Field Specialist in Regional Economic Development – Howell County, MO

Hiring Department

University of Missouri (MU) Office of Extension and Engagement

Business & Community Extension

Job Description

MU

TITLE:

Assistant/Associate/Full Extension Professional

LOCATION: West Plains, Missouri, and primarily serves Howell, Texas, Wright, Douglas, Ozark, Shannon and Oregon Counties in Southwest Region with additional service across the state asneeded.

Specialist Emphasis

This position is responsible for planning, implementing and evaluating regional economic development educational programs that support and complement existing economic development efforts in Missouri communities. These efforts may involve:

• Developing and facilitating educational trainings that strengthen regional leaders’ capacity to foster economicprosperity
• Developing economic development guides and materials on topics such as tourism, understanding your region’s economic drivers, and strengthening community support of entrepreneurs, housing trends.
  
  Etc.
• Facilitating forums and conferences that bring regional and community partners together to foster economic development opportunities
• Offering technical assistance contracts, often in collaboration with other state specialists, that support efforts such as;business surveys, tourism assessments, broadband ambassadortraining, etc.
• Connecting and convening appropriate regional and statepartners with community leaders to address economic development opportunities and challenges

Effective specialists will apply interdisciplinary knowledge related to general community, economic, business and workforce development needs in the counties served. Educational programs may consist of facilitated workshops, publishing guides or regionalreports, technical assistance, and online programming that provide research-based material to local clients aligned with statespecialists and Extension colleagues.

Effective specialists will work in close collaboration with the irrespective Regional Planning Commissions, state and local economic development departments, workforce boards, and other relevantorganizations to leverage efforts and funding opportunities.

This position is a 12-month, ranked, non-tenure track appointment at the rank of assistant, associate, or full Extension Professional. Rank will be determined at the time of the appointment based on qualifications and experience in accordance with the MU Extension faculty standards. This position will holdthe working title of Field Specialist in Regional Economic Development.

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

This appointment is renewable annually at the discretion of the University and workload distribution may change at the discretion of Extension leadership. Circumstances affecting continued employment include, but are not limited to, work performance, fund availability, and educational priorities.

CORE DUTIES OF MU EXTENSION SPECIALISTS

MU Extension Specialists deliver the University of Missouri to all Missourians. They serve all Missourians by bringing research-based solutions to work on local problems. MU Extension Specialists teachnew and foundational concepts, link people to resources, supportpartner organizations, participate in research, train volunteers,evaluate programs, foster innovation, and serve communities. MUExtension Specialists work as a team to expand educationalattainment, 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 teachresearch-based information via meetings, in-person, and onlinecourses, continuing education classes, technical…