Extension Agent I - III - 4-H Youth Development

Ext Agent I - III

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is creating an environment that affirms community across all dimensions. We particularly welcome applicants who can contribute to such an environment through their scholarship, teaching, mentoring, and professional service. If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 352-392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800-955-8771 (TDD) or visit Accessibility at UF .

You Belong at a University that’s Leading the Way

The University of Florida (UF), the flagship university for the state of Florida, is a land grant institution with core values of unique purpose, excellence, integrity, collaboration and partnership, lifelong learning, responsiveness, innovation, communication, and global reach. 

The Opportunity

This Extension Agent position is a full-time, permanent status accruing faculty member of the University of Florida working jointly for UF/IFAS Extension and Escambia County. The 4-H Youth Development Agent focuses on 1) volunteer development and 2) positive youth development through collaboration with 4-H volunteers, 4-H Extension colleagues, and Extension colleagues in the other Extension program areas. The 4-H Agent and a team of volunteers and staff makes a positive impact on the growth and development of youth in Escambia County and shapes future generations of leaders. This 4-H Agent provides overall leadership in Escambia County for the 4-H project areas of animal sciences and agricultural sciences and the 4-H volunteers who support those projects.

What You’ll Do

• Recruit adult volunteers to lead community and/or project based 4-H Clubs.
• Design, deliver, and evaluate educational programs to support 4-H volunteer identification, selection, orientation, training, utilization, recognition, and evaluation (ISOTURE: A Model for Effective Volunteer Management) using the Volunteer Resources Knowledge and Competencies (VRKC) taxonomy.
• Design, deliver, and evaluate educational programs to provide the appropriate developmental context for 4-H positive youth development (4-H Thrive Model).
• Ensure and monitor volunteer compliance with Florida 4-H youth protection policies.
• Build an advisory committee representative of your target clientele to assist you in identifying resources (human, fiscal, material) and programmatic priorities to reach target clientele.
• Obtain financial resources to support programs and manage its components: Escambia County 4-H Foundation, policies, records, risk, communication, and accountability.
• Collaborate with the Northwest Extension District 4-H Program Implementation Team (PIT) members by working with your peers to plan, teach, and evaluate virtual and face-to-face educational programs across the district or in multi-county settings.
• Possess or develop an area of expertise to share across the Northwest Extension District.
• Develop and maintain a social media and web presence including virtual program delivery and social media educational content.
• Serve as an educational first responder for county and university functions during natural disasters.

More about UF/IFAS Extension and Escambia County:

UF/IFAS employs more than 2,000 faculty and staff statewide. UF/IFAS Extension is a partnership between state, federal, and county governments with a mission of providing quality, relevant education, and research-based expertise to foster healthy people, a healthy environment, and a healthy economy. We employ 375 Extension Agents and have an office in each of Florida’s 67 counties. We attribute our success to a workforce that embraces the contributions of people of all backgrounds and ability levels. Our Extension Agents are a contributor to a community that provides space for innovation, creativity, collaboration, growth, and development for all.

Escambia County is the western most county in the Florida Panhandle. The southern end of the county is a vibrant, coastal community, and the mid to northern end of the county is a mixture of sub-urban and peri-urban communities with over 120,000 in forests and farmland. Escambia County has a population of approximately 322,000 people with approximately 48,000 youth ages 5-18 years old. UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County is located at 3740 Stefani Road in Cantonment – a northern suburb of Pensacola. The UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County team includes eight faculty members, five county support staff, and three EFNEP Nutrition Educators.

Employment is contingent on the results of a national background screening. Escambia County may require drug testing and additional requirements for employment.

Candidates must possess or obtain a Florida driver’s license, be able to work flexible hours, and be willing to occasionally work long and irregular hours, including evenings, weekends, and overnight travel.

Candidates will be reviewed as applications are received, but please be aware that interviews might not be scheduled until 4 to 6 weeks after the position closing date. Are you a good match? Apply today !

Commensurate with Education and Experience

What You’ll Bring (minimum requirements):

• Bachelor’s degree in youth development, agricultural education, education, animal science, environmental science, community development, sociology, or a related field.
• Self-starting, energetic, and team-oriented mindset.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Resourcefulness, creativity, enthusiasm, and innovativeness.
• Organizational, development, and management skills.
• Ability to establish solid partnerships and work in teams.
• Ability to use information technology and apply social media to Extension work.
• Expertise in managing competing priorities and adaptability to handle unexpected situations.
• Candidates must also have a commitment to UF core values of excellence, discovery & innovation, inclusion, freedom & civility, community, and stewardship. 

• Master’s degree.
• If hired solely with a bachelor’s degree, we require you make at least 50% progress towards earning your master’s degree within the first six years of employment then complete your degree.
• Candidates must hold a master’s degree to be hired as an Extension Agent II or higher. 
• Previous 4-H experience as an Extension Agent, member, or leader.
• Experience with 4-H clubs, camps, school enrichment, and after-school programs.
• Ability to establish residency in Escambia County within six months of employment.
• Experience with animal systems, agriculture, and/or environmental science.

Apply at Careers at UF by 11:55 p.m. (Eastern) of the posting end date, and attach:

• Cover letter that describes how your experience and qualifications have prepared you for this position
• Résumé or Curriculum vitae
• Unofficial copies of all transcripts (showing coursework) of your academic degrees

The following documents are also required and may either be submitted through the above link at the time of application or sent separately to our office (below).   

• Current and Previous Employment Form
• A minimum of 3 reference rating forms from your professional/academic references. Applicants are responsible for sending the rating form link to their references.
• Reference forms will be kept on file for 1 year and will be automatically used with any of our extension agent positions you apply for during that time.

Reference rating forms and unofficial transcripts not submitted at the time of application should be submitted/postmarked by the next business day after the position’s closing date. They may be submitted to:
UF IFAS Human Resources
Faculty Recruitment and Hiring
P O Box 110281
Gainesville, FL 32611-0281

[email protected]

Fax:  (352) 392-3226

Selected candidate will be required to provide an official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. A transcript will not be considered “official” if a designation of “Issued to Student” is visible.  Degrees earned from an education institution outside of the United States are required to be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approved by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) .

Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. The University of Florida is a public institution and subject to all requirements under Florida Sunshine and Public Record laws. 

The University of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Institution. The University and greater Gainesville community enjoy a variety of cultural events, restaurants, year-round outdoor recreational activities, and social opportunities.