4-H Building Program Lead (St. Paul)

University of Minnesota; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 68,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Minnesota Extension is seeking a 4-H Building Program Lead to oversee statewide summer programming at the 4-H Building on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds and related summer youth initiatives.

You will design, implement, and evaluate educational initiatives, build scalable operating systems, supervise seasonal staff, and ensure high-quality, safe experiences aligned with 4-H goals. Strong travel and evening/weekend availability required.

Qualifications

• BA/BS plus 5 years of related experience, or a master’s degree plus at least 3 years of experience.
• Experience designing, launching, or facilitating experiential learning, non-formal youth development, or educational showcase/exhibit programs.
• Experience managing program budgets, monitoring expenditures/revenues, and establishing operational systems for complex programs.
• Demonstrated experience developing multi-channel marketing, promotional, or communication strategies across diverse youth and adult audiences.
• Experience establishing, enforcing, and monitoring safety protocols, youth protection standards, and risk mitigation procedures for large public events or overnight/day camps.
• Demonstrated experience in conflict management skills.
• Ability to lead teams and exhibit strong collaboration skills to meet team objectives.

Responsibilities

• Direct the strategic vision, design, launch, and evaluation of statewide 4-H Building summer programming.
• Provide instructional design and educational leadership in partnership with State Program Directors to adapt statewide curriculum into high-impact, experiential on-site delivery models.
• Determine and implement innovative project formats, digital platforms, and cross-disciplinary themes.
• Ensure programming is scalable, sustainable, and grounded in high-quality experiential learning practices with youth voice and inclusion.
• Formulate evaluation metrics with the evaluation specialist to assess summer programming and measure impact.
• Collaborate with Minnesota State Fair staff and Extension Youth Development program leads to align expectations and execution.
• Collaborate across internal teams and external partners to strengthen program delivery.

Skills

Leadership

Instructional design

Budget management

Marketing & promotion

Safety & risk management

Conflict management

Team leadership

Education

BA/BS + 5 years or Master's + 3 years

Job description

(Include but are not limited to, and may change as determined by the supervisor)

About The Job

Title: 4-H Building Program Lead

Job code: 9704PD

Employee Group: P&A

Full/Part Time (FTE): 100%

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Office location: Coffey Hall, St. Paul Campus

Estimated salary range: $68,000 - $78,000

Apply by: November 18, 2026

The 4-H Building Program Lead provides strategic leadership, instructional design, and operational authority for the Minnesota 4-H Youth Development programming housed in the 4-H Building on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, as well as associated summer youth programming. This role will design, implement, and evaluate educational initiatives to meet the needs of 4-H participants and communities. This role is responsible for building scalable educational models and new operational systems from the ground up for summer programming while also ensuring the successful execution of Minnesota State Fair 4-H Building educational initiatives. The position ensures high-quality, safe, and engaging youth experiences across all programming, aligned with statewide 4-H Youth Development goals and priorities. They are responsible for following all financial and budget directives, staffing and compliance requirements and operations standards as well as ensuring those associated with the 4-H building also follow those.

Location and Work Environment

This is an in-person position located on the St. Paul campus and the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Hybrid work options may be available; the position requires regular travel throughout Minnesota, frequent local travel, and a strong presence at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, especially during the summer season and the duration of the State Fair. This position will work indoors and outdoors and often in non-temperature controlled environments.

Work Schedule

The typical schedule is workdays, Monday through Friday, when no events are occurring. This position requires frequent attendance and participation at evening, overnight, and/or weekend meetings and events, scheduled in advance. This includes a strong presence at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, especially during the summer season and the duration of the State Fair, including some overnights. This position requires regular travel throughout Minnesota, weekly local travel, and occasional non-local overnight travel in non-summer months. This position will require a strong presence at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, especially during the summer season and the duration of the State Fair.

Primary Responsibilities

Program Development & Leadership - 40%

• Direct the strategic vision, design, launch, and continuous evaluation of statewide 4-H Building summer programming, including Quest (day programs) and Immersion (residential programs) - ensuring full alignment with Minnesota 4-H Youth Development goals, educational standards, and risk management requirements.
• Provide instructional design and educational leadership in partnership with State Program Directors to adapt, operationalize, and integrate statewide 4-H curriculum into high-impact, experiential on-site delivery models.
• Determine and implement innovative project formats, digital platforms, and cross-disciplinary themes (e.g., STEM, agronomy, creative arts) that reduce barriers to entry for all youth populations based on national trends, emerging technology, and youth development research.
• Ensure programming is scalable, sustainable, and grounded in high-quality experiential learning practices that incorporate youth voice, inclusion, and educational best practices into program design.
• Formulate evaluation metrics in partnership with the evaluation specialist to assess summer programming and showcase educational initiatives, using data to measure impact and improve programming.
• Work in close partnership with Minnesota State Fair staff and Extension Youth Development program leads to align expectations, systems, and execution.
• Collaborate across internal teams and external partners, including UMN departments, to strengthen program delivery and integration.

Operational Systems, Staffing & Supervisory Authority - 25%

• Design and manage scalable operational systems—including scheduling models, daily workflows, logistics, and delivery processes to support long-term growth for summer and State Showcase programming in the 4-H Building.
• Exercise full supervisory authority over seasonal Extension 4-H Building program staff, leading recruitment, hiring, onboarding, training, coaching, and performance management to guarantee program readiness and quality.
• Establish and execute seasonal staffing frameworks and comprehensive scheduling structures tailored to summer educational offerings and Minnesota State Fair educational initiatives.
• Direct risk management strategy and safety protocols for large-scale youth programming and public events, ensuring full compliance with University of Minnesota Extension and 4-H Youth Development standards.
• Partner with Minnesota State Fair leadership and Extension program leads to design, implement, and enforce operational infrastructure and on-site procedures for Quest and Immersion programs that prioritize youth safety and staff preparedness.

Minnesota State Fair 4-H Showcase Program Leadership - 20%

• Provide leadership and oversight for public-facing educational spaces, interactive spaces, stages, demonstrations, and exhibitor experiences during the Minnesota State Fair.
• Establish exhibition standards, evaluation rubrics, and project guidelines across all general project showcase areas.
• Direct the operational and educational integration of specialized showcase areas (e.g., media corp, project talks, cooking, learning zones, Arts-In).
• Serve as the primary programmatic leader with the 4-H Superintendent, State Fair operations staff, and Extension partners to ensure the successful execution of exhibit activities and program components.

Fiscal Management & Strategic Communications - 15%

• Develop and manage comprehensive budgets for 4-H Building summer operations, collaborating with the 4-H Superintendent on financial planning affecting State Fair programming —monitoring revenues and expenditures across staffing, transportation, and logistics— while partnering with Extension finance leadership to ensure compliance with University of Minnesota financial policies and reporting standards.
• Establish and oversee program pricing models for summer Quest (day) and Immersion (residential) programs, ensuring alignment with financial sustainability, access, and organizational priorities.
• Direct multi-channel statewide and metro-area marketing, outreach, and communication strategies—utilizing digital platforms, schools, community partners, and Extension networks—to expand access, drive enrollment, and elevate program visibility for all Minnesota youth.
• Formulate and implement comprehensive promotional plans, partnering with Extension communications, 4-H leadership, and Minnesota State Fair teams, to launch new summer Quest (day) and Immersion (residential) programs, driving statewide adoption and engagement for 4-H Building and Minnesota State Fair experiences.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• BA/BS plus 5 years of related experience, or a master’s degree plus at least 3 years of experience.
• Experience designing, launching, or facilitating experiential learning, non-formal youth development, or educational showcase/exhibit programs.
• Experience managing program budgets, monitoring expenditures/revenues, and establishing operational systems for complex programs.
• Demonstrated experience developing multi-channel marketing, promotional, or communication strategies across diverse youth and adult audiences.
• Experience establishing, enforcing, and monitoring safety protocols, youth protection standards, and risk mitigation procedures for large public events or overnight/day camps.
• Demonstrated experience in conflict management skills.
• Ability to lead teams and exhibit strong collaboration skills to meet team objectives.

Additional Requirements

• Valid driver's license and own means of transportation with required liability insurance.
• Willingness to travel in-state regularly, locally frequently and nationally rarely, using a personal vehicle (mileage and sustenance reimbursement provided).
• Ability to maintain a flexible work schedule, including evening and weekend work that may include occasional overnight accommodations for non-local events.
• Ability to work some longer than standard workdays, mainly during the State Fair and other events.
• Must be able to travel to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds to oversee and lead in-person programming.
• Must have reliable internet if/when working outside of the assigned office location.
• Reliable alternate phone number that can be used, as needed, for work purposes when not in the assigned office. Reimbursement will not be provided.
• Ability to work on a computer for prolonged periods of time. Ability to sit or stand for long periods of time, deliver/speak/verbally communicate for long periods of time (programming delivery), be present and traverse non-office locations that may include outdoor camps, fairs, fields, and other rugged terrain and work in various and varied weather conditions.
• Ability to bend, reach, twist, and lift or carry 10 pounds frequently and 30 pounds occasionally.
• This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Youth Development Leadership, Education, Public Administration, or closely related field.
• Demonstrated ability to partner with subject‑matter experts (e.g., State Program Directors) to translate academic content or curriculum into accessible, hands‑on learning experiences.
• Demonstrated experience recruiting, onboarding, supervising, and evaluating seasonal, professional, or volunteer staff.
• Familiarity with 4‑H Youth Development principles and county/state fair exhibition structures.

About The Department

University of Minnesota Extension is a major outreach arm of the University of Minnesota with a mission to serve the public through applied research and education. Our mission is to make a difference by connecting community needs and University resources to address critical issues in Minnesota. Extension strives to attract and retain high-quality, passionate employees. Find further information at www.extension.umn.edu . Extension’s Department of Youth Development fosters vibrant, sustainable and resilient communities by building a force of engaged young people who are able to learn and lead in a global society and a receptive social environment that challenges and supports youth in communities across Minnesota. We do this by studying issues, training youth workers, and delivering the 4-H Youth Development program. For more information about Youth Development: https://extension.umn.edu/families-and-youth

Pay And Benefits

Pay Range: $68,000 - $78,000 ; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 1 00% Appointment

Position Type: Faculty and P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University Offers a Comprehensive Benefits Package That Includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities