About the Job
Working Title: Extension Access and Civil Rights Coordinator
Appointment: 100%-time, ADMN Cnsultnt 1- Community Eng (9341 CE)
Estimated Salary: $80,000-$96,000
Office Location: Coffey Hall, St Paul campus, with flex work options
Reports to: Director of Tribal Engagement, Access and Civil Rights
Apply by: August 10, 2026
The Extension Access and Civil Rights Coordinator helps develop and implement strategies that advance University of Minnesota Extension’s mission and strategic priorities and ensures civil rights compliance. The coordinator works with college leaders, faculty and staff to increase awareness and understanding of the populations Extension serves; shares effective engagement strategies for a variety of stakeholders; work toward access and a welcoming environment for all; and help ensure…
college-level compliance with federal/state civil rights obligations.
Primary Responsibilities
Coordinate and deliver civil rights training and compliance activities - 55%
- Maintain, update and implement clear communication about Extension’s civil rights compliance plans and requirements, in close collaboration with the Director of Tribal Engagement, Access and Civil Rights, and Extension’s communications team.
- Design and deliver training sessions and resources on implementing civil rights and compliance responsibilities, as well as reporting mechanisms on behalf of Extension.
- Work closely with the Director of Tribal Engagement, Access and Civil Rights and the Director of Strategic Initiatives and Administration to facilitate civil rights audits, data gathering and report writing.
- Work closely with Extension leaders to ensure Extension’s programs, funding, contracting, hiring and outreach meet federal and state civil rights laws and University policies.
- Monitor participation, access and service data for Extension; use disaggregated metrics to identify gaps; recommend adjustments to programming or policies based on findings.
- Track national trends – including in higher education and Extension systems – and regulatory changes (particularly USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) policies) that may impact Extension’s work. Inform Extension leaders, faculty and staff about what those trends and regulatory changes mean for Extension’s work. Recommend and implement ongoing improvement strategies.
Support Extension capacity-building efforts to serve all Minnesotans - 45%
- Build and deepen trusting relationships with key leaders, faculty, educators and staff in Extension to foster learning across the college, honor research and community-based knowledge, and collaborate closely with communities so that Extension remains a trusted partner for all Minnesotans.
- Provide input into Extension’s annual work and strategy plans to achieve effective Tribal engagement, access and civil rights compliance.
- Work with the Director of Tribal Engagement, Access and Civil Rights to create and deliver training and tools around access, collaborative frameworks, effective Tribal relationships and related topics. Travel to Extension teams across the state to share this information and best practices and consult as needed.
- Provide counsel to faculty, educators and other employees to enhance their effectiveness in serving all Minnesota communities and contribute to Extension’s culture of fairness and excellence.
- Create a mechanism for quickly answering questions and providing consultation on specific access requests made by community members related to Extension programming, education and events.
- Help facilitate mechanisms for elevating Extension employee feedback and engaging interested Extension employees in opportunities to learn about and contribute to initiatives that promote inclusion, access and compliance.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- 6 years of relevant professional experience.
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.
- Demonstrated experience in developing and delivering impactful training and tools and/or contributing to greater access to programming, policies and compliance.
- Knowledge of participatory and organizational change models, and the research to understand and implement tools and best practices.
- Demonstrated experience facilitating discussions with tact, professionalism and confidentiality to cultivate a respectful environment of collegiality, shared inquiry and responsibility, reciprocal partnerships and collective accomplishment.
- Experience translating data and analytics to develop insights, inform, drive decisions and measure impact.
- Experience in conflict resolution, including experience navigating challenging issues.
- An understanding of federal (including USDA NIFA), state and local laws and policies related to civil rights compliance.
- Excellent verbal and written communication, and presentation skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Advanced education focusing on relevant compliance fields
- Experience working in a decentralized organization and building relationships with key stakeholders.
- Experience partnering at all levels of an organization with a capacity to influence stakeholders, partners and senior leaders without having direct authority.
- Proficiency in Microsoft and Google Workspace, and Zoom applications.
- Relevant experience working in higher education, public/governmental organizations or non-profits.
- Experience working with Indigenous and all types of communities.
Additional Requirements
- Valid driver's license and own means of transportation with required liability insurance.
- When not in the assigned office location, employees must be reachable with a number that will be published in the Extension staff directory.
- Must have reliable internet if/when working outside of the assigned office location.
- Ability to maintain a flexible work schedule, including occasional evening or weekend work.
- Ability to drive to locations across Minnesota or nationally with overnight stays multiple times per year.
- This position must work on the St. Paul campus at least 3 days/per week, with flexible work opportunities outside of that schedule, based on agreement with the Director of Tribal Engagement, Access and Civil Rights.
- This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship.
