Extension Instructor or Open Rank Extension Educator - Rural Prosperity Nebraska (Polk County)

Full job description OVERVIEW Based in Osceola, Nebraska, the incumbent serves Polk, Seward, Butler, York, Colfax, Platte, Nance, Merrick, and Hamilton Counties. As a Rural Prosperity Nebraska Extension professional, you will partner with communities to create vibrant, thriving places through community engagement and coaching. Your role is to connect with communities and community members, listen and learn what their goals are for their community, and support and empower communities by connecting them with resources, skills, and strategies for local success. Through outreach, relationship building, and collaboration with local leaders, you will support positive change in rural Nebraska. Key outcomes include: 1) a community engagement strategy, 2) identify community and educational development needs and opportunities, and 3) training and educational programming for community members and organizations prepared to facilitate locally driven strategies and solutions.
The RPN Extension professional will have interest, experience, and expertise in one or more of the following focus areas:

• People Attraction, Development and Retention - Support quality-of-life initiatives that make rural Nebraska communities great places that attract new residents and visitors and retain current community members.
• Entrepreneur-Focused Development – Create pathways to enhance rural economies by promoting and supporting local entrepreneurial development, diversification of new ventures, and building entrepreneurial networks.
• Leadership and Organizational Development – Community (particularly non-metro community) capacity building (e.g., leadership and organizational development, visioning, strategic planning, etc.). Build rural community capacity by fostering community-focused leadership, facilitation, strategic planning and organizational development.
• Regional Food Systems – Work with communities across the state to embark on building local food systems that meet the needs of everyone.

This twelve-month, non-tenure track position carries the title of extension instructor or open rank extension educator, 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 open rank 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.
Nebraska Extension professionals are committed to engaging with community partners, organizations, and all audiences, as well as individuals in ways that reflect an understanding and value for individual differences. Nebraska Extension strives to ensure that innovative programming, translational research, and learning opportunities promote equity and inclusion.
PROGRAMMATIC RESPONSIBILITIES (approximately 80%)

• Serves Nebraska communities by providing community coaching, a form of engagement that helps communities achieve their potential. This is accomplished by identifying development priorities, building networks, and offering assistance and resources tailored to their growth efforts. Conducts comprehensive mapping of communities within the region and identifies key players in community and economic development.
• Practices effective Extension scholarship by conducting needs assessments, identifying priorities, measuring program impact, and reporting results at professional meetings and in professional publications.
• Uses your networks to identify opportunities to connect communities to resources both within our Team and external agencies and organizations (e.g., Extension, University and outside the University).
• Uses innovative strategies and cutting-edge technologies to design, develop, deliver, and evaluate programs for a robust statewide Extension education program in rural prosperity in collaboration with Extension specialists.
• Works within a multi-disciplinary team environment of extension professionals, faculty, and other partners to engage in research, translate, and teach the latest research-based information.
• Implements entrepreneurial practices to secure grants, program fees and partnerships to leverage the Extension educational program’s resource base and reach.
• Develops a close and defined working relationship with the Rural Prosperity Nebraska (RPN) Program Area Leader and Engagement Zone Coordinator(s). Develops a plan to leverage your stakeholder reach and engagement within and beyond your RPN Accountability Region.
• Develops and implements a professional development plan to enhance and maintain professional expertise specific to community vitality and Extension pedagogy.

ORGANIZATIONAL CITIZENSHIP/LEAD EDUCATOR ROLE (approximately 20%)

• Serves in, 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 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 Opportunities; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; and Civil Rights 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 diversity 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, Extension programming, and work environments that are inclusive of all forms of diversity. Consistent with the University’s N2025 Strategic Plan, we see every person and every interaction as important to our collective well-being 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 organizational or community development, economics, leadership studies, community or regional planning, education, rural sociology, entrepreneurship, business administration, landscape architecture, planning – with a focus on community-based, regional, urban, environmental and/or infrastructure, or closely related field (extension educator) OR bachelor’s degree in organizational or community development, economics, leadership studies, community or regional planning, education, rural sociology, entrepreneurship, business administration, landscape architecture, planning – with a focus on community-based, regional, urban, environmental and/or infrastructure, or closely related field (extension instructor). If hired as an instructor, the incumbent will be expected to complete a master’s degree within the initial five-year appointment period and make satisfactory progress toward the approved master’s, assessed annually.
• Successful experience teaching in a formal or non-formal setting.
• Demonstrated ability to clearly communicate in writing, orally, and/or online.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven experience working with individuals, coworkers, and teams to accomplish individual and/or group goals, as evidenced by community, career, and/or college activities.
• Outstanding leadership skills as demonstrated by roles in community, career, and/or college activities.
• Related work with different ethnic and socioeconomic audiences and a commitment to developing and delivering both inclusive and targeted programming to assist underserved audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to network effectively with businesses and/or community leaders.
• Familiarity with rural communities in Nebraska.
• Experience with or understanding of developing and delivering educational programs focused on rural prosperity Nebraska priority issues.
• Ability to speak language(s) other than English; Spanish preferred.

Posted Salary
How to Apply Click “Apply for this Job” and complete the faculty information form. Attach the following documents:

• A letter of interest that describes your qualifications for the job and anticipated contributions.

• Your curriculum vitae or resume (attach as “Curriculum Vitae”).

• Contact information for three (3) professional references.

In addition, within the application, please complete the required supplemental question(s), one specifically describing your experience working in teams or groups and your anticipated contributions to creating inclusive environments in which every person and every interaction matters. See https://ianr.unl.edu/tips-writing-about-commitment-to-deib for guidance in writing this statement.