Extension Agent, FCS; Assistant, Associate

Position Overview

Title: Extension Agent, FCS (Assistant, Associate, or Full)
Location: Smithfield, NC
Department: NCCE-Johnston County
Job Type: Full-Time – Permanent
Appointment: 12 Month Recurring

Are you looking for a rewarding career that will let you give back to your community? NC State Extension extends research-based knowledge to all North Carolinians, helping them transform science into everyday solutions that improve their lives and grow our state. We are the model of excellence in non-formal, research-based education that advances agriculture, the environment, human health and well-being, youth and communities, while creating prosperity for all North Carolinians.

Working for NC State Extension allows you to teach without being tied to a classroom and school bell. Check out this video on what it’s like to work for NC State Extension.

No two days in Extension are ever the same, there is always something new! Extension Agents are active in their communities and often need to meet the clients when and where they are available. This is not your typical desk job!

The position may be hired at the Assistant, Associate or Full Agent level if the selected candidate meets the required qualifications.

• Paid time off
• Paid tuition
• Health Insurance
• Flexible Scheduling
• Retirement Savings
• Supplemental Benefits Programs
• Wolf Perks!

The agent in this position will provide leadership for the development, implementation, evaluation, and marketing of an effective educational program in Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS), including the areas of foods, nutrition, health and wellness for Johnston County.

The agent will collaborate and network with other agencies, groups, and organizations with similar missions. The professional in this position must be self-motivated, energetic, enjoy working with individuals as well as groups, be able to work with broad audiences, and have the ability to manage multiple tasks with little supervision. The successful candidate is expected to be a team player collaborating with the Johnston Extension staff and other organizations on multidisciplinary programs.

The agent will possess a high degree of subject matter competence and be eager to learn more as new trends and issues emerge. The successful candidate will have good communication and organization skills, be able to work independently, and be flexible to the demands of the public.

There is interest in food safety information from home audiences and to a lesser extent from the restaurant trade. The ability of clients to obtain training in an approved food safety certification program is expected. The pursuit of outside resources such as grants and donations may be beneficial to support program expansion.

Experience preparing and presenting educational resource materials for face-to-face settings or via other forms of writing, and internet, including social media, is vital.

• Reporting on program impacts, including gathering data and preparing reports for stakeholders.
• Attending trainings and engaging in professional development opportunities.
• Conduct collaborative programs with County Extension staff and other County departments.

Candidates should have excellent time and resource management skills, should be personable, and able to build networking coalitions. Food safety certification (Serv Safe or Safe Plates) is also highly desirable.

Experience is strongly preferred specifically with value added agricultural products, development and facilitation of commercial kitchens, food truck certification programs, and local foods coordination. The successful candidate must be able to navigate the boundaries of organic, local, and commercial ag products without alienation of groups or producers. The successful individual must be willing to follow research-based information without introduction of their own personal bias.

While food preservation experience is not required, there is an active component of the program that will require offering educational opportunities in this area. Training will be available to the successful candidate. The successful candidate…