.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree and relevant work experience in Family and Consumer Science, Youth Development, Human Development, Education, or other closely related field.
Demonstrated success or training in providing innovative and effective leadership to educational programming in Family and Consumer Sciences.
Experience and/or training in providing education and leadership for positive youth development.
Demonstrated ability to evaluate needs and plan, implement, facilitate, teach, and evaluate educational programs.
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and effectively with individuals, groups, and community organizations representing a wide variety of youth and adult audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree.
Demonstrated ability to work with volunteers to implement effective programs.
Demonstrated ability to facilitate groups and help them find constructive solutions to local identified issues.
Extension experience or demonstrated understanding of the Extension education model.

Other Requirements

The Successful Candidate Will
Possess excellent human relation skills.
Demonstrate a high level of professionalism and the ability to work effectively with other staff members.
Demonstrate evidence of good judgment, flexibility, and innovation to respond to changing needs of people in Glacier County.
Be able to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
Possess a familiarity with multi-cultural and different socioeconomic audiences, an interest in working with people from diverse backgrounds, and a commitment to the principles of diversity.
Be dedicated to supporting and enhancing Montana State University’s initiative for diversity, equity and inclusiveness.