County Extension Director

Auburn University; Ashland (AL); On-site; USD 68,000 - 91,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full-time benefits

Vacation time

Sick leave

Holidays

Parental leave

Tuition assistance

Retirement plan

Job summary

Auburn University is seeking a dynamic County Extension Director to provide visionary leadership, oversee county-level programs, and serve Clay County residents. This role builds partnerships and delivers research-based educational opportunities through ACES resources from Auburn University and partner institutions.

You will lead a team, manage operations, and drive community impact. The position emphasizes program leadership, administration, and collaboration with stakeholders, with a strong

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Agriculture, Natural Resources, Forestry, Family and Consumer Sciences, Business Administration, Management, Education, Marketing, Public Relations or a related field.
• 7 years of experience in teaching and the delivery of educational programs and experience with fiscal management and business operations
• 3 years of experience in supervising full-time employees (internal candidates may substitute).
• Master’s degree from an accredited institution in Agriculture, Natural Resources, Forestry, Family and Consumer Sciences, Business Administration, Management, Education, Marketing, Public Relations or a related field
• 5 years of experience in teaching and the delivery of educational programs and experience with fiscal management and business operations
• 1 year of experience in supervising full-time employees (internal candidates may substitute).
• Valid driver’s license required.

Responsibilities

• Learns major programs and resources across program areas to serve traditional and new audiences.
• Develops leadership and engagement skills for communities of place and interest.
• Functions as a member of the County 4-H Team and provides administrative and programmatic support.
• Maintains a subject matter emphasis related to one of four major program areas.
• Participates in professional development related to educational programming and county office administration.
• Provides leadership for county program initiatives and ensures the county office is current on programs and resources.
• Organizes a County Extension Advisory Committee and analyzes needs through stakeholder input.
• Meets regularly with colleagues across multiple counties to share needs assessments and coordinate programs.
• Builds programmatic partnerships and networks to multiply organizational capacity.

Skills

Leadership

Community engagement

Public relations

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related field

Master’s degree in related field

Job description

Overview

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Auburn University, is seeking a dynamic County Extension Director to provide visionary leadership, oversee county-level programs, and serve the citizens of Clay County.

This individual will build partnerships and collaborate with multiple entities to deliver research-based educational opportunities that transform lives and communities. The County Extension Director is a community-based professional of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) who knows and represents the research-based resources and other resources available through Alabama A&M University and Auburn University. They are recognized as a community leader who addresses the contemporary challenges, issues, and opportunities facing the citizens of the county through university programs and knowledge.

Reasons you’ll love being a County Extension Director at ACES - Auburn

• Job Satisfaction! Be a part of life-changing work in your community!
• Excellent full-time benefits that start on Day 1!
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance options!
• Work/life balance!
• 4 weeks of vacation accrued each year.
• 96 hours of sick leave accrued annually.
• 7 paid holidays with the possibility for additional days during the holiday season.
• 6 weeks of paid parental leave for the birth or adoption of a child (available for BOTH moms & dads).
• AU tuition assistance for you and your dependents after a year of service.
• Generous state retirement plan along with other voluntary retirement plan options and benefits.
• Fun and flexible work environment. Every day is different!
• Supportive leadership & peers. The ACES team supports you and your work!

Responsibilities

Program Competence and Capacity

• Learns major programs and resources available across program areas (Agriculture, Forestry, Natural Resources, Human Sciences, 4-H and Community & Economic Development) to become actively involved in serving traditional audiences and new audiences in and outside the office.
• Develops leadership and engagement skills to be confident and credible when engaging communities of place, practice, interest, and identity across a broad spectrum of issues.
• Functions as a member of the County 4-H Team and contributes administrative and programmatic support.
• Maintains a subject matter emphasis related to one of four major program areas and participates in the appropriate priority program team (PPT).
• Participates in professional development related to educational programming, county office administration, customer service, and public relations and marketing.

County Office Administration

• Serves as ACES primary representative in the county and develops an ethic of customer service as the front-door to the state's land grant universities.
• Responsible for the recruitment, hiring, supervision, professional development, mentoring and performance assessment of administrative support position, agent assistants, 4-H Extension Agents (4-H EA), and potentially an administrative professional position or temporary staff.
• Responsible for the daily operation of the office, including staffing, scheduling, promoting a positive culture, and teamwork within and outside the office.
• Responsible for county budget administration and the interface with County Commissions and municipalities to provide local support for office space, utilities, equipment, and program supplies.
• Ensures compliance with laws, statutes, and University policy that regulate the handling of public funds and program implementation.
• Understands, implements, and promotes EEO, ADA, Civil Rights, and other affirmative action policies and procedures within the County Extension Office and in the countywide community.

Program Leadership

• Provides leadership for county program initiatives, a balanced and comprehensive county plan-of-work, some program delivery related to subject matter emphasis, to ensure county office is current on programs and resources.
• Serves as role model for others in using innovative and creative approaches to program development and delivery.
• Organizes a County Extension Advisory Committee and provides leadership in analyzing and interpreting information to assess needs through stakeholder input.
• Meets regularly with colleagues across multiple counties (region) to share needs assessment results, coordinate programs, and establish priorities and new initiatives.
• Cooperates and informs Extension Agents, State Extension Specialists, and appropriate Assistant Director for Programs and Assistant Director for Field Operations and has a positive working relationship with staff and clients in region and PPT.
• Manages local data collection in line with program area requirements. Prepares an evaluation and success stories of delivered educational programs focused on short, intermediate, and long-term outcomes and impacts.

Program Management and Marketing

• Provides leadership to develop working relationships with local stakeholder groups, organizations, and agencies and to function as ambassador for ACES.
• Follows appropriate fiscal management for programmatic needs and appropriately administers the resources and completes all system reports when due.
• Secures resources (volunteers, contracts, grants, fees, and donations) to support local and priority programs and initiatives within county and may participate in grant funded projects led by State Extension Specialists.
• Utilizes multiple delivery modes to include face-to-face interactions, printed materials, online and digital formats that provide greater audience access, quick delivery of information and convenience.
• Serves as the primary contact for all forms of traditional and social media to disseminate information and market programs and has a professional presence in major forms of media.
• Identifies innovative ways to engage targeted under-served and under-represented audiences.
• Builds programmatic partnerships and networks to multiply organizational capacity.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Agriculture, Natural Resources, Forestry, Family and Consumer Sciences, Business Administration, Management, Education, Marketing, Public Relations or a related field AND
• 7 years of experience in teaching and the delivery of educational programs and experience with fiscal management and business operations AND
• 3 years of experience in supervising full-time employees. Internal candidates only may substitute completion of both the Leading Self and Leading People Leadership Programs, or equivalent.

OR

• Master’s degree from an accredited institution in Agriculture, Natural Resources, Forestry, Family and Consumer Sciences, Business Administration, Management, Education, Marketing, Public Relations or a related field AND
• 5 years of experience in teaching and the delivery of educational programs and experience with fiscal management and business operations AND
• 1 year of experience in supervising full-time employees. Internal candidates only may substitute completion of both the Leading Self and Leading People Leadership Programs, or equivalent.

Minimum License And Certifications

• Valid driver’s license required.

Desired Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a discipline directly related to one of our major program areas (Agriculture, Forestry, Natural Resources; Human Sciences; 4-H Youth Development; Community Engagement/Development) is highly preferred.
• Demonstrated work history of coaching, training, performance evaluation, merit, and other Human Resources related tasks.
• Proven success in securing financial resources such as grants and extramural funding, budget management, and fiscal accountability.

Expected salary range for this position: $67,900 – $90,530.

Contract Type

Continuing

Why Work at Auburn?

• Life-Changing Impact: Our work changes lives through research, instruction, and outreach, making a lasting impact on our students, our communities, and the world.
• Culture of Excellence: We are committed to leveraging our strengths, resources, collaboration, and innovation as a top employer in higher education.
• We’re Here for You: Auburn offers generous benefits, educational opportunities, and a culture of support and work/life balance.
• Sweet Home Alabama: The Auburn/Opelika area offers southern charm, vibrant downtown scenes, top-ranked schools, and easy access to Atlanta, Birmingham, and the Gulf of Mexico beaches.
• A Place for Everyone: Auburn is committed to fostering an environment where all faculty, staff, and students are welcomed, valued, respected, and engaged.

Equal Opportunity Compliance Statement

It is our policy to provide equal employment and education opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other classification protected by applicable law. Please visit the Office of Equal Opportunity Compliance's website to learn more.

Posted Date

8/25/2026