4-H College and Career Readiness Coordinator Santa Maria, CA, Job ID 84824

Position Summary:

The Community Education Specialist 3 (CES 3), College and Career Coordinator position will be located in the University of California Cooperative Extension Office in Santa Maria, CA, and will act as a valuable member of the UCCE team. This position is responsible for designing, piloting, evaluating, and refining innovative 4-H Beyond Ready college and career readiness program models.

Under the direction of the 4-H Youth Development Advisor, the CES 3 will develop and test scalable program frameworks in Santa Barbara County with intentional replication across San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties through a regional train-the-trainer model. This role will build county-level capacity by developing toolkits, implementation protocols, evaluation systems, and partnership frameworks that support broader adoption within the UC ANR system.

The CES 3 will function as a regional subject matter expert in college and career readiness, providing advanced training and technical assistance to staff, volunteers, educators, and community partners. This position integrates evaluation findings to refine pilot initiatives and supports the dissemination of lessons learned through regional convenings, reporting, and presentations.

The CES 3 will also process all appropriate paperwork in compliance with UC ANR procedures, including 4-H enrollment and reporting; will be familiar with curricula and research-based practices to prepare, implement, and train others in the delivery of educational activities in a variety of content areas such as but not limited to 4-H projects, work readiness skills, college and career exploration, leadership development, postsecondary pathway planning, prosocial skill development, and goal setting and management. The CES 3 will provide effective written and verbal communication in English and Spanish to UCCE staff, youth, youth-serving professionals, and community partners; lead and support program coordination to carry out different education programs, events, and activities. The CES 3 reports to the 4-H Youth Development Advisor.

This position is a contract appointment that is 100% fixed and ends one year from the date of hire, with the possibility of extension if funding permits.

The home department is UCCE Santa Barbara County. While this position normally is based in Santa Maria, CA, this position is eligible for hybrid flexible work arrangements for applicants living in the State of California at this time. Please note that hybrid flexible work arrangements are subject to change by the University.

Pay Scale:

$55,400.00/year to $74,600.00/year

Job Posting Close Date:

This job is open until filled. The first application review date will be 3/20/2026.

Key Responsibilities:

55%
Program Innovation, Pilot Testing, and Regional Expansion:
Design, implement, and evaluate pilot 4-H Beyond Ready College and career readiness initiatives in schools and community settings. In consultation with the 4-H Youth Development Advisor, develop innovative program models addressing postsecondary pathway planning, workforce readiness, leadership development, and equitable access to opportunity.

Establish Santa Barbara County as a pilot site to test scalable programming approaches, with structured documentation of implementation processes, outcomes, and partnership models.

Develop and implement a regional expansion strategy to support replication in San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, including structured onboarding materials, facilitator guides, and implementation toolkits.

Conduct culturally responsive outreach in English and Spanish and develop strategies to expand programming in underserved communities.

10%
Regional Capacity Building and Train-the-Trainer Leadership:
Develop and deliver train-the-trainer models to support county-based staff, volunteers, and youth-serving professionals in implementing pilot college and career readiness initiatives. Provide technical assistance and coaching to support local adaptation and fidelity to program design.

Identify professional development needs and contribute to regional training plans aligned with 4-H Beyond Ready priorities.

10%
Integrated Program Enrollment:
Oversees and ensures accuracy of youth and volunteer enrollments in compliance with 4-H statewide program policies, when applicable.

10%
Evaluation, Reporting, and Dissemination:
Lead formative and summative evaluation of pilot initiatives, including data collection, analysis, and synthesis of outcomes to assess program effectiveness and scalability.

Prepare regional reports, funding proposals, and dissemination materials that communicate findings, lessons learned, and recommendations for broader adoption within UC ANR and partner systems.

5%
Other Duties as Assigned: Assist with other duties as requested and assigned by supervisor.

Requirements:

• Associate degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience/training.
• Continuing education in the related field is required.
• Thorough knowledge of and skill in delivering programs.
• Thorough and effective verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills and presentation skills.
• Skill in using business software systems in the completion of work assignments, i.e., Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint.
• Thorough knowledge of the functional area and understanding of how work may impact other areas.
• Thorough analytical skills to conduct analysis and develop recommendations, demonstrating organization and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Skills:

• Thorough knowledge of current community educational programs and trends.
• Experience building and maintaining community partnerships (e.g., schools, nonprofits, community organizations).