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Job Description:

You Belong at a University that’s Leading the Way

The University of Florida (UF), the flagship university for the state of Florida, is a land-grant institution with core values of unique purpose, excellence, integrity, collaboration and partnership, lifelong learning, responsiveness, innovation, communication, and global reach.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is creating an environment that affirms community across all dimensions. We particularly welcome applicants who can contribute to such an environment through their scholarship, teaching, mentoring, and professional service. If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 352-392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800-955-8771 (TDD) or visit Accessibility at UF .

The University of Florida (UF) is a Land Grant institution with core values of unique purpose, excellence, integrity, collaboration and partnership, lifelong learning, responsiveness, innovation, communication, and global reach. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) employs more than 2,000 faculty and staff statewide. IFAS Extension employs 375 Extension Agents and has an office in each of Florida’s 67 counties.

We hire the best. Diverse views and experience make us strong. We look for candidates with both academic and people skills who work well in teams, honor their commitments and innovate in a rapidly changing world. Working for Florida Extension will allow you to make a positive impact in your community as you help shape future generations, growing your career while earning a competitive salary and great benefits.

The 4-H Extension Agent position is a full-time, permanent status accruing faculty member of the University of Florida working jointly for UF/IFAS Extension and Escambia County. The 4-H Youth Development Agent focuses on 1) volunteer development and 2) positive youth development through collaboration with 4-H volunteers, 4-H Extension colleagues, and Extension colleagues in the other Extension program areas. The 4-H Agent and a team of volunteers and staff make a positive impact on the growth and development of youth in Okaloosa County and shape future generations of leaders. This 4-H Agent provides overall leadership for the 4-H Program and guides programmatic outcomes and evaluation to support communities in Okaloosa County.

What You Will Do:

• Build an advisory committee representative of target clientele to assist in identifying resources (human, fiscal, material) and programmatic priorities to reach target clientele.
• Design, deliver, and evaluate educational programs to provide the appropriate developmental context for 4-H positive youth development (4-H Thrive Model).
• Recruit adult volunteers to lead community and/or project based 4-H Clubs.
• Create supportive foundations equipping adult volunteers to lead community and/or project based 4-H Clubs.
• Design, deliver, and evaluate educational programs to support 4-H volunteer identification, selection, orientation, training, utilization, recognition, and evaluation (ISOTURE: A Model for Effective Volunteer Management) using the Volunteer Resources Knowledge and Competencies (VRKC) taxonomy.
• Ensure and monitor volunteer compliance with Florida 4-H youth protection policies.
• Obtain financial resources to support programs and manage programmatic components: Florida 4-H Online, Okaloosa Count 4-H Association, policies, records, risk, communication, and accountability.
• Collaborate with the Northwest Extension District 4-H Program Implementation Team (PIT) members by working with your peers to plan, teach, and evaluate virtual and face-to-face educational programs across the district or in multi-county settings.
• Collaborate with Florida 4-H State colleagues and initiatives.
• Possess or develop an area of expertise augmenting the 4-H impact across the Northwest Extension District and Florida.
• Develop and maintain a social media and web presence including virtual program delivery and social media educational content.
• Complete an annual plan of work and report of accomplishments.
• Serve as an essential employee for Okaloosa County as designated by Okaloosa County Human Resources.
• Performs related duties as required.

More about UF/IFAS Extension and Okaloosa County:

UF/IFAS employs more than 2,000 faculty and staff statewide. UF/IFAS Extension is a partnership between state, federal, and county governments with a mission of providing quality, relevant education, and research-based expertise to foster healthy people, a healthy environment, and a healthy economy. There are 375 Extension Agents and an office in each of Florida’s 67 counties. Success in Extension is attributed to a workforce that embraces the contributions of people of all backgrounds and ability levels. Our Extension Agents are contributors to a community that provides space for innovation, creativity, collaboration, growth, and development for all.

Okaloosa County is in the northwest portion of Florida, including twenty-four miles of coast link along the Gulf of Mexico and extending to Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 211,688. Municipalities composing Okaloosa County include Crestview, Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Laurel Hill, Mary Ester, Niceville, Valparaiso, and the towns of Cinco Bayou and Shalimar. Okaloosa County is home to Eglin Air Force Base, the world’s largest Air Force installment, hosting headquarters of the Air Force Special Operations Command, the 96th Test Wing, the 33^rd Fighter Wing, and others.

The primary residence of the 4-H Extension Agent will be at the UF/IFAS Okaloosa County Extension Office in Crestview, FL located at 3098 Airport Road. In 2025, UF/IFAS Okaloosa County Extension will open an additional office located in Fort Walton Beach, FL to provide expanded educational support for Okaloosa County communities. We are a team of six faculty and three county program/office support members.

Employment is contingent on the results of a national background screening. Okaloosa County may require drug testing and additional requirements for employment.

Candidates must possess or obtain a Florida driver’s license, be able to work flexible hours, and be willing to occasionally work long and irregular hours, including evenings, weekends, and overnight travel.

Candidates will be reviewed as applications are received. Please allow up to four-six weeks after the position closing date for interviews to be scheduled.

Expected Salary:

Commensurate with Education and Experience

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in youth development, agricultural education, education, community development, sociology, or a related field.
• Self-starting, energetic, and team-oriented mindset.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Resourcefulness, creativity, enthusiasm, and innovativeness.
• Organizational, development, and management skills.
• Ability to establish and sustain solid partnerships.
• Cultivate a collaborative team environment.
• Serve as an advocate for UF/IFAS Extension, 4-H, and Okaloosa County.
• Ability to navigate and apply information technology and social media.
• Demonstrated excellence managing competing priorities and adaptability to unexpected situations.
• Candidates must also have a commitment to UF core values. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree. If hired solely with a bachelor’s degree, we want you to continue to grow in your career. As such, we expect you to make at least 50% progress toward obtaining your master’s degree within the first 6 years of employment. If hired as Agent II, you must have a master’s degree.
• Previous 4-H experience as an Extension Agent, member, or leader.
• Experience with 4-H clubs, camps, school enrichment, and after-school programs.
• Ability to establish residency in Okaloosa County within six months of employment.
• Experience with educational programming serving military youth centers and communities.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Apply at Careers at UF by 11:55 p.m. (Eastern) of the posting end date, and attach:

• Cover letter that describes how your experience and qualifications have prepared you for this position
• Résumé or Curriculum vitae
• Unofficial copies of all transcripts (showing coursework) of your academic degrees

The following documents are also required and may either be submitted through the above link at the time of application or sent separately to our office (below).   

• Current and Previous Employment Form
• A minimum of 3 reference rating forms from your professional/academic references. Applicants are responsible for sending the rating form link to their references.
  • Reference forms will be kept on file for 1 year and will be automatically used with any of our extension agent positions you apply for during that time.

Reference rating forms and unofficial transcripts not submitted at the time of application should be submitted/postmarked by the next business day after the position’s closing date. They may be submitted to:

UF IFAS Human Resources
Faculty Recruitment and Hiring
P O Box 110281
Gainesville, FL 32611-0281

ifas-hr@ifas.ufl.edu

Fax:  (352) 392-3226

Selected candidate will be required to provide an official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. A transcript will not be considered “official” if a designation of “Issued to Student” is visible.  Degrees earned from an education institution outside of the United States are required to be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approved by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).

Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. The University of Florida is a public institution and subject to all requirements under Florida Sunshine and Public Record laws

The University of Florida is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The University is committed to non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations, genetic information, and veteran status in all aspects of employment including recruitment, hiring, promotion, transfers, discipline, terminations, wage and salary administration, benefits, and training. The University and greater Gainesville community enjoy a variety of cultural events, restaurants, year-round outdoor recreational activities, and social opportunities.

If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 352-392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800-955-8771 (TDD) or visit Accessibility at UF.

Health Assessment Required:Yes

Advertised:02 Oct 2024  Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close:30 Oct 2024 Eastern Daylight Time