Extension Agent

Custer County is located in southeastern Montana and is dissected by the Yellowstone River. The Extension Office is located in the county seat, Miles City (Population 8,487), which is located at the confluence of the Yellowstone and Tongue Rivers. Custer County has a population of 11,729 with the bulk of the population located in Miles City and along the Yellowstone River corridor. Custer County serves as a hub for southeastern Montana activities, and as a result numerous regional Extension activities are conducted in Miles City. Miles City is a trade and banking center for southeastern Montana featuring a thriving livestock market and many other businesses that cater to the agricultural and retail needs of southeastern Montana residents. Recreational opportunities include hunting, fishing, and boating. Miles City is also home to modern medical facilities including a modern hospital, clinics, and other services. MSU Extension seeks individuals who work professionally and effectively with communities, who foster and maintain effective interpersonal relationships, who exhibit excellent written and verbal communications skills, and who can contribute positively to the people and places of Montana under the guidelines and mission of Montana State University. Duties and Responsibilities Plan, implement, and evaluate Economic and Community Development programs, through a local, needs-driven process. Plan, implement, facilitate, and evaluate and educational Family and Consumer Sciences programs through a local, needs-driven process. Work closely with formal and informal advisors to identify educational needs in the areas of Family and Consumer Science and Community Development for programming opportunities in Custer County. In collaboration with other Custer County Faculty, develop, plan, implement, instruct, facilitate, and evaluate educational programs for 4-H Youth Development as determined by local community engagement. Involve local citizens and community organizations in identifying needs and priorities, targeting new audiences, and developing and implementing appropriate and responsive educational programming. Serve as an ex-officio member of various agency and community committees relating to family and consumer science and community development. Cooperate with other Extension agents in cross-county programming efforts. Utilize all available media sources, including electronic mail, the internet, and other advancing technology, to communicate with MSU Extension staff and others, and to disseminate information to clientele. Assure compliance with civil rights and affirmative action policies. Comply with all Extension, federal, state, university, and county reporting requirements. Cooperate with MSU Extension staff to develop a team approach to the planning, development and implementation of overall MSU Extension programming in Custer County, which will benefit the effectiveness of the Custer County office. Required Qualifications - Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills Bachelor's degree in economic development, community development, family and consumer science, education or other related fields. Demonstrated ability to recruit, train, and provide professional development to volunteers. Demonstrated ability to lead groups; assess needs; and plan, implement, facilitate, teach, and evaluate educational programs for youth and adult audiences. Demonstrated ability to provide effective leadership for Extension programming for youth, adults, and volunteers. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and effectively with individuals, groups, and community organizations representing a wide variety of youth and adult audiences. Preferred Qualifications - Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills Master's degree. At least one degree or relevant work experience in economic development, community development, family and consumer science, education or other related fields. Demonstrated ability to facilitate groups and help them find constructive solutions to locally identified issues. Extension Experience or demonstrated understanding of the Extension education model. The Successful Candidate Will The successful candidate will possess excellent human relation skills; a high level of professionalism; the ability to work effectively with other staff members; evidence of good judgment; flexibility and innovation to respond to changing needs of people in Custer County; and will be able to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. The successful candidate will establish relationships and work with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Ultimately, the successful candidate will be relational, responsive, and reliable. Position Special Requirements/Additional Information If the successful candidate holds a Master's degree, the position will be filled as a tenure track position. If the successful candidate does not hold a Master's degree, the position will be filled as a non-tenure track position; however, upon completion of a Master's degree, they will transition to a tenure track position.Must possess a valid driver's license, an acceptable driving record, and meet all State of Montana requirements to operate State/University vehicles. (If successful candidate possesses a valid out-of-state driver's license, must obtain a valid Montana driver's license within 60 days of hire.) Do NOT send a copy of the driver's license.This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University's rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Physical Demands To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. The Program The scholarship of Extension work at MSU is defined as, "The creation of partnerships, programs, and plans through Extension, or other community-based research, that leverage the knowledge and resources of the university and the public/private sector to enhance learning, discovery, and engagement; educate and engage citizens; strengthen communities; address locally identified issues and problems; apply and disseminate knowledge; and contribute to the public good." The Department The College MSU Extension improves the lives of Montana citizens by providing unbiased research-based education and information that integrates learning, discovery and engagement to strengthen the social, economic and environmental well-being of individuals, families, and communities.