Mitchell County Extension Director / Agriculture focused Community Development Educator

Position Summary

Position Description

The County Extension Director is a member of the faculty of North Carolina State University.  The primary responsibility of the job is to exercise sound judgement and provide leadership for and coordinate the efforts of the county Extension staff in developing an effective total county Extension education program.  Other responsibilities include organizing and allocating resources, marketing the Extension program, preparing budgets, maintaining administrative relationships, interpreting and communicating policy, teaching, evaluating, and reporting in Mitchell County.  This position will also be responsible for Community Economic Development (CRD).  The CRD Extension Agent has primary responsibility for instructing, planning, executing, and evaluating effective and comprehensive CRD programs and courses that will meet the specialized needs of the rural county population.  The CRD Extension Agent cooperates with other faculty in the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service and county leaders in performing assigned responsibilities.  The performance of assigned responsibilities is governed by the philosophy, objectives, policies, and procedures of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service.

• Develops and maintains a comprehensive understanding of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service as an educational agency and its implications for administration and programming in the county.
• Provides leadership and exercises sound judgement for personnel management of the county Extension staff.
• Markets county Extension programs and services to the community using various media.
• Provides leadership in planning and initiating action needed to implement all areas of program responsibility in the planned program. In cooperation with the Extension staff and County Extension Advisory Leadership System, plans all areas of the total county program.
• Work collaboratively with other Extension programs, staff, agencies and community organizations to meet the specialized needs of the community.
• Maintains liaison with civic organizations, related businesses, informal educational organizations, and other voluntary groups.  Continuously strives to maintain and encourages the county Extension staff to maintain a high level of professional competence.
•  Ensures that the county Extension office follows, where appropriate, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, state, county and national laws, policies, regulations and guidelines.
•   Maintains an effective administrative relationship with county government and represents the county government in managing appropriated county funds and assigned county resources.
•  Maintains the affirmative action plan of North Carolina Cooperative Extension.
•   Subject matter responsibilities as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned.
  CRD Programing Duties
• Develop curriculum and maintain organized CRD programs and courses in accordance with the mission of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension.
• Market CRD programs to the community using various media.
• Determine educational needs and impact by assessing and evaluating the CRD program curriculums on a regular basis in order to ensure the specialized needs of the community are being served. Local Foods, Agriculture Entrepreneurship and Agriculture tourism is of high interest in Mitchell County.
• Recruit, train, and supervise volunteers to assist with the implementation and maintenance of the CRD programs.
• Work collaboratively with other Extension programs, staff, agencies and community organizations to meet the needs of the CRD programs and the individuals that the programs serve.
• Promote community development with the tourism, economic, and real estate agencies within the county.
• Develop CRD programs and courses that follow North Carolina Cooperative Extension, North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, state, county, and national laws, policies, and guidelines.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

The expected level of formal training for the County Extension Director is a master’s degree from an accredited institution in a field related to a programmatic area within the scope and mission of Cooperative Extension. Administrative and supervisory experience is desirable. In addition to the formal education, the County Extension Director must have a minimum of three years of successful Cooperative Extension experience at a professional level (e.g. as an agent, county director, specialist, or administrator) and demonstrated effective leadership skills. Also, must hold or be eligible to hold an appointment at the level of Associate Extension Agent or higher.

Driver’s license or alternate transportation required?

yes

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