Assistant/Associate Extension Agent (4-H Youth Development)

Louisiana State University

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Work Location: The extension office is in Benton, Louisiana. The area to be served is Bossier Parish, which is in Northwest Louisiana with a population of approximately 125,000 residents. The parish has 34 schools (public and private) with 31 school, community, and project clubs engaging approximately 1,100 4-H members and approximately 525 reached through enrichment efforts (pre pandemic data). The parish has a potential youth audience of 20,000. The program works with approximately 175 adult and youth volunteers in organizational leader and other roles that help coordinate and support the 4-H club program. The goals of the 4-H Youth Development Program include increasing youth leadership development and community service learning; strengthening the partnership between 4-H and formal education; and expanding volunteer involvement to increase contact hours per youth. Agricultural commodities in the parish include cotton, corn, soybean, hay production and beef cattle. Position Description: The LSU AgCenter is actively seeking applicants who can contribute to such an environment through their scholarship, teaching, mentoring, and professional service. The LSU AgCenter Bossier Parish Office seeks a 4-H Agent to lead the parish-wide 4-H youth development program. You must demonstrate the ability to work effectively with culturally, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse audiences. Applicant must have abilities to build and maintain effective working relationships with 4-H adult volunteers, the Bossier Parish 4-H Advisory Committee, community-based and grassroots organizations, and peers in the LSU AgCenter organization. You will also provide strong leadership in the development of the adult volunteer system and youthfocused life skills educational content that is engaging and relevant to the audience. You will be part of a team that works together in support of initiatives designed to promote and support agriculture and strong families. As a LSU AgCenter faculty member, you will also: work with agencies and organizations to assist or lead cooperative and interdisciplinary projects, both in the parish and through multi-parish efforts; provide service to schools outside of 4-H programming; develop creative works in support of programming, including presentations, professional posters, and web-based education; write scholarly publications related to the field of expertise; and participate in professional associations and service activities for the LSU AgCenter. You will document efforts through an annual plan of work (POW) and report of accomplishment. For those being hired as an Assistant/ Associate agent you will be expected to attain promotion and tenure per LSU AgCenter guidelines.

Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree in education, vocational education, agricultural sciences, family and consumer sciences/human ecology, biological or social sciences, recreation and leisure studies or closely related areas.
• Must have an undergraduate degree with an overall grade-point average of at least 2.5 (all GPA requirements based on a 4.0 system) and a 3.0 for graduate work attempted, if any, or master's degree with an overall grade-point average of at least 3.0 or a current grade-point average of at least 3.0 on at least 12 hours of graduate credit.
• The applicant must demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated organizational skills.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to use social media in a variety of formats.
• Comfort presenting in front of small and large crowds.
• Experience establishing solid partnerships.
• Highly self-motivated.
• Innovative audience engagement and development.
• Demonstrated skills in partnership development and project management.
• Experience creating lesson plans, developing instructional materials, and applying teaching methods appropriate for the audience.
• Experience managing volunteers.
• Experience working in multicultural settings and coursework/training on multicultural topics.
• A personal automobile and appropriate insurance coverage is required (travel allowance provided).
• Satisfactory completion of one specific graduate level extension courses (3 credit hours) is required in year two or three of employment, prior to promotion eligibility to associate agent.
• Additionally, a faculty member who does not have a related master’s degree must complete an additional 12 hours of related graduate level coursework in order to be promoted to associate agent and such promotion must occur in the first seven years of employment. An exception is that additional agent experience may be substituted for 12 hours of coursework, but not for the required course.

Nice To Haves

• A master's degree in a field listed above is desired.
• Experience in recruiting, training and supervising volunteers and experience in teaching and applying principles of leadership development to both youth and adults is also desired.
• Knowledge of public relations and the ability to cope with change are highly desirable characteristics.
• Ability to work with and through others is essential as is the ability to function with minimum supervision.

Responsibilities

• Plan, develop, teach, evaluate, and report on youth educational programs that meet the needs of the parish's diverse population in coordination with the St. Mary Parish 4-H Program and in alignment with the strategic direction of the Louisiana 4-H Youth Development program.
• Deliver youth development programming through 4-H community clubs, special interest clubs/groups, school enrichment, day camps, after school programs, and other events and activities, emphasizing leadership, community service, and workforce development to name a few.
• Coordinate youth and volunteer involvement in multi-parish, state, regional, and the national 4-H program and events.
• Build and lead a strong volunteer base through recruitment, screening, training, and managing adult volunteers, including competency building using state and national 4-H research-based methods.
• Teach and equip volunteers in educational methods to guide and support 4-H member projects in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), including animal sciences, environmental education, robotics, and agriculture, as well as the arts, entrepreneurship, career development, leadership, nutrition, healthy living, and citizenship.
• Assess and identify opportunities for volunteers to serve in management and leadership roles; then recruit, train, and use volunteers in those roles.
• Ensure the volunteer screening process is implemented and up to date and oversee all aspects of 4-H program risk management as directed by Louisiana 4-H Headquarters and local policies.
• Develop program delivery strategies that include the use of deliberately focused virtual platforms. Employ up to 25% virtual programming as appropriate within parish technology resources and stakeholder needs.
• Encourage and support health equity programming and systems for youth as resources are available.
• Use a needs assessment to target programs focused on youth, reflecting the parish's diverse population and the unique educational needs of Bossier Parish.
• Collaborate and develop strategic partnerships with parish and governmental departments, local businesses, and social service agencies to provide diverse and innovative educational opportunities for positive youth development.
• Use resourcefulness, creativity, enthusiasm, and innovativeness to strengthen current educational programs while reviewing and implementing new policies, maintaining enrollments and records, assessing risks, communicating effectively across social media platforms, managing the program's financial resources, and creating educational materials.
• Seek and manage financial resources to support 4-H programming and ensure all financial policies are followed as instructed by LSU AgCenter and 4-H Foundation guidelines.
• Follow all LSU AgCenter policies and best practices regarding affirmative action, program development, program evaluation, and reporting. on guidelines.
• Develop and implement a communication plan for 4-H program participants, families, volunteers, and stakeholders using effective and contemporary approaches, including current social media.
• Write content for various media sources (e.g., newspapers, radio, newsletters, web, social media) to promote programs, report on programs, and educate the public.

Benefits

• The LSU AgCenter has an attractive benefits package with a wide variety of benefit options.
• Benefits offered include retirement, multiple medical insurance options, supplemental insurances (dental, life, long-term disability, accident, vision, long-term care, etc.), Tax Saver Flexible Benefits Plan (saves tax dollars on some child care and medical expenses), university holidays (14 per year, typically includes a week off at Christmas), generous annual (vacation) and sick leave benefits, Employee Assistance Program, and possible educational leave and tuition exemption for coursework at campuses of the LSU System.
• Specific benefits depend on job category, percent effort and length of employment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level