Position Summary

Position Description

Washington State University and the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) and Extension seeks a Director of the 4-H Youth Development Program.  This is a permanent, 9-month, full-time, career-track OR tenure-track faculty appointment.  The successful candidate will be required to work and will receive salary for two additional months while serving as Director. Appointment is at the rank of Associate or Full Professor.  This position may be based at any of the Extension, REC, or campus facilities in Washington State, negotiable at the time of hire. This position requires the successful candidate to reside in Washington State, or neighboring state within commuting distance, and be available to work alongside colleagues from WSU Extension offices, Research and Extension Centers, (REC) or campuses.  Responsibilities will include: Leadership & Vision: Lead the Washington State 4-H Program, ensuring alignment with and contribution to Washington State University and the CAHNRS’s strategic plans and Extension’s mission to enhance youth development through evidence-based education. Provide strategic leadership for statewide 4-H programs, fostering a culture of inclusivity and engagement.  Program Development: Oversee the development, implementation, and evaluation of innovative 4-H programs, with a focus on expanding outreach to all youth throughout Washington. Demonstrate a strong commitment to broaden access and ensure that programs are evidence-driven and deliver measurable impacts. Team Building: Establish, support, and facilitate working groups that build strong alliances and support systems of shared-leadership and shared expertise across the state. Collaboration & Partnership: Build and sustain strong partnerships with community leaders, partners, volunteers, and Extension and other CAHNRS and WSU faculty. Engage with local, regional, and national 4-H leadership to represent Washington and WSU Extension on broader youth development initiatives. Staff & Fiscal Management: Provide leadership and mentorship to 4-H professionals, faculty and staff, and volunteers. Assess and mitigate risk. Oversee budget management and secure external funding through grants and partnerships to support and grow Washington’s 4-H programs. Communication: Exhibit exceptional communication skills. Provide effective and timely communication for internal and external audiences. Work with faculty and staff to develop clear and accessible content such as factsheets, impact statements, and peer-reviewed scholarship and curricula. Ensure effective messaging that communicates the value and outcomes and impacts of 4-H programs. Training & Workshops: Support the recruitment and retention of engaged educators. Work with faculty and staff to conduct training sessions and workshops to ensure personnel and volunteers are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to deliver high-quality 4-H programs. Advocacy & Engagement: Advocate for the importance of positive youth development and serve as a key spokesperson for 4-H programs across the state. Develop and deliver impactful messaging and reports that communicate the value and outcomes and societal impacts of 4-H programs to internal and external audiences.  Salary: Associate Professor: 9 Month Salary: $73,636 – $106,364; Summer Salary: $8,182 – $11,818 per month, 2 months; Total Salary: $90,000 – $130,000. Full Professor: 9 Month Salary: $98,182 – $114,545, Summer Salary: $10,909 – $12,727 per month, 2 months; Total Salary: $120,000-$140,000.

Required Qualifications

Required (Both Ranks): Earned Master’s degree in youth development, human development, public administration, agricultural and/or Extension education, education, or an appropriate field of study at the time of application. A minimum of five years of leadership experience in Extension or a similar organization, with a proven track record of successful program management and staff supervision. Qualifies for the rank of Associate Professor or Professor (scholarship, program development, publication record, grant/contract acquisition, program delivery, program evaluation). Reliable transportation for year-round travel is required. Mileage will be reimbursed for work-related travel at the approved state rate if using a private vehicle. While using a private or WSU motor pool vehicle for official business, have current automobile liability insurance (meeting the requirements described in RCW46.30.020 and RCW 46.29.090); and must have, or be able to obtain by time of hire, a valid driver’s license and meet requirements in accordance with SPPM 7.10 and departmental driving standards. Required (Both Ranks, Tenure Track): Currently serving in the rank of tenured as an Associate Professor, Professor, or equivalent and has a record of accomplishments commensurate with college standards for tenure at the level of associate professor. If consideration for tenure is unsuccessful at the time of hire, candidate will be eligible as career track. Required (Both Ranks, Career Track): Currently serving in a position which would qualify as a Career Track faculty as an Associate Professor, Professor, or equivalent and has a record of accomplishments in commensurate with college standards for associate professor, career track.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications (Both Ranks): Exceptional communication, organizational, and leadership skills. Experience in personnel and conflict management, risk management, and strategic decision-making. Proven experience in securing and managing external funding, including grants and contracts, and facilitating opportunities for program needs. Demonstrated success in developing and maintaining effective multidisciplinary and multi-agency partnerships and collaborations that support the development and management of positive youth development programs. Successful leadership of diverse teams with a proactive commitment to fostering inclusivity in program outreach. Ability to effectively communicate needs, strengths, and impacts of 4-H to diverse audiences, including elected officials, staff, volunteers, media, and agency administrators/representatives. Direct experience with 4-H, especially professional experiences and/or collaborations with 4-H. Successful experience leading and supporting volunteers; awareness of and appreciation for volunteers as an integral element of delivering high quality 4-H programming. A strong record of scholarship that showcases innovative approaches and measurable program impacts, especially utilizing a team approach. Desire to continue to expand impactful scholarship. Ph.D. in youth development, human development, public administration, agricultural and/or Extension education, education, or an appropriate field. Full Professor Rank: Candidates should possess a robust record of scholarship and a higher level of national/international recognition compared to Associate Professor applicants.

Driver’s license or alternate transportation required?

yes

Application Instructions

To apply, visit hrs.wsu.edu/careers and applications must include the following materials: 1) Cover letter addressing how your experience meets the required and preferred qualifications for the position, 2) Current Curriculum Vitae, 3) Statement describing your commitment and contributions to inclusive excellence in your professional positions, and 4) Names and contact information for four professional references. Please contact Deborah Handy, Search Committee Chair, at handy@wsu.edu or 509.243.2009 for questions about this position. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply. For a complete position description listing all required and desired qualifications and application process, visit hrs.wsu.edu/careers (Search #R-13327). For additional information on Washington State University, the College of Human and Natural Resource Sciences or the Extension Agriculture & Natural Resources (ANR) Program Unit, visit cahnrs.wsu.edu and extension.wsu.edu/4h

Equal Employer Statement(s)

EEO/AA/ADA

About Washington State University

WSU EXTENSION

With 39 county Extension offices and 2 tribal locations throughout the state, WSU Extension is the front door to the University.  Extension builds the capacity of individuals, organizations, businesses, and communities, empowering them to find solutions for local issues and to improve their quality of life.  Extension collaborates with communities and industries to create a culture of life-long learning and is recognized for its accessible, learner-centered, relevant, high-quality and evidence-based, unbiased educational programs.  To learn more about WSU Extension, visit: https://extension.wsu.edu/about-extension/

 

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL, HUMAN AND NATURAL RESOURCE SCIENCES

The College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) at Washington State University is an expansive and diverse college that includes 12 academic units, 3 Extension program units, 4 research and extension centers distributed across the state, 13 subject matter centers, and 1 tribal and 39 county Extension offices.   CAHNRS fosters disciplines that serve at the interface of scientific discovery and its application to the advancement of society and improvement of the human experience.   Our mission is to provide global leadership in discovering, accessing, and disseminating knowledge that contributes to producing a safe, abundant food and fiber supply; promotes the well-being of individuals, families, and communities; enhances sustainability of agricultural and economic systems; and promotes stewardship of natural resources and ecological systems.  CAHNRS personnel embrace the opportunity to fulfill the university’s land-grant mission by making groundbreaking research discoveries, by utilizing innovative approaches to teaching and learning, and by delivering relevant, progressive extension programs that synergistically generate outcomes that enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Washington State, as well as for people around the globe.  For more information, visit http://cahnrs.wsu.edu.

 

WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1890 as Washington’s original land-grant university, Washington State University is a comprehensive land-grant university with teaching, research, and Extension missions, and one of two research universities in Washington State. WSU is organized into 11 academic colleges, the Honors College and the Graduate School.  It has an enrollment of more than 26,000 undergraduate and graduate students on six campuses (Pullman, Spokane, Tri-Cities, Vancouver, Everett, and Global) with approximately 17,000 students located on the main campus in Pullman, WA.  Additionally, research centers are located throughout the state, extension offices are located in every county, and online degree programs are offered worldwide.  Additional information about WSU's statewide locations can be found at https://wsu.edu/about/statewide/. WSU ranks among the top 60 public research universities and is a Carnegie I, Doctoral/Research Extensive University. WSU strongly values diversity among its faculty, staff, and students, and seeks to ensure a welcoming community for all.  Further information about WSU can be found at www.wsu.edu and https://wsu.edu/about/facts/.