Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent, Leavenworth County

About This Role:

Duties/ Responsibilities:

• Provide primary leadership for the development and implementation of research-based educational programming related to agriculture and natural resources. Programming will include but is not limited to: agronomic and livestock production, agricultural economics, management and public policy, horticultural production and management, natural resources conservation, and environmental stewardship.
• Share responsibility for the 4-H youth development programming related to Agriculture and Natural Resources.
• Share responsibility for community vitality programming that helps our communities become better places to live, work, and play. Programming will strengthen the social, civic, economic, and technological capacity of communities through leadership development and civic engagement.
• Programming will include these steps:

1. Identify local needs and emerging issues related to K-State Research and Extension’s five Grand Challenges: (water, community vitality, health, developing tomorrow’s leaders and global food systems) by engaging with program development committees and other community organizations and professionals.
2. Design appropriate educational strategies to engage clientele. These strategies might include delivering educational programming in a community-based setting, coordinating events and activities that provide experiential learning opportunities, using innovative technologies, providing individual educational consultations and facilitating groups seeking similar educational outcomes. Some overnight travel and evening and weekend work will be required.
3. Develop and implement strategies to expand the reach of educational programming to under-served audiences and to make certain K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider of educational programming.
4. Collect and communicate evidence of educational program impact.
5. Develop specialized knowledge and skills by engaging as a member of a Program Focus Team.

• Secure external funding such as grants, gifts and cost recovery to supplement local tax revenue to support and expand educational programming.
• May periodically be assigned to serve as the local unit director providing administrative oversight for the fiscal operations, coordination of personnel, development, delivery and reporting of program impact and other administrative functions assigned by the director’s representative and the extension board.
• Serve as a member of the Leavenworth County team cooperating in the planning and delivery of county-wide programming and related events.

What You'll Need to Succeed:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Academic coursework and/or professional employment related to the position responsibilities
• Evidence of strong academic and/or professional performance as documented by college transcripts, acceptance into a graduate program or documented success in increasingly responsible professional positions
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with individuals, groups and through mass media
• Leadership skills as evidenced by working with individuals, groups and co-workers

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's Degree
• Experience working with adults and youth from various ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds
• Commitment to personal professional development
• Ability to utilize electronic communication and computer applications to fulfill programming responsibilities
• Self-motivation and ability to work with a minimum of supervision, balancing multiple projects
• Ability to design, promote, implement and evaluate educational programs
• Skills in group facilitation
• Knowledge of adult and youth teaching/learning processes
• Experience in seeking and administering external grant funding
• Prior experience with or knowledge of youth livestock programming and education.
• Ability to communicate effectively with both English and Spanish learners.

Other Requirements:

• Access to a personal vehicle and the ability to obtain/maintain a valid driver’s license
• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States at the time of employment

Salary, Benefits, and Professional Development:

• Salary commensurate with professional experience and available funding as negotiated by the regional extension director, the local extension board and the applicant. The base starting salary is $43,000 for a BS degree with no professional experience and $47,000 for a MS degree with no professional experience.
• Extension agents are Kansas State University educators and have the Board of Regents retirement plan, health and life insurance and vacation and sick leave. For a complete list of benefits see: http://www.k-state.edu/hcs/benefits/overview/
• Reimbursement for travel related to achieving program objectives.
• New agents will be provided with comprehensive Early Career Professional Development training throughout their onboarding period. This series will include both virtual and in-person training and networking opportunities.
• Tuition assistance is available to full-time employees and their spouse/dependents

How to Apply:

• Cover Letter (detailing experiences related to responsibilities and qualifications)
• Resume
• Contact Information and Email addresses for three (3) professional references (include on application). References will be requested upon submission of application.
• Copy of academic transcripts showing degree(s) received. (For applicants still in college, a list of courses from the college/university website is acceptable.)

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Background Screening Statement: