Extension Program Assistant/Associate-Volunteer Coordinator

State Extension allows you to teach without being tied to a classroom and school bell.

While our employees are located in NC County offices, they reap the benefits of employment at NC State University. Some of our benefits include:

• Paid time off
• Paid tuition
• Health Insurance
• Flexible Scheduling
• Retirement Savings
• Supplemental Benefits Programs
• WolfPerks!

You Belong Here! At NC State, our goal is for all employees to reach their fullest potential at work. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Proposition (https://news.hr.ncsu.edu/you-belong-here/) and learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone.

This position supports New Hanover County Cooperative Extension programs and the New Hanover County Arboretum, specifically focusing on volunteer recruitment, coordination, and recognition across multiple program areas; and overseeing the coordination of public and private grounds events, and large-scale Extension events.

Primary Function of Organizational Unit:

North Carolina Cooperative Extension gives our residents easy access to the resources and expertise of NC State University and NC A&T State University. Through educational programs, publications, and events, Cooperative Extension field faculty deliver unbiased, research-based information to North Carolina citizens.

The City of Wilmington is the county seat and is rich in historical significance and home to many recreational and cultural sites and events. Important contributors to the local economy include the state port, tourism, filmmaking, manufacturing, and financial technology.

More information about New Hanover County Extension Center, visit their website:
https://newhanover.ces.ncsu.edu

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Volunteer Coordination & Recruitment: Provide recruitment, training, and coordination for volunteers across our Extension programs and events, Arboretum grounds volunteers, gift shop volunteers, tours, and others.
• Grounds & Event Scheduling: Schedule and coordinate events on the Arboretum grounds, serving as the primary point of contact for elopements, after-hours professional photography sessions, and Saturday Cooperative Extension or partner events.
• Event Coordination: Manage volunteer staffing, shift coverage, logistics, and on-site support for annual community events, including the Extension Master Gardener Plant Sale, Art in the Arboretum, TreeFest, and the Cape Fear Native Plant Festival.
• Weekend Operations: Serve as the primary on-site staff person on Saturdays, ensuring a welcoming environment, providing customer service to visitors, and managing volunteer shifts for the gift shop and public event staff coverage.
• Volunteer Recognition: Design, coordinate, and execute volunteer appreciation initiatives, service milestones, annual thank-you events, and recognition to maintain high volunteer retention and morale.

Other Work/Responsibilities:

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Number of Permanent Employees this Position Supervises: 0

Percent of Time Spent: 0%

Identify if the Position is Mandatory / Essential / Key: Not Applicable

Work Schedule: Tuesday through Saturday schedule (40 hours per week).

Minimum Experience/Education:

The minimum requirement for employment with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension (NCCE) is a high-school diploma or equivalent. Advanced training in related fields is preferred.

Department Required Skills:

• Engaging, relationship-focused interpersonal skills; enjoys working closely with the volunteer base and providing responsive customer service.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented; able to manage recurring deadlines and multiple program priorities simultaneously.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for clear, friendly volunteer updates, event instructions, and public-facing messages.
• Solid general computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace (Google Drive, Google Docs); comfortable with email, spreadsheets, basic database entry.
• Ability to work Tuesday through Saturday schedule and comfortably navigate the 7-acre Arboretum grounds during events and weekend operations.

Preferred Years Experience, Skills, Training, Education:

• Experience with volunteer coordination or event management.
• General knowledge of horticulture or community education, with a strong interest in public-facing, volunteer-driven programming.

Required License or Certification:

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Valid NC Driver's License required?: Yes

Commercial Driver's License Required?: No

Physical Required?: No

Anticipated Hiring Range: $32,562 commensurate with experience and education.

Internal Transfer Only: No

Job Open Date: 09/08/2026

Quick Link: https://jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/234502

EEO:

NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.

If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu.

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.

NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Organization

NC State: Think and Do

NC State was founded with a purpose: to create economic, societal and intellectual prosperity for the people of North Carolina and the country. We began as a land-grant institution teaching the agricultural and mechanical arts. Today, we're a pre-eminent research enterprise with 12 colleges excelling in all major academic fields.

Our 34,000 high-performing students take what they learn in the classroom and apply it in the real world by conducting research, working in internships and co-ops, and performing acts of world-changing service. That experiential education ensures that they leave here ready to lead the workforce. NC State's 13:1 student-faculty ratio is one of the reasons why we're the best college for your money in North Carolina (Money) and the No. 5 best value among public universities nationally (U.S. News & World Report).

Overcoming Challenges, Improving Lives

NC State is one of only two universities in the nation leading two National Science Foundation Engineering Research Centers — one developing wearable, self-powered health monitors, and the other researching smart-grid technology. We're also leading interdisciplinary efforts to curb nuclear proliferation, help farmers confront climate change and build a new American manufacturing sector.

Our research doesn't just get published in a journal or sit on a shelf; it makes an impact. NC State is No. 6 nationwide in commercialization agreements based on university research, and we're No. 2 among universities without a medical school. Our Cooperative Extension Service provides research-based information to citizens in all 100 North Carolina counties. In addition, our industrial extension unit — Industry Expansion Solutions — has created an economic benefit for the state's manufacturers averaging $149 million per year since 2005.

Bright Minds Creating a Bold Future

NC State's 9,000 faculty and staff are world leaders in their fields, bridging the divides between academic disciplines and training high-caliber students to meet tomorrow's challenges. NC State students won two Goldwater scholarships, five Fulbright scholarships, one Churchill scholarship and a record-breaking 25 National Science Foundation graduate research fellowships in the 2016-2017 academic year. In addition, 25 faculty are members of the National Academies.

Our Centennial Campus, an award-winning public-private research campus, is home to more than 70 partner organizations working alongside more than 70 NC State research and academic units. Centennial is also the location of the innovative Hunt Library, which Time magazine has dubbed "the library of the future."

In Raleigh and Around the World

It all happens in one of the best cities in America. A top spot for job-seekers and tech professionals, Raleigh is nationally recognized as a leading urban center:

• No. 2 hot spot for tech jobs (Forbes, 2016)
• No. 3 best city for young professionals (Forbes, 2016)
• No. 4 best city for jobs (Glassdoor.com, 2017)
• No. 4 best place to live (U.S. News & World Report, 2016)
• Best big city in the Southeast (Time, 2016)
• Selected as a Google Fiber expansion city

With Durham and Chapel Hill, Raleigh anchors the Research Triangle, a national hotspot for high-tech enterprise. The top companies in the region — including IBM, Cisco Systems, SAS Institute, Biogen Idec and GlaxoSmithKline — are among the country's best employers. They also lead the way in hiring new NC State graduates.

More than 130 years after its creation, NC State continues to make its founding purpose a reality. Every day, our career-ready graduates and world-leading faculty make the fruits of learning and discovery available to people across the state, throughout the nation and around the world.