Field Specialist in Regional Economic Development - Howell County, MO

Job

Location:

Missouri Southwest Region

Position Type:
Full-Time

University of Missouri (MU) Office of Extension and Engagement

Business & Community Extension

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 as needed.

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 economic prosperity
• 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 ambassador training, etc.
• Connecting and convening appropriate regional and state partners 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 regional reports, technical assistance, and online programming that provide research‑based material to local clients aligned with state specialists and Extension colleagues.

Effective specialists will work in close collaboration with their respective Regional Planning Commissions, state and local economic development departments, workforce boards, and other relevant organizations 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 hold the 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.

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 teach new and foundational concepts, link people to resources, support partner organizations, participate in research, train volunteers, evaluate programs, foster innovation, and serve communities. MU Extension Specialists work as a team to expand educational attainment, foster economic development, and improve health outcomes.

MU Extension Specialists work as a team to expand educational attainment, foster economic development, and improve health outcomes. These core duties fall into three major areas:

• Educate. MU Extension specialists design, conduct, and evaluate educational programs. MU Extension specialists teach research‑based information via meetings, in-person, and online courses, continuing education classes, technical assistance, volunteer training, media, websites, consultation, and other educational methods. They provide educational programs that support the individual, organizational, and community goals of…