Public Health Job Opportunities

Extension Educator – Rural Health, Wellness, & Safety (Kearney-Franklin)

Application Review Date: 5/9/16

UNL Extension is seeking an Extension Education, focused on Rural Health, Wellness & Safety. 

Focused Assignment – Food, Nutrition & Health (approximately 80% of time):
This is a full-time, year-round, non-tenured position. The educator’s home base will be Minden, Kearney County. The subject matter focus for this educator is Rural health, wellness and safety. This educator’s primary responsibility is to develop and deliver educational programs and resources as an active participant in one or more of Nebraska Extension’s statewide action teams. This educator’s geographic region includes Kearney, Franklin, Phelps, Harlan, Gosper, Furnas. This educator is expected to interact closely with individuals, families, schools, and communities to deliver programs in their geographic area as well as statewide based on the intentions of the statewide action team. The primary targeted audience includes individuals, families, schools and communities. The outcomes of this focused Extension educational program include: a) nutrition education and health promotion; b) food safety education; and c) food literacy, which will result in social, environmental and/or economic changes over time. In this position the extension educator will:
1. Use innovative strategies and current technologies to design, develop, deliver and evaluate programs for a robust statewide extension education program in the Food, Nutrition and Health Interest Group.
2. Engage in a collaborative-learning environment with food, nutrition and other health professionals, and with targeted individuals and families to encourage the adoption of research-based information in decision-making.
3. Deliver educational programming for rural health, wellness, and safety statewide and within the assigned geographic region. Within the assigned geographic region the educator will also engage with unit leaders, extension advisory committees, and local stakeholders to determine needs and provide access to educational opportunities.
4. Work in a multi-disciplinary team environment with extension professionals and other partners to translate and teach the latest research based information.
5. Use entrepreneurial practices to secure grants, program fees and partnerships to leverage the extension program’s resource base and reach.
6. Partner with research faculty to engage in action research.
7. Practice effective extension scholarship by conducting needs assessments, identifying priorities, measuring program impact and reporting results at professional meetings and in professional publications.
8. Develop a professional development plan to enhance and maintain professional expertise in nutrition, foods, and wellness education, health promotion, community nutrition and related fields, and extension pedagogy.
9. Support the youth development program in areas related to food, nutrition and health focused assignment.

Organizational Assignment (approximately 20%):
The focused extension educator will also connect with the host county unit leader for the purpose of developing local support for Nebraska Extension. These responsibilities include:
1. Support the Unit Leader with engagement of advisory or policy groups such as the Extension Board or County Commissioners/Board of Supervisors.
2. Cooperate with local faculty and staff in the home county to promote effective teamwork, and support local “all-hands” Extension events.
3. Support the Unit Leader in coordinating a total Extension Program in all subject matter areas and advocating for local educational needs,
4. Build and foster community relationships for Extension and a positive, professional image of the University of Nebraska – Lincoln.

Some travel is required. Must meet driver standards according to UNL policy and have a valid driver’s license. Criminal history background check will be conducted.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree required; one degree in health education, public health or closely related field. Master’s degree must be completed by start date.
• Successful experience teaching in a formal or non-formal setting.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate (i.e. publications, presentations, web, and social media).

 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in working with individuals, coworkers, and teams to accomplish individual and/or group goals, as evidenced by college, career, and/or community activities.
• Outstanding leadership skills as demonstrated by roles in college, career, and/or community activities.
• Ability to utilize electronic and online technologies for educational program delivery.
• Understanding of different ethnic and socioeconomic audiences and a commitment to developing and delivering both inclusive and targeted programming.
• Successful experience in developing financial support for educational programs including grant writing, fund generation, contracting and/or cost recovery efforts.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage multiple priorities and programs.
• Understanding of agricultural related health issues.