Field Specialist in Human Development – Laclede County, MO

University of Missouri - Columbia; Columbia Township (MO); Presencial; USD 43.000 - 53.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

University of Missouri System invites applications for a Field Specialist in Human Development within MU Extension and Engagement. The role emphasizes education, family health, and community well‑being across multiple counties in Missouri, with duties spanning outreach, teaching, and program evaluation.

The position is a 12‑month, non‑tenure track appointment with potential renewal. Travel across Missouri is required, and the workload emphasizes 90% teaching and 10% service activities.

Formación

• PhD or master's degree (NTT appointment) or bachelor’s degree in relevant field required at time of appointment.
• Experience translating research into educational programs for diverse audiences desired.
• Ability to develop, implement and evaluate extension programming.

Responsabilidades

• Educate, create, and connect through extension programming across counties.
• Collaborate with campus and county partners on research-based education.
• Deliver demonstrations, field days, workshops, and trainings to communities.
• Represent MU Extension on boards and committees.

Conocimientos

Education program design

Community outreach

Leadership

Communication

Research translation

Volunteer management

Educación

PhD or master's degree in nutrition, dietetics, health, exercise physiology, food science or related area

Bachelor’s degree in nutrition, dietetics, health, exercise physiology, food science or related area

Descripción del empleo

Hiring Department

University of Missouri (MU) Office of Extension andEngagement

Health & Human Sciences Extension

Job Description

MU TITLE:

Extension Specialist/Assistant/Associate/Full Extension Professional

LOCATION:

Lebanon, Missouri and primarily serves Laclede,Dallas in West Central Region and Texas, Webster Counties inSouthwest Region, with additional service across the state asneeded.

SPECIALIST EMPHASIS

The Human Development and Family Sciences Specialist is responsiblefor planning, implementing, and evaluating educational programs inparenting, family strengthening, mental health awareness,adolescence, aging and/or early childhood care and education.

This position is responsible for planning, implementing, andevaluating educational programs and services in the ExtensionHealth and Human Sciences unit. The Health & Human SciencesExtension program promotes optimal well-being of individuals,families, and communities.

Extension Specialist positions are a 12-month appointment, not on apromotion track.

Field Specialist are Extension faculty positions on a 12-month,non-tenure track appointments to the promotable ranks of assistant,associate, or full Extension Professional. Rank will be determinedat the time of appointment based on qualifications and experiencein accordance with the MU Extension faculty standards.

This position will hold the working title of Field Specialist inHuman Development.

As a Field Specialist, your workload distribution at appointmentwill be 90% Extension Teaching and 10% Traditional Service.

This appointment is renewable annually at the discretion of theUniversity and workload distribution may change at the discretionof Extension leadership. Circumstances affecting continuedemployment include, but are not limited to, work performance, fundavailability, and educational priorities.

CORE DUTIES OF MU EXTENSION SPECIALISTS

MU Extension Specialists deliver the University of Missouri to allMissourians. They serve all Missourians by bringing research-based solutions to work on local problems. MU Extension Specialists teach new and foundational concepts, link people to resources, support partner organizations, participate in research, train volunteers, evaluate programs, foster innovation, and serve communities. MU Extension Specialists work as a team to expand educational attainment, foster economic development, and improve health outcomes. These core duties fall into three major areas:

Educate, Create, and Connect.

• Educate. MU Extension specialists design, conduct, and evaluate educational programs. MU Extension specialists teach research-based information via meetings, in-person and online courses, continuing education classes, technical assistance, volunteer training, media, websites, consultation, and other educational methods. They provide educational programs that support the individual, organizational, and community goals of Missouri’s learners and clients.
• Create. MU Extension specialists develop innovative and research-informed educational products, services, materials, and other scholarly works. These include curricula, publications, presentations, educational tools, websites, and similar resources. MU Extension specialists obtain and use extramural funding to support creative works. MU Extension specialists contribute to the scholarship of Extension and Engagement by evaluating programs that result in learning and behavior changes that impact individuals and communities.
• Connect. MU Extension specialists engage with learners, stakeholders, volunteers, and communities, including county extension councils, government officials and agencies, partners, and University and professional organizations. MU Extensionspecialists listen and respond with care. MU Extension specialists intentionally foster engaged partnerships and robust connections to the wide array of programs offered by the whole University of Missouri System.

Professional Expectations

• Engage with councils, commissions, legislators, and stakeholders in all coverage counties to identify educational needs and then collaborate with appropriate internal and external partners to meet those needs.
• Create an annual plan-of-work that reflects local needs and aligns with statewide program area efforts. Provide a monthly report of impact to county extension council assigned, supervisors, county commissioners and others, regarding programmatic efforts. Attend at least one county extension council meeting each month and provide an oral update on program efforts.
• Collaborate with campus-based specialists on research projects and then deliver findings from those efforts via demonstrations, field days, courses, workshops, consultations, publications, and appropriate media.
• Work in collaboration with other specialist in counties of responsibility to serve the needs of the headquartered county, ensuring counties receive promotional materials in advance of programming.
• Effectively work with supervisors, other specialists, and local leaders to complete administrative tasks as needed.
• Demonstrate competency in communication, educational programming, subject matter knowledge, educational delivery, volunteer management, grant acquisition, teamwork, interpersonal relations, organization knowledge, leadership, and professionalism.
• Offer timely, research-based information during times of natural disasters or similar events.
• Represent the University of Missouri on boards and committees as assigned.
• Participate in professional development events to improve both technical and leadership skills.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned to support the mission of MU Extension.

Additional Expectations

• MU Extension programs often occur outside of normal businesshours. MU Extension Specialists should expect to attend these events as needed to meet the needs of learners, clients, and stakeholders.
• MU Extension Specialists travel regularly throughout Missouri and occasionally to out-of-state locations. MU Extension requires specialists to have a valid Missouri driver’s license, a legally operating vehicle, and wireless telephone/data service for university use. MU Extension specialists receive reimbursement for approved travel expenses, per University of Missouri policy.

MU EXTENSION LEADERSHIP RECEIVED

The Senior Program Director for Health & Human Sciences Extension provides overall programmatic leadership. Programmatic supervision comes from the Education Director for the Health & Human Sciences Extension and administrative oversight from the Regional Director for the West Central Region.

MU EXTENSION INFORMATION

The University of Missouri (MU) Office of Extension and Engagement’s distinct land‑grant mission is to improve lives, communities, and economies by producing relevant, reliable, and responsive educational strategies throughout Missouri. Our dedicated and knowledgeable specialists and staff collaborate with researchers and community leaders to develop and deliver programs that address the needs of Missourians, including educational attainment, economic development, and healthy people. For more information about MU Extension and Engagement, please visit https://extension2.missouri.edu/.

UNIVERSITY INFORMATION

The University of Missouri, also known as Mizzou and MU, is the Flagship University of the four-campus University of Missouri System. It is one of the state’s land-grant universities. MU’s comprehensive undergraduate programs and its graduate, professional, and research programs attract an annual enrollment of more than 30,000 students. MU Extension and Engagement programs are located on all four campuses and in 114 counties and St. Louiscity.

Qualifications

PhD or master's degree (ranked NTT appointment – Assistant Extension Professional title), bachelor's degree (non-ranked academic appointment - Extension Specialist title) in nutrition, dietetics, health, exercise physiology, food science or related area with appropriate coursework exhibited is required at time of appointment.

Employment of a candidate with a bachelor’s degree will be as an extension specialist with the working title of field specialist. Faculty hired as an extension specialist will have the expectations of completing a master’s degree in an approved subject matter area. The faculty member will remain an extension specialist until completion of the approved master’s degree.

Candidates will be evaluated on:

• Coursework exhibited in Human Development and Family Sciences or related areas.
• Demonstrated ability to translate research into educational programs in parenting, family strengthening, mental health awareness, adolescence, aging and/or early childhood care and education for audiences of all age groups is critical.
• Ideal candidates will also have successful experiences in youth and/or adult education.
• Successful administrative and leadership experience, particularly in managing fiscal, human, and data resources, is preferred.
• Effective and innovative teaching strategies that engage others, including strong listening, written, and oral communication skills.
• The ability to integrate new and emerging technology into teaching strategies. Experience in designing, conducting, and evaluating educational programs, and applying research-based knowledge in subject matter areas related to community cooperation and collaboration, capacity assessment and action planning, needs assessment, citizen participation, leadership, resource management, and volunteerism is desired.

Anticipated Hiring Range

This position offers a minimum starting salary of $48,000, with the final salary determined based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience.

Sponsorship Information

Employment visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Benefit Eligibility

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/departments-staff/human-resources/benefits-retirement

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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