Extension Agent

General Statement MSU Extension seeks individuals who work professionally and effectively with communities, who foster and maintain effective interpersonal relationships, who exhibit excellent written and verbal communication skills, and who can contribute positively to the people and places of Montana under the guidelines and mission of Montana State University.Focus of this position is to plan, implement and evaluate 4-H Youth Development educational programs serving all Flathead County clientele emphasizing traditional and emerging interests. The successful candidate will provide leadership by working successfully with volunteers and clientele to identify and meet community needs in Flathead County. Other responsibilities include collaboration with peers in 4-H Youth Development or other Extension disciplines to assist MSU Extension in generating positive community impacts. Duties and Responsibilities Provide leadership, executive oversight, and educational experiences for Flathead County 4-H Youth Development Program volunteers. Provide leadership for volunteer recruitment, development, and support. Provide leadership to enhance educational experiences for youth in the development of life and leadership skills. Assess clientele and stakeholder needs for the purpose of developing programing to address identified needs. Provide expanded educational opportunities for members and volunteers in traditional and non-traditional audiences. Engage constituencies via direct interactions, collaborations, and partnerships with professional associations, committees, stakeholders, local governments, partner agencies, producer groups, etc. Engage Extension specialists and peer field faculty to increase Extension’s success in affecting positive community impacts. Deliver educational resources through Extension teaching, developing curriculum(a) or educational materials, and one-on-one and small group consultations. Serve on Extension committees, state, regional, national, and other activities that support Extension, local communities, and MSU departments and colleges. Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills Bachelor’s Degree in a related field with work experience in Public Administration, Nonprofit Administration, 4-H Youth Development, 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 and youth.  Demonstrated understanding of adult learning theory and its application to community-based education and outreach.  Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills Master’s degree in Public Administration, Nonprofit Administration, 4-H Youth Development, or related field and/or relevant work experience.  Demonstrated ability to facilitate groups and help them find constructive solutions to locally identified issues.  The Successful Candidate Will Possess excellent human relation skills. Work with a high level of professionalism. Possess the ability to work effectively with other staff members. Demonstrate evidence of good judgment. Have the flexibility and innovation to respond to changing needs of people in Flathead County. Possess the ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. Establish relationships and work with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Ultimately, the successful candidate will be relational, responsive, and reliable. Position Special Requirements/Additional Information If the successful candidate holds a Master’s degree, the position will be filled as a tenure track position. If the successful candidate does not hold a Master’s degree, the position will be filled as a non-tenure track position; however, upon completion of a Master’s degree, they will transition to a tenure track position.Work hours vary and are influenced by community needs. Work outside of normal business hours, including evenings and weekends, is not unusual. Position includes continuous professional development, frequent travel throughout the county, and occasional travel throughout the state of Montana. Must possess a valid driver’s license, an acceptable driving record, and meet all State of Montana requirements to operate State/University vehicles. (If successful candidate possesses a valid out-of-state driver’s license, must obtain a valid Montana driver’s license within 60 days of This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Physical Demands To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. The Program The scholarship of 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.” The Department The College