Cooperative Extension -H Youth Development Advisor

The University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) invites applications for a UC Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development Advisor for Workforce Development serving Tulare, Fresno, and Kings counties. The Advisor will develop and deliver a program that will provide all youth meaningful personal development opportunities and prepare them for workforce and career opportunities.

UCCE Advisors are responsible for applied research and extension of knowledge. Research activities are applied, needs-based, mission-oriented, and focused on addressing our communities' challenges. Extension activities are the educational practices Advisors use to share research results directly with clientele and communities. Increased knowledge and understanding of science-based research helps to support and promote the adoption of practices and technologies that solve problems.

Extension methods may include individual consultations, presentations, organization of educational workshops and short courses, field demonstrations, and farm and site visits. Information may also be disseminated via radio outreach, webinars, fact sheets, policy briefs, news blogs, and social media. Publications are expected in various formats, such as newsletters, articles for the popular press, curriculums, conference proceedings, and peer-reviewed publications. Successful research and extension programs result in new information that improves knowledge or understanding and adoption of new skills, practices, changed attitudes, policies, and improved environmental, health, agricultural, economic, and/or social conditions.

UCCE Advisors are evaluated through an academic advancement system based on four criteria: extending knowledge, applied research and creative activity, professional competence and activity, and University and public service.

UCCE Kings County, 680 N. Campus Drive, Ste. A or UCCE Tulare County, 4437-B S. Laspina St., Tulare, CA 93274 if available.

The Advisor will implement an innovative extension education and applied research program to address issues related to workforce readiness and career pathway development. Using a positive youth development framework for workforce and career pathway development, this position will create opportunities for youth to participate in agricultural technology, agricultural engineering; STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture, and Math); animal science; veterinary science; agronomy;

and entrepreneurship or business development, with an emphasis on career awareness, skill development, and learning by doing. The advisor will provide academic oversight of the 4-H community club program and educational leadership to county based 4-H staff, educators, volunteers, and community members, supporting program quality, coordination, and community engagement.

This position is positively situated to integrate ANR’s research and extension education efforts across communities to improve youth workforce readiness across the region. This is an opportunity to develop and deliver relevant program content that leads to meaningful impacts in local communities throughout California, including:

• Identification and implementation of program strategies and community-based approaches that strengthen workforce development opportunities for youth
• Development and evaluation of youth development programs that support workforce readiness and career pathway advancement
• Applying and assessing the 4-H Thriving Model of Positive Youth Development within workforce and career pathway programming in California

There are excellent opportunities for the new advisor to establish extension and research partnerships with a variety of stakeholders and collaborators. The workforce development emphasis creates meaningful opportunities to partner with Workforce Investment Boards, Economic Development Corporation groups, industry stakeholders, and school districts across the region, strengthening alignment, visibility, and long-term program impact. The advisor joins a team of highly motivated UCCE colleagues who are passionate about their work and are dedicated to making a difference within the communities and throughout California.

The potential for collaborative projects within the UC ANR system is nearly limitless.

This position will be headquartered in the UCCE Kings office, CA and have activity in Tulare, Fresno and Kings Counties. The position will also provide support to the…