"Community Development Educator - Forest County"

Job Summary

Forest County is investing in a key position to strengthen local capacity, bring people together, and move community priorities forward. The Community Development Extension Educator will work with county, tribal, and local partners to support planning, collaboration, and action that improve quality of life and economic opportunity in Forest County.

This role combines community engagement, facilitation, and applied problem-solving. The educator will help the county and its partners set shared goals, organize action teams, build local leadership skills, and connect projects to needed resources and funding.

Long-term success depends on a strong partnership among the Forest County Government, Forest County Potawatomi, and Sokaogon Chippewa Community.

County Location

The main office for this position is located in Crandon, WI and the primary programming focus is Forest County; however, some programming may also be conducted over a broader geographical area.

In Person

It is anticipated this position requires work be performed in-person and onsite throughout Forest County.

Evening/Weekend Work

This position may be required to work occasional nights and weekends to meet the program needs and priorities of the communities served.

Travel Expectations

It is expected that employees will make individual arrangements for transportation adequate to meet position responsibilities and essential job functions. Read more about UW-Madison Driver Authorization.

Applicants are required to: Have a valid drivers license and a reliable source of independent transportation for periodic in-state work travel, and/or comply with requirements for UW-Madison vehicle use authorization.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Develops and evaluates curriculum and programs and provides recommendations for improvement
• May assist with the monitoring of outreach program budget spending
• Schedules and secures resources and communicates logistics in support of an outreach program
• Leads the implementation of programs, policies, and procedures through oversight of day-to-day activities for program staff and student and community volunteers
• Delivers outreach program content and materials to community members
• Researches, develops, and facilitates outreach program content and materials
• Identifies, promotes, and maintains external partnerships to support the outreach program

Department:

UW-Madison’s Division of Extension serves the people and communities of Wisconsin by addressing local, statewide and national issues, improving lives through research-based education, fostering partnerships and action, and facilitating positive impacts.

About the Institute

The Extension Institute of Community Development provides educational programming to assist leaders, communities, and organizations realize their fullest potential. We work with communities to build the vitality that enhances their quality of life and enriches the lives of their residents. We educate in leadership development, organizational development, food systems, community economic development, local government education and much more. In short, the Community Development Institute plants and cultivates the seeds for thriving communities and organizations.

Compensation:

The minimum annual (12 months) starting Salary for the position is $59,603 but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications

Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. Benefits information can be found at (https://hr.wisc.edu/benefits/)

Required Qualifications:

• At least 2 years of experience working in rural or small-community settings, with exposure to rural issues, tribal governance, and/or cross-jurisdictional collaboration.
• Strong skills in communication, facilitation, and partnership building.
• Demonstrated project management and organizational skills.
• Tribal Affiliation - Understanding of and experience working with Native Nations communities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proven success in grant writing or other funding processes.
• Familiarity with asset-based community development (ABCD) or similar approaches.
• 3–5 years of experience working in rural or small-community settings, with exposure to rural issues, tribal governance, and/or cross-jurisdictional collaboration.
• Experience providing training or coaching to community leaders or volunteers.
• Ability to gather and interpret local data for decision-making (basic applied research).
• Demonstrated ability to build trust and bring people together across different perspectives, with a commitment to cultural humility and respect for tribal, rural, and other diverse communities.

Education:

Required Education

Bachelor’s degree in community development, public administration, planning, rural sociology, or a related field.

Preferred Education

Master's degree in related field.

How to Apply:

We are eager to learn more about how your experience and passion may align with this position. To begin the application process, click the "Apply" button. You will be prompted to upload the following documents:

• Resume
• Letter of Qualifications (cover letter)

Please submit a cover letter referring to your work experience and a resume detailing your educational and professional background as it relates to this position. Your cover letter should communicate your interest in the position and how your skillset aligns with the role. The application reviewers will be relying on written application materials to determine who may advance to preliminary interviews.

For additional guidance and resources on how to tailor your application materials to the job posting, please click https://extension.wisc.edu/careers/.

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.

​Application Deadline is Monday, March 2, 2026 at 11:59pm (CST).