County Extension Director

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Auburn University, is seeking a dynamic County Extension Director to provide visionary leadership, oversee county-level programs, and serve the citizens of Lowndes County.

This individual will build partnerships and collaborate with multiple entities to deliver research-based educational opportunities that transform lives and communities. The County Extension Director is a community-based professional of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) who knows and represents the research-based resources and other resources available through Alabama A&M University and Auburn University. They are recognized as a community leader who addresses the contemporary challenges, issues, and opportunities facing the citizens of the county through university programs and knowledge.

Program Competence and Capacity

• Learns major programs and resources available across program areas (Agriculture, Forestry, Natural Resources, Human Sciences, 4-H and Community & Economic Development) to become actively involved in serving traditional audiences and new audiences in and outside the office.
• Develops leadership and engagement skills to be confident and credible when engaging communities of place, practice, interest, and identity across a broad spectrum of issues.
• Functions as a member of the County 4-H Team and contributes administrative and programmatic support.
• Maintains a subject matter emphasis related to one of four major program areas and participates in the appropriate priority program team (PPT).
• Participates in professional development related to educational programming, county office administration, customer service, and public relations and marketing.

County Office Administration

• Serves as ACES primary representative in the county and develops an ethic of customer service as the front-door to the state's land grant universities.
• Responsible for the recruitment, hiring, supervision, professional development, mentoring and performance assessment of administrative support position, agent assistants, 4-H Extension Agents (4-H EA), and potentially an administrative professional position or temporary staff.
• Responsible for the daily operation of the office, including staffing, scheduling, promoting a positive culture, and teamwork within and outside the office.
• Responsible for county budget administration and the interface with County Commissions and municipalities to provide local support for office space, utilities, equipment, and program supplies.
• Ensures compliance with laws, statutes, and University policy that regulate the handling of public funds and program implementation.
• Understands, implements, and promotes EEO, ADA, Civil Rights, and other affirmative action policies and procedures within the County Extension Office and in the countywide community.

Program Leadership

• Provides leadership for county program initiatives, a balanced and comprehensive county plan-of-work, some program delivery related to subject matter emphasis, to ensure county office is current on programs and resources.
• Serves as role model for others in using innovative and creative approaches to program development and delivery.
• Organizes a County Extension Advisory Committee and provides leadership in analyzing and interpreting information to assess needs through stakeholder input.
• Meets regularly with colleagues across multiple counties (region) to share needs assessment results, coordinate programs, and establish priorities and new initiatives.
• Cooperates and informs Extension Agents, State Extension Specialists, and appropriate Assistant Director for Programs and Assistant Director for Field Operations and has a positive working relationship with staff and clients in…