Extension Educator-Fixed

MSU - Michigan State University; Wayne (MI); On-site; USD 50,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Michigan State University Extension seeks a Government and Community Vitality Educator to lead statewide education on land-use planning, good governance, and community vitality. You will work with faculty, local governments, and community partners to design, deliver, and evaluate programs.

You will collaborate with SEMCOG and county planning offices, develop outreach through in-person and multimedia formats, and translate research into practical tools for elected officials and local leaders.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree from an accredited institution in urban and regional planning, architecture, historic preservation, public administration, public policy, economics, business administration, or related field must be earned by date of hire.
• Familiarity with educational programming related to planning & zoning, good governance, and community vitality.
• Demonstrated ability and skill in educational program planning, implementation, and evaluation.
• Ability to travel in local and surrounding communities, and occasional long-distance travel.

Responsibilities

• Identify, develop, conduct, and evaluate innovative educational programs that meet statewide needs and support growth of Michigan communities.
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships intra- and inter-organizationally; promote MSU Extension and the CFEI.
• Collaborate with federal, state, and county agencies to assess needs and develop effective programming.
• Communicate and interact with community groups to evaluate clientele needs and disseminate research-based information.
• Lead outreach education through in-person and multimedia formats and report impacts to guide priorities.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Written communication

Oral communication

Team collaboration

Independent work

Tech proficiency

Education

Master's degree in Urban/Regional Planning

Tools

Qualtrics

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Outlook

Job description

Working/Functional Title

Government and Community Vitality Educator

Position Summary

Michigan State University Extension is committed to fostering a welcoming and collaborative environment, which requires all staff to contribute toward a vision for success regardless of title or position within the organization. We strive to create a positive culture, access to resources, and a sense of belonging for staff, partners, and programming participants. This means that all staff at MSU Extension are dedicated to the following:

• We work together to ensure that programming is available to all audiences, creates meaningful and positive impacts for participants, and demonstrates partnership and collaboration across communities.
• We understand that a welcoming and respectful environment is built through the efforts of everyone.
• We foster an environment that welcomes a broad range of perspectives and experiences, ensuring that all individuals have the opportunity to contribute and thrive.
• We ensure that every team member is prepared with the skills and resources to contribute to our welcoming and supportive culture.
• We foster an environment that values a range of perspectives, skills, and experiences by working to ensure access to programming for communities.
• We commit to continuous learning and engagement to better serve Michigan residents and meet the evolving needs of communities.
• We recognize that broad accessibility and collaboration are essential elements of our work and are vital to organizational and programmatic success.
• We embrace a culture of understanding, coaching, and feedback toward achieving a vision of success for the entire organization and its staff.
• Together we will achieve success, and we commit to these goals in our work, continued education, and ongoing efforts.

POSITION SUMMARY

As part of MSU Extension (MSUE) and the Community, Food & Environment Institute (CFEI), this position provides local as well as statewide leadership and educational programming related to planning and zoning, good governance, and community vitality. This position will have statewide responsibilities and will collaborate across work teams, institutes, and community groups, working with faculty, specialists, and educators for overall advancement of the needs of the Institute’s clientele.

You will identify, design, deliver, and evaluate educational programs focused primarily on land-use planning and good governance for elected and appointed officials, planning commissioners, and other local leaders. You will also have opportunities to apply their professional expertise to emerging issues affecting Michigan communities and local economies. Relevant areas may include downtown revitalization, housing availability and affordability, renewable energy, and related community development topics. Additionally, you will contribute to team-based programming in areas such as leadership development, municipal budgeting and finance, good governance, economic development, and tourism development. You will also work closely with the district director and local partners to identify priority needs and develop responsive educational programming.

Through collaboration in research, engagement with community members, and dissemination of research-based information through various methods, you will conduct outreach education, including in-person and multimedia programming and written communications. Through your leadership, participants leave MSU Extension programs with a clearer understanding of their civic roles and responsibilities, greater confidence in decision-making, and practical tools to manage community resources, implement best practices, and create high-quality places. By applying these skills, participants help strengthen local leadership, expand community capacity, and build more effective and resilient civic infrastructure.

Your work will include close collaboration with colleagues at MSU and MSU Extension, as well as the network of partner groups that include Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), Macomb, Oakland and Wayne County Planning Departments, and local townships, villages and cities in southeast Michigan.

Although negotiable, there will be space available for this position to work from the Oakland, Macomb or Wayne County MSU Extension offices.

This position may be eligible to utilize a flexible work environment, however, there is an expectation to work from a MSU Extension County office. The needs, responsibilities, and opportunities of an individual’s position and office location drive the ability and amount of work-location flexibility.

Characteristic Duties/Responsibilities

• Identify, develop, conduct, and evaluate innovative educational programs that meet current and projected statewide needs, and supports growth and understanding of critical issues facing people in Michigan.
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships intra- and inter-organizationally and create and promote positive public relations for MSU Extension and the CFEI.
• Understand and support the Community, Food and Environment Institute’s efforts in culture, access, belonging, and Civil Rights, with a special emphasis on removing barriers from participation and reaching all populations, including but not limited to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status, socio-economic class and other human differences in rural, suburban and urban communities, and where applicable, increasing programmatic delivery and participation in urban centers.
• Communicate and interact with community groups to evaluate the needs of the clientele.
• In concert with the MSU Extension work team(s), work with federal, state, and county agencies to complete needs assessment of the community and develop effective programming.
• Serve as an information resource to clientele, partners, and Extension staff.
• Develop and utilize appropriate media methods to communicate current and timely information, research results, and relevant industry updates, as well as a schedule of current and future activities.
• Collaborate with MSU Extension staff to gather and report programming outputs and impacts, to demonstrate program effectiveness and to guide future program priorities for MSU Extension, the CFEI and work teams.
• Actively participate in professional development opportunities.
• Author, produce, and submit regular research-based educational materials and articles.
• Other duties or projects as assigned by the Institute Director.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Masters -Urban, Regional Planning, Architecture, Historic Preservation, Public Administration, Public Policy, Economics, or Business Administration

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s degree from an accredited institution in a field of study related to urban and regional planning, architecture, historic preservation, public administration, public policy, economics, business administration, or related field must be earned by date of hire.
• Candidates who have not yet completed the required degree but are actively pursuing it from an accredited institution at the time of application will be considered; the required degree must be completed and conferred prior to hire.
• Familiarity with educational programming related to planning & zoning, good governance, and community vitality.
• Demonstrated ability and skill in educational program planning, implementation, and evaluation.
• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity, knowledge, and use of appropriate approaches, skills, and techniques, which reflect an understanding and awareness of social, cultural, and varied economic backgrounds and perspectives of the target population served.
• Demonstrated success in program development and delivery to audiences/communities representative of the communities we serve, and proven ability in establishing and working with a network of constituents and community members across race, color, gender, national origin, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, veteran status, socioeconomic class, and other differences.
• Ability to create and carry out a project plan from research of initial concept to project completion and follow-up.
• Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Experience and proven ability working productively with a team serving in both leadership and contributor roles.
• Self-motivated with demonstrated ability to work independently in an office environment without daily supervision and/or coaching.
• Proficiency in use of technology (e.g., web research, Zoom, Qualtrics, Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook for mail/calendaring, distance technology, etc.) for day-to-day work and educational program delivery, record keeping, reporting, team-based communications, and overall management.
• Ability to travel in local and surrounding communities, and occasional long-distance travel are required as a regular part of this position.
• Ability to lift and carry educational materials, equipment, etc. up to 25 lbs.
• Transportation is the responsibility of the employee.
• Other skills and/or physical abilities required to perform duties of the position.

Desired Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability and skill in educational program planning, implementation and evaluation (relevant experience acquired within the last 5-years preferred).
• Prior experience working with municipal and/or local government units.
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) credential preferred.

Required Application Materials

Current resume/CV.

Cover letter.

Four (4) professional references including two (2) current or previous supervisors.

Special Instructions

This position is a full-time, fixed term end-dated appointment, renewable annually based upon successful performance and continued funding.

Starting salary $56,100/year, commensurate with education and experience.

Please note this is a union position represented by AFT Michigan.

Website

https://youtu.be/R58m2-um5Mg?si=Qra8RMsPySKEGpZF

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.