Associate Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development - Essex & Middlesex

Virginia Tech; Tappahannock (VA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Tech in Essex County seeks a 4-H Youth Development Agent to lead the local 4-H program and manage its day-to-day operation, delivering research-based, hands-on education to youth.

The role involves recruiting and training volunteers, building coalitions with community partners, monitoring needs, and coordinating clubs and events across schools, after-school programs, and camps; travel is expected.

Qualifications

• Must have knowledge and experience in planning, conducting, and evaluating Extension or non-formal education programs.
• Ability to conduct community needs assessment to determine program priorities.
• Excellent communication skills and willingness to involve and manage volunteers.

Responsibilities

• Develops and delivers objective, research-based educational programs to meet needs of broad audiences; specifies goals and resources.
• Provides leadership for 4-H Youth Development programs that meet the needs of all youth.
• Identifies, recruits, trains, supports, and manages volunteers to implement and carry out the 4-H educational programming.
• Determines unit program needs by monitoring trends and conducting assessments with the Extension Leadership Council and other committees.
• Networks and builds coalitions with other agencies to address youth and family issues and needs of the 4-H program.
• Coordinates day-to-day activities and events for the unit 4-H program (clubs, school enrichment, after-school, camps).
• Travel to provide in-person leadership and build community partnerships; telework with few exceptions.

Skills

Communication skills

Project planning

Volunteer management

Public speaking

Education

Bachelor’s Degree (BA/BS)

Master’s Degree

Job description

Job Description

This position is located in Essex County. The 4-H Youth Development Agent is a professional educator who provides leadership to the local 4-H program and manages its day-to-day operation. 4-H is a community of young people learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills. The mission of 4-H is to develop youth, and adults working with those youth, to realize their full potential and become effective, contributing citizens. This is achieved through the development and delivery of research-based, non-formal, hands-on educational experiences.

Responsibilities

Develops and delivers objective, research-based educational programs to meet the needs of broad audiences, specifies program goals and objectives, and identifies resources needed; provides leadership for 4-H Youth Development programs that meet the needs of all youth; identifies, recruits, trains, supports, and manages volunteers to implement and carry out the 4-H educational programming in the unit; determines unit program needs by monitoring trends and issues, and conducting unit assessments involving the unit Extension Leadership Council (ELC) and other leadership committees; networks and builds coalitions with other agencies, organizations and institutions to address the complex youth and family issues and the needs of the 4-H program; coordinates day-to-day activities and events associated with the unit 4-H program including 4-H delivery (community 4-H clubs, project 4-H clubs, school enrichment 4-H, after-school 4-H, special interest 4-H, and 4-H camping). Extension agents recognize the importance of all communities and broad reach in the development and delivery of Extension programs, actively work to increase program participation of all people. Extension Agents are responsible for VCE's civil rights policies and equal opportunity compliance.

Required Qualifications

Must have a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree (BA or BS) in a relevant discipline from an accredited college or university. A master’s degree and promotion to Extension Agent are required no later than the sixth year of employment. Knowledge and experience in planning, conducting, and evaluating Extension or non-formal education programs; understanding and ability to conduct community needs assessment to determine program priorities; knowledge of child and human development. Excellent communication skills; basic knowledge in educational technologies and their appropriate use in the development and delivery of educational programs; program marketing skills; knowledge and willingness to involve and manage volunteers in program development and delivery. Extension agents demonstrate flexibility, adaptability; a team-oriented mindset, yet are able to work independently, and; strong desire to help clients succeed. The person in this position is expected to travel to provide in-person leadership and to build community partnerships with few exceptions for telework. Virginia Tech is unable to sponsor applicants for work visas for this vacancy.

Preferred Qualifications

Prior experience with Extension programs; Master’s degree.

Overtime Status

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Restricted

Salary Information

$50,000 - $65,000

Hours per week

Varies

Close Date

October 12, 2026

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a driver's license check with an acceptable and safe driving record. The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually. Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development. Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law. If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Morris White at [e-mail] during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.