Extension Educator

Extension Educator-Fixed

This position provides local as well as statewide leadership and educational programming expertise in alignment with the needs of home and community gardeners and will lead the local Extension Master Gardener Programs in Livingston, Washtenaw, and surrounding counties. 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 clientele.

In this position, you will identify, design, implement, and evaluate research-based educational programs that meet current and projected outreach needs related to best management practices for landscape and garden management contributing to the short and long-term goals of producing healthy foods and landscapes while protecting the environment. Through your leadership, you will develop and deliver science-based information for home and community gardeners and support the local Extension Master Gardner volunteers.

You will work with lawn and garden hotline volunteers to address home gardening questions from across the state and will serve as an informational resource for lawn and garden questions. You will develop entrepreneurial programs to help support the local consumer horticulture program.

Your work will include close collaboration with colleagues at MSU and MSU Extension, as well as the network of partner groups that include multiple Extension Master Gardener groups as well as industry organizations. You will collaborate with the existing core of Consumer Horticulture Educators and Specialists and campus-based faculty to provide education and service to Michigan's home and community gardeners. Acting as a statewide point of contact, you will provide support for AABI in determining research and programmatic needs across the state and will communicate and interact with community groups to evaluate the needs of the clientele.

Although negotiable, there will be space available for this position to work from the Livingston County MSU Extension office.

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

Characteristic duties/responsibilities include identifying, developing, conducting, and evaluating innovative educational programs that meet current and projected statewide needs, and supports growth and understanding of critical issues facing people in Michigan. You will develop and maintain positive working relationships intra- and inter-organizationally and create and promote positive public relations for MSU Extension and the AABI.

You will understand and support the Agriculture and Agribusiness 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 AABI 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.

Required degree:
Masters
-Horticulture. Minimum requirements include a Master's degree from an accredited institution in a field of study related to horticulture or related field must be earned by date of hire, familiarity with working with adult volunteers, 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…