51-22 Extension Program Associate, Horticulture Volunteer and Outreach, Jefferson County

Colorado State University, United States

Updated: over 1 year ago
Location: Golden, COLORADO
Deadline: 08 Jul 2022

Posting Details
Posting Detail Information


Working Title 51-22 Extension Program Associate, Horticulture Volunteer and Outreach, Jefferson County
Position Location Golden, CO
Research Professional Position No
Posting Number 202200899AP
Position Type Admin Professional/ Research Professional
Classification Title Prof/Indiv Contrib II
Number of Vacancies 1
Work Hours/Week 40
Proposed Annual Salary Range The salary range for this position is $50,000-$62,000. Starting salary will be commensurate with education and experience.
Employee Benefits
Colorado State University (CSU) is committed to providing employees with a strong and competitive benefits package that supports you, your health, and your family. Visit CSU’s Human Resources website for detailed benefit plan information for permanent full-time and part-time faculty and administrative professional employees in the following University benefit areas: https://hr.colostate.edu/hr-community-and-supervisors/benefits/benefits-eligibility/ & https://hr.colostate.edu/prospective-employees/our-perks/ .
Desired Start Date 09/01/2022
Position End Date (if temporary)
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 07/08/2022
Description of Work Unit
We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of all backgrounds and abilities. We invite you to review Colorado State University’s Principles of Community that guide our mission and vision of access, teaching, service, and engagement.
Jefferson County is one of the five counties making up the Denver metropolitan area. Once an agricultural and mining area, Jefferson County is now a thriving suburban, business, industrial and residential community interspersed with small farms, urban agriculture and ranchettes. It’s located where the great plains meet the Rocky Mountains with some of the most magnificent scenery in the country. Outdoor lovers have three national forests and two state parks to choose from as well as a vibrant Open Space parks system. The Jefferson County Extension office, along with this position, is staffed by a county director; two 4-H youth development agents; a family and consumer sciences agent; a horticulture agent; a natural resources agent; a horticulture program associate; a plant diagnostic program associate; two 4-H program coordinators; a FLTI coordinator; and three support staff. To learn more about Jefferson County Extension, visit the website at http://jeffco.extension.colostate.edu or the Colorado State University Extension website at: http://extension.colostate.edu .
Position Summary
The Extension Program Associate for Horticulture Volunteer and Outreach will oversee the coordination of all aspects for the Colorado Master Gardener (CMG) program and the Native Plant Master (NPM) program in Jefferson County. Primary duties include volunteer recruitment; training and coordination; volunteer tracking; support for CMG and NPM activities that engage the public; ongoing recognition; documentation of program accomplishments; and program reporting. Horticulture and Natural Resources staff are expected to work in strong collaboration together on budgeting, program, and systems design to meet the needs of Jefferson County volunteers and community. This position works closely with a team of volunteers and identifies Jeffco community training needs and interests, selects programs, markets, and delivers non-credit educational programming to youth and adult audiences using a variety of delivery methods. The individual in this position works as a member of the local county Extension team and as a local representative of Colorado State University. This individual works under the supervision of the Extension Director for Jefferson County.
Required Job Qualifications
  • Completed bachelor’s degree.
  • Completion of Colorado Master Gardener training or willingness to obtain training.
  • Professional experience, training, or demonstrated knowledge within horticulture, nursery, greenhouse, landscaping, urban agriculture, native plants, or similar field.
  • Experience in volunteer management or closely related field.
  • Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in program efforts.
  • Ability to communicate through teaching, public speaking/presentation, and writing as demonstrated through application materials and experience.
  • Demonstrated experience working with people as individuals and in groups; ability to forge equitable and successful partnerships with community members, professionals, and organizations.
  • Demonstrated use of technology in managing and/or delivering educational programs including experience with database management.
  • Must have a valid driver’s license or the ability to obtain a driver’s license or access to a licensed driver by the employment start date.
Preferred Job Qualifications
  • Completed masters’ degree.
  • Knowledge and experience working with the Master Gardener, Master Naturalist, or similar programs.
  • Ability to speak Spanish.
Diversity Statement
Personal or professional commitment to diversity and inclusion as demonstrated by persistent effort, active planning, allocation of resources and/or accountability for diversity and inclusion outcomes.

Essential Duties


Job Duty Category Volunteer Recruitment, Development, and Management
Duty/Responsibility
  • Maintain, strengthen, and grow the County CMG and NPM program through coordinating the following activities – recruiting, interviewing, selecting, training, deploying, and recognizing volunteers; establishing project teams and coordinating volunteer project managers, tracking hours, monitoring, and redirecting project implementation as needed. 
  • Align processes within CMG and NPM programs that enhance the volunteer experience and meeting of shared goals such as volunteer management systems, outreach, and resource sharing.
  • Help the public gain answers to horticultural and program related questions through CMG and NPM volunteers
  • Instill quality customer service skills and diagnostic protocols in volunteers.
  • Provide guidance and support for volunteers and volunteer projects in the community.
  • Educate, manage, and support volunteers in use of a volunteer database that includes electronic scheduling and tracking, maintain email contact lists and databases, and create summary reports.
  • Organize continuing education opportunities for Extension volunteers.


Note: % of job assigned to this duty may be changed as the program develops.
Percentage Of Time 65%
Job Duty Category Program Planning, Development, Delivery, Evaluation, and Reporting
Duty/Responsibility
  • Responsible for data collection and reporting for relevant program areas.
  • Create a monthly newsletter alongside CMG volunteers.
  • Order, organize and mail NPM content to facilitators and other counties.
  • Collect and reports data, stories, pictures, and marketing to include in various CSU, Jeffco and Open Space publications, websites, social media, etc.
  • Based on community needs, assist in developing, delivering, and evaluating research based educational programming and information to the public using a variety of educational venues.
  • Provide customer service to volunteers and community.
  • Develop and promote culturally appropriate programming that is inclusive of youth and adult audiences that are diverse and/or underserved.
  • Actively participate in, develop a plan to invest and regularly report program activities and outcomes to the appropriate Program Reporting Units and other Extension program and reporting teams as appropriate to help focus, develop and implement local, area and regional program efforts. 
  • Participate in Colorado Master Gardener, Master Naturalist and/or Native Plant Master program leadership teams; and attend statewide volunteer coordination meetings.
  • Follow state program guidelines.
  • Participate in professional development opportunities as appropriate or required by the position.
  • Assist with updating and maintaining all website and social media platforms with relevant program related content and information.
  • Completion of the CMG training required of volunteers is required in the first year of hire.


Note: % of job assigned to this duty may be changed as the program develops.
Percentage Of Time 20%
Job Duty Category Initiate and Develop Relationships and Partnerships
Duty/Responsibility
  • Develop strong working relationships and coordinate resources and programs with other Colorado State University and Extension staff, educational institutions, non-profits, business and other county departments and stakeholders to enhance program development and delivery.
  • Promote and cross-market CSU Extension programs, partnerships, and activities in the community. 


Note: % of job assigned to this duty may be changed as the program develops.
Percentage Of Time 15%

Application Details


Special Instructions to Applicants
For full consideration, all materials must be RECEIVED no later than 11:59 PM Mountain Time on Friday, July 8, 2022. Please submit the following to apply:
  • Resume
  • Cover letter
  • Transcript of college(s) course work showing degrees conferred. Please remove all references to birth date or social security number.
  • Special Required Documentation – Statement (no more than 5 pages) of how you meet all applicable “Required” and “Preferred” Job Qualifications. Please respond to each bullet point separately.


All applicants will be contacted approximately 15 working days after the deadline regarding their status. Next steps and interview dates will be shared to those moving forward. Four professional references will be requested of applicants that advance in the interview process.
For questions regarding the application process, contact the Office of Equal Opportunity at (970) 491-5836 or email [email protected] . For questions regarding the job vacancy, responsibilities, and salary, please contact Deryn Davidson at (303) 678-6386 or [email protected] .
Conditions of Employment Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires), Valid Driver’s License, Travel, Use, Handling, or Exposure to hazardous materials - Pest control, soil fertility, weed management, etc., Special Requirements/Other - Colorado Master Gardener training required within the first year of hire, if not previously completed. Training will be provided through CSU at no cost.
Search Contact Deryn Davidson, (303) 678-6386 or [email protected]
EEO Statement
Colorado State University is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based on race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or pregnancy in its employment, programs, services and activities, and admissions, and, in certain circumstances, marriage to a co-worker. The University will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. Colorado State University is an equal opportunity and equal access institution and affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. The Office of Equal Opportunity is located in 101 Student Services.
The Title IX Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity, 123 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-1715, [email protected] .
The Section 504 and ADA Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, [email protected] .
The Coordinator for any other forms of misconduct prohibited by the University’s Policy on Discrimination and Harassment is the Vice President for Equity, Equal Opportunity and Title IX, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, Co. 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, [email protected] .
Any person may report sex discrimination under Title IX to the Office of Civil Rights, Department of Education .
Background Check Policy Statement
Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

Similar Positions