4-H Program Educator

UWMSN University of Wisconsin Madison; South Dakota; On-site; USD 55,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension seeks an Outreach Specialist in Buffalo County to lead county 4‑H programs, coordinate volunteers, and connect youth development with local communities. The role sits within the Positive Youth Development Institute and the Division of Extension Wisconsin 4-H Program.

The position emphasizes leadership of outreach programs, curriculum development, and building external partnerships to enhance youth engagement across Western Wisconsin.

Qualifications

• Experience working with youth, particularly in a programming capacity, as well as volunteer management.
• Experience supporting youth development, Extension, or volunteer-focused programs.

Responsibilities

• Program Administration, including planning and coordinating outreach activities.
• Volunteer Management, supervision, and stakeholder engagement.
• Education and Youth Advocacy to support 4-H and Extension initiatives.
• Develops and evaluates outreach curriculum and materials.
• Identifies external partnerships to sustain and grow programs.
• Occasionally works evenings/weekends to meet community needs.

Skills

Youth program management

Volunteer management

Community outreach

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

CRM systems

Enrollment management

Event management software

Job description

Current Employees

If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Job Category

Academic Staff

Employment Type

Regular

Job Profile

Outreach Specialist

Job Summary

Buffalo County is located in Western Wisconsin along the scenic Mississippi River. Our rural landscape poses a great atmosphere for our communities and our youth. This position, housed in the Positive Youth Development Institute, is a great opportunity to grow connections between the area's strengths and the community as a whole. The 4-H Program Educator is a part of the Division of Extension Wisconsin 4-H Program, which is housed within the Positive Youth Development (PYD) Institute. The 4-H Program Educator provides overall leadership and direction for a county-based 4-H program.

Key Job Responsibilities

• This position includes three primary roles:1) Program Administration, 2) Volunteer Management, 3) Education and Youth Advocacy
• Schedules and secures resources and communicates logistics in support of an outreach program
• Researches, develops, and facilitates outreach program content and materials
• Identifies, promotes, and maintains external partnerships to support the outreach program
• May assist with the monitoring of outreach program budget spending
• Develops and evaluates curriculum and programs and provides recommendations for improvement
• Delivers outreach program content and materials to community members
• Leads the implementation of programs, policies, and procedures through oversight of day-to-day activities for program staff and student and community volunteers

County Location

The main office for this position is located in Alma, WI and the primary programming focus is Buffalo County; however, some programming may also be conducted over a broader geographical area. In Person It is anticipated this position requires work be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Evening/Weekend Work This position may be required to work occasional nights and weekends to meet the program needs and priorities of the communities served.

Travel Expectations

It is expected that employees will make individual arrangements for transportation adequate to meet position responsibilities and essential job functions. Read more about UW-Madison Driver Authorization. Applicants are required to: Have a valid drivers license and a reliable source of independent transportation for periodic in-state work travel, and/or comply with requirements for UW-Madison vehicle use authorization.

Physical Requirements

Ability to lift 15-20 pounds with assistance Endure standing for periods of time Ability work outside, particularly at the local county fair

Department: About Extension

Extension embodies the Wisconsin Idea by developing and connecting the research and educational resources of UW-Madison with residents and communities to address local, statewide, and national issues. We teach, learn, lead and serve, transforming lives and communities.

About the Institute

The Extension Institute of Positive Youth Development prepares the youth of today to become the effective, empathic adults of tomorrow. Our research-based youth enrichment programs like teens in governance build youth and adult capacity that help both sides grow. 4-H clubs, camps and afterschool programs give young people the hands‑on experiences they need to develop an understanding of themselves and the world.

Compensation

The minimum annual (12 months) starting Salary for the position is $60,795 but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications.

Benefits

• Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits.

Benefits information can be found at https://hr.wisc.edu/benefits/

Required Qualifications

• Experience working with youth, particularly in a programming capacity, as well as volunteer management.
• Experience supporting youth development, educational, Extension, or volunteer-focused programs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience using enrollment, registration, event management, or customer relationship management (CRM) systems.
• Experience creating newsletters, social media content, marketing materials, or website updates.

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Application Deadline

Application Deadline is September 2, 2026 at 11:59pm (CDT).

Contact Information

Michele Blakeman (Human Resources) [e-mail] [phone]
Kari Weiss (Hiring Manager) [e-mail] [phone]

Institutional Statement on Diversity

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals. The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world. The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website. To request a disability or pregnancy‑related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre‑employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you. Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment. The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7). The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on‑campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW‑Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department. Work with purpose, make an impact, and grow your career. The University of Wisconsin‑Madison is committed to equity, inclusion and employee well‑being as we proudly work to improve the lives of people in Wisconsin and beyond. UW‑Madison offers a wide range of professions that cover various interests and skill levels. We employ everything from accountants to arborists, chefs to custodians, editors to electricians, graphic designers to groundskeepers, HR associates to HVAC technicians, librarians to locksmiths, mechanics to medical assistants, painters to police officers, web designers to welders, and absolutely everything in between! No matter what you are looking for professionally, chances are you will not only find it but will thrive at it while working at the University of Wisconsin‑Madison.