H Local Food Educator

This position will serve as the 4-H & Local Food Educator for Cornell Cooperative Extension Association of Essex County and will deliver already-existing educational programming to youth within the Local Food program, the 4-H Positive Youth Development program and direct 4-H volunteer efforts. This position is under the leadership and oversight of the Community Vitality Resource Educator. This position will work closely with the Community Vitality Program Team to expand program areas to include but not limited to: animal husbandry & show presence, Agriculture in the Classroom, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, agriculture, and math), local foods, and community wellness programs.

Program delivery will occur during regular office hours, evenings, weekends, and after-school and summer programs. This position will include but not be limited to utilizing existing resources to facilitate 4-H and local food education programs.

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent education (Associate Degree and two (2) years transferrable program/function experience).
• Experience relevant to the role of the position.
• Valid NYS Driver’s License and the ability to meet travel requirements associated with this position.
• Ability to work flexible hours which may include evenings and/or weekends, as appropriate.

• Familiarity with 4-H club structure, Agriculture in the Classroom, STEAM, youth wellness programs, animal husbandry, and show presence at county/state agricultural fairs.
• Familiarity with local foods and farms.
• Demonstrated ability to function as a team member working with volunteers and staff.
• Demonstrated ability to recruit, organize and support volunteers.
• Demonstrated ability to organize reference materials for programming purposes.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively through oral, written, and visual means.
• Demonstrated ability to utilize computer technologies for educational and communication purposes.
• Demonstrated ability to plan for and lead large community events.
• Demonstrated ability to utilize program resources within the community.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, teach and evaluate informal education programs through a variety of program delivery methods to reach individuals and groups, including adults and youth.
• Demonstrated ability to relate to diverse audiences.

• Utilize established program resources and materials in program work.
• Implement already-established 4-H and local food educational programs and activities in support of Association programming as identified/needed to support the established plan of work.
• Assist in providing existing information to bring awareness to the public in the form of impact statements, articles for progress/annual reports, and news releases, etc.
• Occasionally apply established subject matter knowledge to create lesson plans as identified.
• Under the direction and oversight of the Community Vitality Resource Educator, adapt already established curriculum and materials as needed to meet established program objectives.
• Provide 4-H, youth mentoring and local food educational programs via various delivery methods including on and off-site gatherings and virtual sessions.
• Work to foster acceptance of the Local Food and 4-H Positive Youth Development Programs and their methods and policies while addressing community and individual needs and considering diverse audiences.
• Assist Association staff with multi-association team efforts in the implementation of multi-disciplinary programs and program activities to deliver 4-H and local food programming.
• Serve as a team member and cooperate with the entire Association to achieve program delivery goals.
• Interact with program participants to obtain evaluation data, to include evaluating effectiveness of classes and instructors for all 4-H and local food programs.
• Assist the Community Vitality Resource Educator in the process of analyzing program data, and based on that analysis, assist in making recommendations for improvements in program offerings.
• Communicate evaluation findings to…