"Extension Instructor or Open Rank Extension Educator - FNH EXCITE Rural Health"

Job Details

Working Title: Extension Instructor or Open Rank Extension Educator - FNH EXCITE Rural Health

Department: NE Ext Engagement Zone 3-12352

Requisition Number: F_250055

Posting Open Date: 08/27/2025

Application Review Date: 09/29/2025

Open Until Filled: Yes

Description of Work:

OVERVIEW This position is based in Kearney, Nebraska, with a multi-state accountability region that serves south-central Nebraska and north-central Kansas. The program area focus for this education professional is Food, Nutrition, and Health (FNH), with an emphasis on rural health and wellbeing. The incumbent will be part of the Extension Collaborative on Immunization Teaching and Engagement (EXCITE), focusing on adult immunization education, which includes the following objectives:

• Collaborate with local partners at the community level to increase the public’s confidence in adult vaccinations.
• Increase Extension professionals’ knowledge of and ability to educate communities using a model for making sustainable health decisions.
• Expand and strengthen community partnerships with health departments, healthcare providers, and community-based organizations, tailored to the specific needs of each community.
• Integrate vaccine education across program areas with their Extension colleagues, community health workers, and volunteers as a core part of Nebraska Extension’s ongoing outreach.

Primary audiences include rural and medically underserved individuals, including but not limited to farmers and migrant labor, pregnant people, adolescents and young adults, rural and local healthcare and community service providers, volunteers and other trained community messengers, and seniors.

The Food, Nutrition, and Health extension professional will contribute to the integrated (extension, research, and teaching) land-grant mission of IANR as a scholar and citizen in community engagement and promoting healthy humans. In the Human Sciences, we believe in the purposeful integration of disciplines to address critical issues that challenge individuals, communities, and society. Nebraska Extension is an organization that values excellence. As a member of the Nebraska Extension team, you are expected to create and deliver world-class learning experiences focused on critical issues that empower Nebraskans to improve their lives.

This twelve-month, non-tenure track position carries the title of open rank extension educator or extension instructor, depending on the candidate’s level of education. Those possessing a graduate-level degree in the requested area of instruction will be considered for an educator position, a full-time, promotable, non-tenure track appointment. Those in possession of an undergraduate degree in the requested area of instruction will be considered for an instructor position, a full-time, non-promotable, non-tenure track appointment that will be renewed annually for a maximum of five years in the appointment. If hired as an instructor, the incumbent will be expected to make satisfactory progress toward and complete a master’s degree within the initial five-year appointment period. As part of the Nebraska benefits package, UNL offers tuition remission for full-time employees, up to 15 credit hours per year. Once the master’s degree is earned within that period, the position will advance to an assistant extension educator appointment.

PROGRAMMATIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

• 50% – Provides immunization education in Nebraska and Kansas. This includes incorporating at least one curriculum identified from the EXCITE Adult Immunization Awareness and Education Integration Projects, which will be determined in coordination with other North Central Region EXCITE Educators.
• 25% – Provides leadership and professional development to Extension professionals in the region. This includes guidance on integrating immunization education into existing work, as well as into volunteer and/or community health worker training curricula.
• 15% - Personal professional development, scholarship, program evaluation, and reporting.
• 10% – Develops and maintains immunization community partnerships at the community, regional, or state levels.

PROGRAMMATIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Exemplifies positive and professional behavior and attitude towards colleagues, clients, and partner organizations.
• Develops and delivers proactive, innovative, and engaging educational programs and products, using teaching methods and strategies that have significant reach, engagement, and impact in your county, accountability region, and, as appropriate, statewide and nationally.
• Establishes and sustains a strong local and regional clientele base and a comprehensive programming portfolio that is well-documented and shared with colleagues.
• Employs innovative strategies and technologies to design, develop, implement, and assess programs for a strong Extension education program/engagement at the county, accountability region, and statewide levels.
• Engages and teaches in a collaborative learning and problem-solving environment, working with assistants, educators, and specialists to encourage learners to adopt research-based decision-making information.
• Deliberately engages and works closely with one or more Extension specialists to fulfill your Extension responsibilities.
• Collaborates with specialists and research faculty to conduct applied and validation research (e.g., on-farm, ranch, or community) that can be amplified via multiple engagement platforms.
• Shows robust contributions to multidisciplinary team settings with Extension professionals and other internal and external partners to translate and convey the latest research-based information.
• Engages local, regional, and statewide partners to identify and address high-priority issues where Extension is well-positioned to make a significant contribution.
• Fosters a culture of collaboration with local, regional and statewide leaders that nurtures and strengthens positive relationships among the University, its partners, and the people we serve.
• Employs entrepreneurial practices to secure funding and partnerships, thereby enhancing the reach and impact of Extension’s programs.
• Creates ongoing programming revenue that supports the viability of individuals, teams, units, and the System.
• Leads and contributes value to high-performing Extension programming teams.
• Engages in personal and professional development opportunities that enhance knowledge, skills, and competencies relevant to your role.
• Supports youth development programs by contributing to areas related to your specific assignment.
• Conducts needs assessments, identifies priorities, develops various programs and engagement platforms to connect with diverse audiences, measures program impact, and reports the results in the annual report as well as to Extension boards, County Commissioners and Supervisors, State Senators, key stakeholders, at professional meetings, and in professional and Extension publications when appropriate.
• Collaborates with lead educators, Extension specialists, Extension advisory committees, and local stakeholders within their accountability region to assess needs and provide access to engagement opportunities through various platforms (e.g., focus groups, surveys, stakeholder meetings).
• Participates in teams comprised of assistants, educators, specialists, other staff or faculty, industry, and community leaders. These teams focus on current or future needs or strengths and strategize in program areas where you contribute.
• Fosters a culture of collaboration with local leaders and accountability in the region that nurtures and builds positive relationships among the University, its partners, and the communities we serve.
• Cultivates equitable and welcoming learning environments.
• Creates individual action plans and completes the corresponding Individual Action Plan Outcome Reports annually.
• Completes an annual IANR Individual Impact Report.

ORGANIZATIONAL CITIZENSHIP/LEAD EDUCATOR ROLE:

Contributes to or supports the specific Lead Educator roles as described in the Roles and Responsibilities of the Lead Educator document found at https://myextension.unl.edu/lead-educator-position-description as determined in partnership with the supervisor(s). Coordinates with Engagement Zone Coordinator(s) and other Extension professionals locally and in the accountability region to develop a robust Nebraska Extension presence by

• Cooperating with local faculty and staff in a team environment to promote Extension’s educational opportunities and impact in the host county.
• Cultivating a culture of collaboration with local leaders and community members that builds positive relationships between the University and the community.
• Supporting engagement of advisory or policy groups such as the Extension Board, Ag Society, or County Commissioners/Board of Supervisors.

Understands and adheres to Equal Employment Opportunity compliance efforts. Accepts committee assignments, reporting responsibilities, and other special ad hoc assignments as requested at the administrative unit, college/division, institute, and/or university level.Some travel is required. Must meet driver standards according to UNL policy and have a valid driver’s license.

Recognizing that collaboration and participation in teams enhances creativity, innovation, impact, and a sense of belonging, the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) and Nebraska Extension are committed to creating learning, research, and Extension programming environments where the unique contributions of each individual are acknowledged and valued. Consistent with the University’s N2025 Strategic Plan, we see every person and every interaction as important to our collective wellbeing and our ability to deliver on our mission.

This position is not eligible for employment-based permanent residency sponsorship. UNL may be able to sponsor temporary work authorization (e.g., H-1B) for the successful candidate.

As an EO/AA employer, the University of Nebraska considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation. See https://www.unl.edu/equity/notice-nondiscrimination.

Minimum Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in a health-related field; nutrition and health sciences; nutrition, exercise, and health sciences; dietetics; nutrition education; public health; or a closely related field (extension educator) OR bachelor’s degree in a health-related field; nutrition and health sciences; nutrition, exercise, and health sciences; dietetics; nutrition education; public health; or a closely related field (extension instructor). If hired as an instructor, the incumbent will be expected to make satisfactory progress towards and complete a master’s degree within the initial five-year appointment period.
• Successful experience teaching in a formal or non-formal setting.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate (i.e., publications, presentations, web, and social media).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Community health education specialist, MPH, registered nurse (RN), or registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN).
• Minimum of one year of experience in nutrition or a health related field.
• Outstanding leadership skills as demonstrated by roles in college, career, and/or community activities.
• Understanding of different ethnic and socioeconomic audiences and a commitment to developing and delivering both inclusive and targeted programming.
• Successful experience developing financial support for educational programs, including grant writing, fund generation, contracting, and/or cost recovery efforts.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage multiple priorities and programs.

Work Location (City, State): Kearney, NE

Criminal History Background Check Required: Yes