Field Specialist in Nutrition and Health

Hiring Department

University of Missouri (MU) Office of Extension and Engagement
Health & Human Sciences Extension

Job Description

MU TITLE: Assistant/Associate/Full Extension Professional

LOCATION: Clinton, Missouri, and primarily serves Henry County and Hickory, Benton, and St. Clair Counties in the West Central Region, with additional service across the state as needed.

SPECIALIST EMPHASIS

The Nutrition and Health Specialist is responsible for planning, implementing, and evaluating educational programs in nutrition, health, community health, food safety, food resource management, and physical activity promotion education for Missourians.

This position is responsible for planning, implementing, and evaluating educational programs and services in Nutrition, Home, and Family. The Health & Human Sciences Extension program promotes optimal well-being of individuals, families, and communities. Nutrition and health education specialists improve dietary quality, increase physical activity, manage chronic diseases, and reduce overweight, obesity, and healthcare costs for Missourians.

This position is a 12-month, ranked, non-tenure track appointment at the rank of assistant, associate, or full Extension Professional. Rank will be determined at the time of appointment based on qualifications and experience in accordance with the MU Extension faculty standards. This position will hold the working title of Field Specialist in Nutrition and Health Education.

As a Field Specialist, your workload distribution at appointment will be 90% Extension Teaching and 10% Traditional Service.

This appointment is renewable annually at the discretion of the University and workload distribution may change at the discretion of Extension leadership. Circumstances affecting continued employment include, but are not limited to, work performance, fund availability, and educational priorities.

CORE DUTIES OF MU EXTENSION SPECIALISTS

MU Extension Specialists deliver the University of Missouri to all Missourians. They serve all Missourians by bringing research-based solutions to work on local problems. MU Extension Specialists teach new and foundational concepts, link people to resources, support partner organizations, participate in research, train volunteers, evaluate programs, foster innovation, and serve communities. MU Extension Specialists work as a team to expand educational attainment, foster economic development, and improve health outcomes. These core duties fall into three major areas:

Educate, Create, and Connect

• Educate. MU Extension specialists design, conduct, and evaluate educational programs. MU Extension specialists teach research-based information via meetings, in-person and online courses, continuing education classes, technical assistance, volunteer training, media, websites, consultation, and other educational methods. They provide educational programs that support the individual, organizational, and community goals of Missouri’s learners and clients.
• Create. MU Extension specialists develop innovative and research-informed educational products, services, materials, and other scholarly works. These include curricula, publications, presentations, educational tools, websites, and similar resources. MU Extension specialists obtain and use extramural funding to support creative works. MU Extension specialists contribute to the scholarship of Extension and Engagement by evaluating programs that result in learning and behavior changes that impact individuals and communities.
• Connect. MU Extension specialists engage with learners, stakeholders, volunteers, and communities, including county extension councils, government officials and agencies, partners, and University and professional organizations. MU Extension specialists listen and respond with care. MU Extension specialists intentionally foster engaged partnerships and robust connections to the wide array of programs offered by the whole University of Missouri System.

Professional Expectations

• Engage with councils, commissions, legislators, and stakeholders in all coverage counties to identify educational needs and then collaborate with appropriate internal and external partners to meet those needs.
• Create an annual plan-of-work that reflects local needs and aligns with statewide program area efforts. Provide a monthly report of impact to county extension council assigned, supervisors, county commissioners and others, regarding programmatic efforts. Attend at least one county extension council meeting each month and provide an oral update on program efforts.
• Collaborate with campus-based specialists on research projects and then deliver findings from those efforts via demonstrations, field days, courses, workshops, consultations, publications, and appropriate media.
• Work in collaboration with other specialist in counties of responsibility to serve the needs of the headquartered county, ensuring counties receive promotional materials in advance of programming.
• Effectively work with supervisors, other specialists, and local leaders to complete administrative tasks as needed.
• Demonstrate competency in communication, educational programming, subject matter knowledge, educational delivery, volunteer management, grant acquisition, teamwork, interpersonal relations, organization knowledge, leadership, and professionalism.
• Offer timely, research-based information during times of natural disasters or similar events.
• Represent the University of Missouri on boards and committees as assigned.
• Participate in professional development events to improve both technical and leadership skills.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned to support the mission of MU Extension.

Additional Expectations

• MU Extension programs often occur outside of normal business hours. MU Extension Specialists should expect to attend these events as needed to meet the needs of learners, clients, and stakeholders.
• MU Extension Specialists travel regularly throughout Missouri and occasionally to out-of-state locations. MU Extension requires specialists to have a valid Missouri driver’s license, a legally operating vehicle, and wireless telephone/data service for university use. MU Extension specialists receive reimbursement for approved travel expenses, per University of Missouri policy.

MU EXTENSION LEADERSHIP RECEIVED

The Senior Program Director for Health & Human Sciences Extension provides overall programmatic leadership. Programmatic supervision comes from the Education Director for the Health & Human Sciences Extension and administrative oversight from the Regional Director for the West Central Region.

Qualifications

An earned PhD or master’s degree at time of appointment.

Candidates will be evaluated on:

• Degree in nutrition, dietetics, health, exercise physiology, food science or related area with appropriate coursework exhibited.
• Demonstrated ability to translate research into educational programs in nutrition, health, food science, and physical activity promotion for audiences of all age groups is critical.
• Ideal candidates will also have successful experiences in youth and adult education.
• Successful administrative and leadership experience, particularly in managing fiscal, human, and data resources
• Effective and innovative teaching strategies that engage others, including strong listening, written, and oral communication skills
• The ability to integrate new and emerging technology into teaching strategies
• Experience designing, conducting, and evaluating educational programs, and applying research-based knowledge in subject matter areas related to community cooperation and collaboration, capacity assessment and action planning, needs assessment, citizen participation, leadership, resource management, and volunteerism.

Anticipated Hiring Range

This position offers a minimum starting salary of $58,000, with the final salary determined based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience.

Application Materials

Complete the brief online application and be prepared to upload:

• Cover Letter
• Resume/CV
• Copies of all unofficial academic transcripts, and
• a list of 3-5 references