"Assistant Extension Director for Family and Consumer Sciences and Unit Head"

Assistant Extension Director for Family and Consumer Sciences and Unit Head

University of Kentucky

Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment Position Announcement

The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment invites applications for the position of Assistant Extension Director for Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS). The FCS Extension program is a statewide leader in advancing individual, family, and community well-being through research-based education and outreach programs.

Position Overview

The Assistant Extension Director will serve as a visionary and administrative leader in advancing the strategic direction, operations, and growth of the Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Extension unit. Our new colleague will provide administrative leadership, foster innovation, and strengthen the integration of research, teaching, and outreach to address the evolving needs of Kentucky’s families and communities. This individual will work collaboratively with colleagues across the College, Cooperative Extension Service, and external partners to enhance the visibility, impact, and reach of FCS Extension programs to advance Kentucky.

This position offers you an opportunity to shape the future of Family and Consumer Sciences in Kentucky—leading a strong unit with a legacy of community impact and positioning it for relevance in the decades ahead. In this administrative role, you will report to the Associate Dean and Director of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service. The anticipated start date is as soon as March 1, 2026.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Vision

• Provide strategic leadership and long-term vision for FCS
• Provide program vision and support for Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agents, ensuring they have the resources and professional development needed to deliver high-quality, research-based education at the community level.
• Support innovation in program development that addresses emerging needs in health, family well-being, economic stability, and community vitality.
• Ensure FCS Extension programs align with the strategic priorities of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension

Administration & Operations

• Serve as Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Unit Leader overseeing programmatic
• Lead the development and oversight of budgets, staffing, and resource
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and university policies related to Extension

Program Development & Integration

• Strengthen connections between Extension, research, and instruction to advance impactful, evidence-based
• Promote interdisciplinary collaboration across UK units and with external
• Support faculty and specialists in developing strong extramural funding portfolios and provide leadership in pursuing and securing external resources to sustain and grow FCS Extension

Engagement & Outreach

• Build and maintain relationships with stakeholders, including state and federal agencies, community organizations, and Extension partners.
• Advance the visibility and relevance of FCS Extension through outreach, partnerships, and public engagement.

Faculty Development & Support

• Provide mentorship, guidance, and leadership to faculty, staff, and county-based
• Support professional development and performance

Qualifications

• Earned Ph.D. or terminal degree in a discipline relevant to Family and Consumer Sciences (e.g., human sciences, nutrition, health promotion, family studies, consumer economics, or related fields).
• Demonstrated leadership experience in Extension, academic administration, or equivalent professional
• Proven ability to build partnerships and collaborations across academic, community, and governmental
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills, with a collaborative and respectful leadership style.
• Commitment to advancing the mission of Cooperative Extension and the land-grant mission in service to Kentucky communities.

Faculty Appointment Details

Our new colleague will also have a 12-month faculty appointment as an Associate Extension Professor or Extension Professor (Extension Title Series, tenure-eligible) in an academic unit aligned with their education and experience. The distribution of effort is reviewed/adjusted annually to meet the needs of Extension, department, college, and university. Initial effort is expected to focus on Extension activities.

Location: Lexington, Kentucky with travel as needed.

Salary and Fringe Benefits

Salary is open and competitive. Employment at UK is subject to fund availability and comes with comprehensive rewards, focusing on your total well-being and career development, with leadership striving to provide a strong work-life integration. The university generously contributes to employees’ retirement plans, medical coverage, and life insurance. In addition, UK offers optional benefits such as dental and vision insurance, additional retirement plans and much more. To learn more about these benefits, please visit: https://hr.uky.edu/employment/our-benefits.

Application

Screening of applications will begin on December 1, 2025, and continue until the position is filled. Please use the University of Kentucky’s electronic application process to apply. The application should include a letter of interest that outlines the candidate’s approach to the position’s qualifications, responsibilities, and vision for innovative and impactful extension program, followed by a career curriculum vita, and conclude with the name, address, email, and phone number for at least three references. The references should be able to address in their professional judgement your performance in advancing your scholarly field, significance of the venues in which you have been published, the grants you have been involved with, instructional accomplishments, and the service performed. Please also indicate your relationship to the reference. References will not be contacted without prior notification of candidates.

To apply for this position click on the quicklink: https://ukjobs.uky.edu/postings/602402 or copy and paste the URL into your browser

Click Apply for this Posting

Follow the instructions on how to create an account.

Complete the Employment Application and upload the required documents.

For assistance with the electronic application process, contact HR/ Employment, phone (859) 257-9555, press 2, or email ukjobs@email.uky.edu

Submit questions and/or nominations to:

Dr. Jennifer Hunter
University of Kentucky, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
S-107 Ag Science North
Lexington, KY 40546-0091
Email: jhunter@uky.edu