What: MSU Extension’s (MSUE) government, leadership, and community engagement programs, located within MSUE’s Community, Food and Environment Institute, engage participants in learning skills of good governance, how to communicate with purpose, and how to collaborate on solving complex issues in order to improve their communities. Participants leave MSU Extension educational programs with a deeper understanding of their civic responsibilities and roles within their own communities, increased confidence to make decisions, additional skills and information to better manage community resources, knowledge of how to implement best practices, and an understanding of the importance of building quality places in Michigan. The application of knowledge and skills gained from good governance programs builds stronger civic infrastructure.
The ideal candidate will design, implement, teach and evaluate programs that primarily focus on issues related to community vitality, land-use and public policy targeted to elected and appointed officials and other local leaders. Additionally, the person who accepts this position will have the opportunity to apply their unique knowledge, skills and abilities to develop and deliver new educational opportunities that support Michigan communities and economies locally and statewide. Example topics include (but are not limited to): downtown revitalization, housing availability and affordability, environmental hazards, water quality, gentrification, social equity in the development process, and renewable energy. As a partnership with Michigan Sea Grant Extension, this position will dedicate a portion of their time focused on programming that supports coastal communities and economies in their region and statewide. The educator will also have an opportunity to apply their skills to support additional programming topics provided by Extension, including: placemaking/enhancing the built environment, leadership, municipal budgeting and finance, good governance, and economic/tourism development. The individual will also work closely with their District Director and the Michigan Sea Grant Extension Program Leader in identifying local programming needs.
This position will collaborate across work groups, Institutes and community groups and work with faculty, specialists and educators for advancement of the needs of Institute clientele. The educator will ensure dissemination of research-based information through various methods, including multi-media, personal education and written articles, while also serving as an informational resource for Extension personnel and clientele.
This position is based in Southwest Michigan with office space available in Kalamazoo, but office space in other counties, including Van Buren, Berrien, Cass, and St. Joseph, may also be available based on the unique situational needs of the chosen candidate.
Characteristic Duties/Responsibilities
- Develop, conduct, and evaluate innovative educational programs that meet current and projected needs.
- Communicate and interact with community groups to evaluate the needs of the clientele.
- Serve as an information resource to clientele, partners and Extension staff.
- Collaborate with MSU Extension staff to conduct and evaluate programming efforts.
- In concert with the MSUE work team(s), work with federal, state, county and local agencies and organizations to complete needs assessment of the community/region and develop/guide effective programming.
- Create and promote positive public relations for MSU Extension and the Community, Food and Environment Institute. ▪ Author, produce and submit regular research-based educational articles. ▪ Develop and utilize appropriate media methods to communicate current and timely information, research results, and relevant industry updates, as well as a schedule of current and future activities. ▪ Actively participate in professional development opportunities. ▪ Gather and report programming outputs and impacts, to demonstrate program effectiveness and to guide future program priorities for MSUE, the Community, Food and Environment Institute, work group(s) aligned with.
- Work to ensure that community needs assessments, program development and recruitment efforts include the engagement of Michigan’s diverse residents across race, gender, socioeconomic class, disabilities and other differences.
- Understand and implements Civil Rights policies and procedures.
- Other duties or projects as assigned by the Institute Director and District Directors.
- Plan, organize and implement Extension programs in government and community vitality in the assigned programmatic region as part of a larger team within MSU Extension.
- Contribute to the planning and implementation of work team signature programs, including: Citizen Planner, New Economy, Placemaking, New County Commissioner Workshop, Facilitative Leadership, land use and coastal management, local and tribal government, Fiscal Sustainability, and organizational strategic planning, facilitation and technical assistance.
- In concert with the District Director, plan, organize, implement, and evaluate workshops based on topics of interest and urgency related to downtown revitalization, public policy, effective management, municipal finance, land use, public participation/civic engagement and leadership of local and tribal government.
- Design, coordinate, support and/or teach educational programs of benefit to elected and appointed local officials and community leaders, including:
- Delivery of regional and statewide workshops, as well as workshops via distance technology (as appropriate) including statewide teleconferences, webinars and produce recorded programs;
- Work with campus-based faculty and other specialists to develop educational programs for local government officials; and o Encourage and guide efforts to expand the information and knowledge base for local government and community leaders through the sharing of relevant research.
- Author educational materials on topics related to land-use planning, environmental protection, “good governance” principles, placemaking, downtown revitalization and regional economies, including written fact sheets, bulletins, mass media articles, web pages, video, social media, and scholarly journal articles.
- Maintain a high degree of technical competency and scholarship in planning and zoning/land- use planning, environmental protection, community/economic development, and governance.
- Fully participate in applicable institute/work team meetings, trainings, and other activities, including professional development trainings.
- Seek grants and other external resources to enhance Extension program capacity in the region served, and as a Government and Public Policy workgroup member.
- Serve as a statewide resource for topics where the chosen candidate has developed specific in- depth expertise.
- Prepare and submit timely reports as required for internal and external purposes.
- Support an inclusive locally based approach to education that encourages local participation, and is aimed at building community-level capacity and empowering all interests.
- Engage with Extension professionals in neighboring states, the North Central Region, and nationally to share resources and develop multi-state Extension efforts.
- Master’s degree from an accredited institution in a field of study related to planning, public administration, public policy, economics, architecture, historic preservation, business administration, natural resources or related field, must be earned by date of hire.
- Demonstrated ability and skill in educational program planning, implementation and evaluation.
- Ability to create and carry-out a project plan from research of initial concept to project completion, evaluation, and follow-up.
- Experience with marketing/promotion of educational programs.
- Strong interpersonal, oral and written communication skills.
- Experience and proven ability working productively with a team.
- Self-motivated with demonstrated ability to work independently in an office environment without daily supervision and/or coaching.
- Proficiency in use of technology (e.g. web research, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook for mail/calendaring, distance technology, etc.) for day-to-day work and educational program delivery, record keeping, reporting, team-based communications and overall management.
- Demonstrated success in program development and delivery to diverse audiences/communities including but not limited to race, gender, socioeconomic class, disabilities and other differences.
- Proven ability in establishing and working with a diverse network of constituents and community members across race, gender, socioeconomic class, disabilities and other differences to assist with program development and outreach.
- Understanding of and ability to implement Civil Rights principles and compliance standards.
- Ability to lift and carry educational materials, equipment, etc. up to 25 lbs.
- Ability to travel on a regular basis within the assigned area and surrounding communities, as well as occasional long distance and overnight travel, outside the assigned area, in order to perform the duties of this position.
- Transportation is the responsibility of the employee with an operating account provided.
- Other skills and/or physical abilities required to perform duties of the position.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- 3-years’ experience in Extension and/or outreach program delivery or demonstrated ability and skill in educational program planning, implementation and evaluation (relevant experience acquired within the last 5-years preferred).
- Prior experience working with municipal and/or local government units. ▪ American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) credentials preferred.
- Experience in securing and/or managing grant funds and resources.This position is a full-time, fixed term end-dated appointment renewable annually based upon successful performance and continued funding.
Visit http://careers.msu.edu, Posting Number 614043. Apply by November 11, 2019