County Extension Director
#12-08
Jefferson County
Golden, CO
Deadline -- June 9, 2008
Once an agricultural and mining area, Jefferson County is now a thriving business, industrial and residential community. It is one of the five counties that make up the Denver Metro complex. The population, mostly urban and suburban with some thriving mountain communities, has grown 20% in the last 10 years and now exceeds 527,000. The city of Golden, with a population exceeding 17,000, is the location of the Extension office and is the county seat. Population characteristics include a median age of 36.8 years with 10 percent of the residents age 65 and older. The majority of the population is white; thirteen percent is Hispanic. Asian/Pacific Islanders and individuals reporting two or more races each account for about 2% of the population, with Black/African Americans and American Indians each at 1%. 7% of the population lives at or below the poverty level. Major employers in the county include Lockheed Martin, Denver Federal Center, Coors Brewing Company, Exempla Healthcare, Ball Corporation, Gambro and CoorsTek. For more information, visit Jefferson County Extension at http://www.jeffcoextension.org. To learn more about Colorado State University Extension, go to http://www.ext.colostate.edu.
DEADLINE:
Resume, letter of application and transcripts of college course work showing degrees conferred must be RECEIVED no later than June 9, 2008 for full consideration. Letter of application should address all required and desirable training and experience, and provide contact information (including email address if available) for four references. Note: Applicant will be notified PRIOR to references being contacted. Email materials to cepersonnel@ext.colostate.edu. You may also fax all or portions of requested materials to 970-491-6208.
For questions regarding the application process, contact 970-491-7866 or cepersonnel@ext.colostate.edu.
For questions regarding the job vacancy and responsibilities, please contact JoAnn Powell, 970-491-7887 or joann.powell@colostate.edu.
PURPOSE OF POSITION:
To supervise, administer and provide leadership, guidance, direction, and organizational assistance in the development, implementation and evaluation of the Extension Program in Jefferson County. To develop and support broad relationships that allow both the university and the county to recognize and act upon opportunities to work together, share information, provide education, and/or conduct research to benefit residents.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND RELATIONSHIPS:
The individual in this position is the local representative of Colorado State University and works under the supervision of the Northern Regional Director. This person carries out the duties and responsibilities associated with the head of an administrative unit, and provides broad leadership for all program areas. Extension operates as one of five units in the Jefferson County Community Resources Division, and, as such, this person will work closely with the County's Community Resources Director. The Extension staff consists of the director, six agents (two 4-H/Youth Development; one Natural Resources, two Horticulture, one Family and Consumer Sciences and one Food Stamp Nutrition Education agent), two research associates (native plants and diagnostic clinic) and six support staff / program assistants. In addition to administration, specific programming responsibilities may be assigned based on the successful candidate's training and experience. The successful candidate will:
- Assume responsibility for the overall planning, coordination, promotion, execution and evaluation of the County's Extension program.
- Communicate and ensure the implementation of policies and procedures to effectively coordinate an office with a significant operational budget (currently $725,000) and variety of personnel (14 supervisees).
- Manage the office and supervise the staff to provide the most efficient and effective delivery of educational services.
- Develop strong working relationships with the Board of County Commissioners, the Community Resources Director, county divisions and units, advisory committees, local businesses and educational institutions, state and federal agencies and area non-profits and stakeholders. Work with these groups and the public to continually assess local conditions, identify priority needs and set program direction. Recognize and act upon opportunities to connect community and university resources to achieve desired outcomes.
- Provide administrative, staff development and program leadership for delivering interdisciplinary educational programs in the County and region; participate in, and support, the efforts of Extension program work teams.
- Facilitate communications and working relationships with Colorado State University administrators, departments and agencies, university based specialists and support personnel to enhance programming.
- With the Regional Communications Coordinator, develop a county marketing and communications plan and lead county team in its implementation. Develop and implement or facilitate delivery of non-credit educational programming in areas of expertise and priority community need; evaluate efforts and report educational outcomes.
- Take the lead in securing grants, contracts and in-kind resources, in cooperation with staff, to support county and area-wide educational programs.
- Participate in professional development opportunities as appropriate.
- Promote programming for diverse audiences and assure compliance with civil rights and affirmative action policies.
- Provide leadership and assistance with other activities as assigned.
SALARY:
Starting salary will be commensurate with experience and training.
TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE
REQUIRED:
- Completed master's degree in an area that can significantly contribute to program and administrative responsibilities. Regardless of the subject area of awarded degrees, academic training must include behavioral studies in areas such as education, business, public administration, or communication.
- Personal and/or professional experience (a minimum of 3 years) which has resulted in the capacity to manage and lead a complex office, including:
- the ability to organize, direct and formulate organizational practices;
- to select, supervise and motivate employees;
- develop and manage a budget; and
- establish and maintain effective working relationships with peers, staff, other departments and agencies, and the general public that inspires loyalty, excellence and integrity.
- Experience in promoting, marketing or creating public awareness of programs and services
- Evidence of drive and initiative.
- Demonstrated leadership ability.
- Ability to communicate (oral, written, listening, and public speaking/presentation skills), including facilitation and conflict resolution.
- Demonstrated skill working with people as individuals, groups, and staff, and the ability to develop and lead equitable partnerships.
- Understanding of and ability to work with different ethnic and socioeconomic audiences.
- Computer literacy as demonstrated by evidence of computer use in an educational setting.
- Experience in audience needs identification, program development, delivery and evaluation.
DESIRABLE:
- Professional experience with or knowledge of Extension and the land-grant university system.
- Demonstrated experience in contracting, grantsmanship or cost recovery efforts.
- Bi-lingual Spanish skills.
BENEFITS:
Based on full-time employment. Twenty-four working days vacation each year, 15 days sick leave. Enrollment in group health, life and accident insurance, various retirement plans, work injury benefits, and disability insurance are all available.
Available personal transportation required, travel allowance provided. Colorado State University provides an allowance for moving new employees.
Colorado State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution and complies with all federal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding affirmative action requirements in all programs. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity is located in 101 Student Services Building. In order to assist Colorado State University in meeting its affirmative action responsibilities, ethnic minorities, women, and other protected class members are encouraged to apply and to so identify themselves.
Colorado State University Extension operates in compliance with the same laws and executive orders as the University as administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture relations. As a part of the USDA regulations, the Extension Equal Employment Opportunity representative may be contacted at 1311 South College Avenue, Room 102, Colorado State University.
Under the Colorado Open Records Law in order for application materials to be treated as confidential a specific written request that all materials submitted be held in confidence must accompany your application. Such confidentiality cannot be extended to those identified as "finalists" i.e. selected for interview by the Search Committee.
The successful candidate will be required to undergo an investigative background check.
Additional information may be obtained at our Web site: www.ext.colostate.edu (click on Employment) or by contacting:
Judith A. Barth, Ph.D., Assistant Director, Operations
Colorado State University Extension
4040 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, CO 80523-4040
(970) 491-7866
E-mail: Extension Personnel cepersonnel@ext.colostate.edu
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