Position Summary
Position Description
Located in western Montana, Lewis and Clark County is home to the capital city of Montana, Helena, and has a population of about 74,000 people. Most of the populace lives in or near Helena, with the smaller communities of Augusta and Lincoln in the northern and western parts of the county, respectively. Carroll College and Helena College offer local opportunities for advanced education. The leading source of employment is the State of Montana. In addition, Fort Harrison serves the military community with local Guard and Reserve units, and a veteran’s Hospital. Surrounded by national forest, Hauser Dam, Canyon Ferry, and Lake Helena, Lewis and Clark County offers a multitude of opportunities for outdoor activities such as skiing, boating, fishing, hunting, hiking, mountain biking, camping and much more. Helena’s location lends itself to easy travel access to Butte, Great Falls, Bozeman, and Missoula and is only 150 miles from Glacier National Park. Lewis and Clark County offers the opportunity to participate in both urban and rural programming with a unique blend of traditional agricultural land and outdoor recreational havens.
MSU Extension seeks individuals who work professionally and effectively with communities, who foster and maintain effective interpersonal relationships, who exhibit excellent written and verbal communications skills, and who can contribute positively to the people and places of Montana under the guidelines and mission of Montana State University.
The focus of this position is to plan, implement and evaluate agriculture and horticulture educational programs serving all Lewis and Clark County clientele serving traditional and emerging interests. The successful candidate will provide leadership by working successfully with volunteers and clientele to identify and meet community needs in Lewis and Clark County. Other responsibilities include collaboration with peers in agriculture, horticulture, or other Extension disciplines to assist MSU Extension in generating positive community impacts.
Duties and Responsibilities
Develop, plan, implement, instruct, facilitate, and evaluate educational programs for agriculture and horticulture as determined by local community engagement.
Collaborate with other faculty in Lewis and Clark County and other nearby MSU Extension offices.
Strengthen the impact and scope of agriculture and horticulture programs in Lewis and Clark County.
Provide program leadership by collaborating with Extension field faculty and specialists to deliver needed programs in Lewis and Clark County and the surrounding area.
Work as appropriate with Lewis and Clark County 4-H Youth Development faculty to assist in implementing the 4-H Youth Development program.
Provide leadership to stakeholder groups in determining priority needs.
Conduct continual needs assessments in Lewis and Clark County.
Cooperate with MSU Extension staff to develop a team approach to the planning, development, and implementation of overall MSU Extension programming in Lewis and Clark County.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, horticulture, soil science or related fields. Demonstrated ability to lead groups; assess community needs; and develop, organize, plan, teach, and evaluate effective programs. Demonstrated ability to recruit, train, and provide professional development to volunteers. Demonstrated ability to provide effective leadership to Extension programming relating to volunteers, adults, and youth. 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 in agriculture, horticulture, soil science or related fields and/or relevant work experience. Demonstrated ability to facilitate groups and help them find constructive solutions to locally identified issues. Extension Experience or demonstrated understanding of the Extension education model.
Other Requirements
The successful candidate will possess excellent human relation skills; a high level of professionalism; the ability to work effectively with other staff members; evidence of good judgment; flexibility and innovation to respond to changing needs of people in Lewis and Clark County; and will be able to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. The successful candidate will establish relationships and work with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
Travel Requirements
Frequent travel throughout the county; occasional travel throughout the state.
Driver’s license or alternate transportation required?
yes
Contact Name
Dan Lucas
Contact Email
daniel.lucas@montana.eduContact Phone
(406) 274-8969
Application Instructions
Apply online at http://montana.edu/extension/careers
Equal Employer Statement(s)
Equal Opportunity Employer, Veterans/Disabled.
About Montana State University Extension
Brief Position Overview
Extension work at MSU is defined as, the creation of partnerships, programs, and plans through Extension, or other community-based research, that leverage the knowledge and resources of the university and the public/private sector to enhance learning, discovery, and engagement; educate and engage citizens; strengthen communities; address locally identified issues and problems; apply and disseminate knowledge; and contribute to the public good.