Assistant University Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources, serving Carbon County, Wyoming (focused on science communication, natural resources education, collaborative management, rangelands)

JOB PURPOSE:   

Are you seeking a career that will allow you to positively impact Wyoming communities and people? Do you value public service and seek an outlet that allows you to serve the public through educational programs you create? Are you committed to lifelong learning and find value in sharing that with others? Then please consider applying for this open position.

The mission of University of Wyoming Extension (UWE) is to empower the people of Wyoming to make choices that enhance their quality of life. By actively involving Wyoming people, institutions, and communities, UWE shows a commitment to relevance, diversity, people, connectivity, accountability, innovation, entrepreneurship, and respect. With this in mind, UWE will be responsive to the needs, concerns, and aspirations of the people of Wyoming as we provide learning for better living.

UWE Educators are part of the University’s educational outreach system. In keeping with the University’s status as a land-grant institution, Extension Educators form an essential link between the people of Wyoming and the teaching, research, and service missions of the University by providing non-credit education to an off-campus clientele. Extension Educators provide Wyoming youth, adults, and communities with life-long learning opportunities, especially through the Application of research-supported information and leadership skills in the areas of agriculture and natural resources (ANR).

For this position, we seek an educator with science communication skills and broad knowledge of ecosystems, including the role of humans in landscape management. The educator’s programming will ideally engage the public in science-based outreach about ANR management and public-private partnerships in Carbon County, including ways the public can participate in planning processes (e.g., through public comment periods). Other relevant topics for programming include rangeland ecology and monitoring, plant invasions, rangeland livestock systems, human-wildlife interactions, and small acreage/horticulture/tree/greenspace management.

This position is based in Rawlins, Wyoming, the county seat for Carbon County. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  

Program Development and Delivery

• Provide leadership in building mutual learning relationships with community members and leaders through a blend of educational outreach, technical assistance, and community coaching.
• Implement assessment and advisory strategies to identify educational needs (e.g., by gathering input from agricultural and natural resource (ANR) producers, agencies, and organizations, as well as community leaders, and other appropriate partners and experts about ANR-related needs in the county).
• Develop and maintain awareness of existing programs, resources, and businesses within local communities, being careful not to compete with or favor any.
• Conduct impactful Extension programming informed by assessments of local needs and assets.
• Establish professional partnerships with Extension Specialists and other scientific experts to ensure outreach programming is rooted in research-based information. As an Extension Educator advances in their career, this should involve collaborating on applied research projects or demonstration studies to inform educational programs.
• Provide primary leadership for the development, implementation, evaluation, and continual improvement of comprehensive educational programming that is responsive, relevant, and impactful in addressing ANR needs identified in assessments.
• Provide effective educational experiences using appropriate program delivery strategies, such as presentations, workshops, trainings, and other modes of outreach relevant to target audiences, which could range widely from youths to adults, and the general public to professionals.
• Support the development, delivery, and evaluation of signature programs or statewide initiatives of the ANR focus area.
• Support and promote general Extension operations and outputs in the county, such as helping meet the community’s horticulture/Master Gardener needs, and cooperating with other UW programs or efforts in the county (e.g., promoting Ag Experiment Station outputs, and interacting with the public in ways supportive of UW recruiting).
• Provide pesticide applicator training (i.e., educational programs on pesticide safety, application techniques, and regulatory compliance) to individuals seeking certification or recertification.
• Develop and implement evaluation tools (formative and summative) for measuring and reporting consistent program impacts across the short and long term.
• Provide support for 4-H Youth Development in partnership with your local 4-H educator.

Volunteer Systems

• Establish and support volunteers/partners that have the ability to increase the capacity and long-term sustainability of the ANR focus area (e.g., event partners/volunteers).
• Cultivate relationships with and build capacity of volunteers/partners through a support system consisting of effective orientation, training, utilization, recognition, and evaluation (e.g., for 4-H programs).
• Address issues/conflicts that arise with volunteer/partner/clientele roles.

Communication and Reporting 

• Use Extension resources, including Communications & Technology, to market educational programs and deliver outputs through various media sources (e.g., newspapers, radio, newsletters, websites, social media, podcasts, etc.) that attract community members from a wide variety of backgrounds.
• Develop and disseminate communication and reporting materials that reflect positively on the University and UW Extension.
• Collect data and prepare reports and presentations to share with local community members and leaders about the public value, impacts, and accomplishments of ANR programming.
• Develop and maintain respectful and responsive working relationships and communications with colleagues, community leaders/partners, volunteers, clientele, and the general public.

Program Operations

• Ensure civil rights compliance.
• Implement strategies to expand the reach of educational programming to new audiences, and ensure all participants (potential and current) have full access to programs, services, and facilities.
• Plan for and manage risk using established procedures and resources.
• Employ appropriate fiscal management practices to ensure accuracy and accountability.
• Secure external funding to support and expand educational programming.
• Engage in Collaboratives or similar internal funding opportunities to grow and contribute to team capacity for providing robust programming.
• Demonstrate objectivity, professionalism, and accountability.
• Maintain organized records and provide accurate reports in a timely manner.

Professional Development

• Demonstrate continuing professional development to advance capacity as an Educator and/or technical expertise relevant to the ANR focus area. These activities should support annual professional development goals approved by your supervisor.
• Participate fully in UWE’s annual conference (EPIC or ENGAGE) as well as Spring Training.
• New employees: participate fully in New Employee Welcome Day, two New Employee Orientation sessions, and required Coaching Team sessions.
• Participate in professional societies relevant to your discipline, Extension, and/or industry.

Service

• Provide service to university, college, departmental, local government, and community efforts.

Primary Clientele Served by this Position

• Individuals, organizations, and business enterprises engaged in agricultural and natural resource issues in Wyoming, such as owners/operators of ranches, rural non-farm residents, small acreage agriculture producers, community organizations, local conservation districts, and city officials.
• State agriculture, wildlife, natural resources, and environmental regulatory agencies.
• Federal agriculture, natural resource, and wildlife management agencies such as Natural Resources jobshiringnearme.org Service, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, and others.
• Homeowners and other community members with small acreage or horticulture interests.
• Local government employees engaged in open-space and greenspace management.
• Youth and adults engaged in 4-H programs.

Approximate Time Distribution

Educational programming in ANR – 85% 

Support of 4-H Youth Development programs – 15%

WORK LOCATION: 

This position provides vital support to UW Extension clientele and requires the successful candidate to be available to work in person at the Carbon County Extension Office in Rawlins, Wyoming. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university. Candidates with a Master’s degree in progress may be considered for interviews, but degree must be completed by hire date.
• One degree (Master’s or Bachelor’s) must be awarded in agricultural communications, natural resources journalism, natural science teaching, environment and natural resources, human dimensions of natural resources, ecology, wildlife management, rangeland management, animal science, agricultural economics, plant science, botany, horticulture, soil science, or a related field from an accredited institution.
• Reliable transportation and Valid driver’s license with a motor vehicle record (MVR) compliant with the Driving for University Business SAP.
• Ability to participate in some overnight travel, evening, and weekend work.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:  

• Training or experience in at least one of the following topics: public lands management, collaborative natural resources management, coupled human-natural ecosystems, federal planning processes (e.g., National Environmental Policy Act), rangeland monitoring, invasive rangeland plants, human-wildlife interactions, rangeland livestock systems, science communication, or other topics relevant to clientele needs in Carbon County.
• Experience in developing and delivering science-based outreach to meet needs identified by community members.
• Experience developing partnerships with external organizations or government agencies.
• Experience fostering positive relationships with clientele in a community they served.
• Excellence in ability to communicate orally, in writing, and interpersonally. Evidence documented through application materials and experience.
• Experience and/or training in teaching youth and adult audiences.
• Experience conducting needs assessments and program impact evaluations.
• Demonstrated ability to use diverse approaches to develop and deliver science-informed outreach related to agricultural or natural resource topics.
• Demonstrated knowledge/appreciation of agricultural communities and a commitment to travel and work in remote areas and rural counties in Wyoming.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Extension and the land-grant university system.
• Demonstrated ability to engage effectively in and contribute positively to teamwork.
• Experience in planning and implementing applied research activities.