4-HYD Extension Agent or Agent in Training - Boone County Extension Office

Major Responsibilities

This position is primarily dedicated to serving the community, state, university, and the broader profession through the delivery and interpretation of vital educational information. Another key aspect of this service involves teaching citizens and empowering them with the knowledge and practical skills necessary to apply this information effectively.

The position is responsible to the 4-HYD Program Director for all programmatic and administrative matters.  In addition, this position serves as the County Program Coordinator (CPC) who coordinates the effort to provide the county's citizens with increased access to the programs of West Virginia University and West Virginia University Extension.  As a part of our Extension team, the successful candidate will be expected to support programming in other areas of WVU Extension efforts including Family and Community Development and Agriculture and Natural Resources/Master Gardeners.  The amount of time spent in specific program areas and/or in program components is determined in concert with the Unit Director, fellow faculty members, and will be based on identified county needs.

Functions and Tasks

• Conduct educational programs in designated program area to help people more effectively interpret and use science-based findings.
  • Assume responsibility for developing and executing a Plan of Work. The Plan of Work will include 4-HYD programming with the possibility to include Family and Community Development as well as Agriculture and Natural Resources programming appropriate for county needs.
  • Involve the Extension Service Committee and community stakeholders in appropriate program advisory committees to analyze the county situation, identify priority problems and develop and implement programs.
  • Use the resources of West Virginia University and the community to effectively implement county programs.
  • Identify, recruit, and develop volunteer leadership to assist with the carrying out the program of work in the county.
  • Develop and use appropriate systems for reporting program accomplishments.
  • Function always as a professional educator.
  • Actively participate with Extension work teams to help focus and develop regional and statewide programs in designated program areas.
  • Faculty members are expected to engage in recruitment, retention and student success activities that promote access, education, training, experiences and career opportunities for young people that will lead to their future enrollment at WVU or other post-secondary institutions.

Service:     

• Develop an understanding of the county, the needs of its citizens and Extension's role in meeting those needs. 
  • Develop an understanding of the county, the needs of its citizens and Extension's role in meeting those needs. Understand the county situation in terms of social and economic factors.  
  • Understand the role of County Extension Service in effecting changes in the county situation.  
  • Continuously examine their role as a change agent. 
  • Assess the degree to which programs meet the needs of clients, induce positive change, improve performance, or measurably impact priority problems.  
  • Participate in professional development activities that increase expertise in the discipline.  
  • Demonstrate the ability to apply current knowledge to address specific priority problems.  
  • Assess the degree to which new knowledge moves the faculty and learner to decision making and action.  
  • Faculty members are expected to engage in recruitment, retention and student success activities that promote access, education, training, experiences and career opportunities for young people that will lead to their future enrollment at WVU or other post-secondary institutions.

Teaching:    

• Follow a sound process in developing educational programs in designated areas of responsibility. Extension faculty are practitioners who develop educational programs to meet the needs of non-credit learners. Program development is a process used to assess needs, mobilize resources, and create and organize educational initiatives to address the needs of citizens. 
  • Develop, market, deliver, facilitate, and evaluate non-credit educational programming in response to locally identified priority needs in 4-H and Youth Development and other Extension program areas as appropriate.
  • Establish clear objectives and use appropriate subject matter content and learning experiences to reach these objectives. 
  • Design and implement a variety of program delivery methods to reach target clientele. 
  • Take necessary action to ensure that sufficient groundwork is laid for programs to succeed. 
  • Evaluate results, measure impact, and account to appropriate stakeholders for program accomplishments. 
  • Use the results of program evaluation to initiate changes in the implementation of the program. 
  • Understand the philosophy of Extension and utilize effective methodology in program delivery and evaluation. 
  • Understand and convey the philosophy, objectives and policies of WVUES. 
  • Assist in determining and obtaining resources needed to implement the Plan of Work. 
  • Plan and provide the training needed to equip volunteer leaders to carry out the program.  
  • Develop and maintain two-way communications with volunteer leaders. 
  • Establish and maintain rapport with personnel of the mass media and arrange for appropriate releases in the program area.
  • Understand and implement the provisions of EEO and ADA.