"Community Development Extension Educator"

Job Summary

Join UW-Madison Division of Extension as a Community Development Extension Educator serving Sheboygan County! The Community Development Educator strengthens Wisconsin communities by delivering research-based education, fostering partnerships, and facilitating positive impact that support effective local units of government, vibrant communities, and strong economies.

Primary Responsibilities

• Serve Sheboygan County by designing, delivering, and evaluating educational programming focused on local government education, zoning, land use, and comprehensive planning.
• Collaborate with municipal and county officials to provide training on zoning code enforcement, ethics, budgeting, open meetings, and public records.
• Development of education, tools, and resources related to effective community engagement processes and strategies.

Programmatic Focus

Local Government Education with an emphasis on zoning, ordinance development, and comprehensive planning. This position’s work will serve local governments within the county and community-serving organizations, including nonprofits and coalitions, acting as a conduit to other LGE expertise, including our municipal clerk specialists.

Examples of this work include

• Support the professional development of elected officials and staff (e.g., roles and responsibilities, ethics, open meetings, public records, and budgeting).
• Facilitating the implementation of comprehensive and land use plans.
• Foster community engagement and resident input related to needs in the region or strategic county initiatives.
• Support for intergovernmental agreements (e.g., EMS services).

Meeting Other Local Needs

The Community Development (CD) Educator will prioritize and spend most of their time on a clearly defined programmatic focus: local government education. To the degree local needs shift or other programmatic needs arise, the CD Educator will serve as the primary conduit for the community to access the appropriate research and educational resources.

Statewide Contributions

• Develop tools and resources for effective community engagement.
• Lead trainings for elected officials and committees on land use strategies and planning processes.
• Create toolkits to support comprehensive planning and public participation.

This role is ideal for a collaborative Educator passionate about civic engagement and community development. You’ll work locally in Sheboygan County while contributing to statewide efforts that bring the latest research and best practices to Wisconsin communities.

County Location

The main office for this position is located in Sheboygan, WI and the primary programming focus is Sheboygan 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, onsite, at a designated work location.

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. 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

• Delivers outreach program content and materials to community members.
• Researches, develops, and facilitates outreach program content and materials.
• Facilitate the development of updated Comprehensive Plans with Sheboygan County local municipalities, including community engagement plans, and education on the compilation of demographic, geographic, land use data, and culturally or historically significant data sets.
• Schedules and secures resources and communicates logistics in support of an outreach program.
• Identifies, promotes, and maintains external partnerships to support the 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.
• Develops and evaluates curriculum and programs and provides recommendations for improvement.
• Communicate plans, activities and achievements to Area Extension Director, Program Managers, partners and relevant stakeholders.
• May assist with the monitoring of outreach program budget spending.
• Work with town clerks to provide training and guidance related to new clerks in Sheboygan County, as well as overall support for existing clerks in the County.

Department

The Division of Extension, Community Development Institute, Local Government Education Program.

About Extension

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 Institute of Community Development provides educational programming to assist leaders, communities, and organizations in realizing 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.

About the Program

The Local Government Education Program works with a range of partners to develop and present program content and educational events. We provide in-person workshops, distance education, and resources to support local elected officials.

Compensation

The minimum annual (12 months) starting salary for the position is $59,603 but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications. This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax-advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund.

Required Qualifications

• Ability to assist local governments with identifying and collecting information for zoning or comprehensive plans that will inform decisions.
• Ability to facilitate processes that help local government develop plans that address local issues of concern.
• Ability to assist local governments with identifying and collecting information that will inform decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively work with people from a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing and delivering programs that enhance community participation.
• Ability to use problem-solving skills to successfully address complex issues.
• Experience working collaboratively with internal and external team members or stakeholders.

Education

Required Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Community Planning, Urban Studies, City and Regional Planning, Zoning or other related field.

Preferred Education: Master’s degree in Community Planning, Urban Studies, City and Regional Planning, Zoning or other related field.

How to Apply

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. The application deadline is 11:59pm on October 27, 2025.