Extension Agent, Golden Prairie District, Horticulture

~ Kansas State University is a comprehensive, research, land-grant institution serving students and the people of Kansas, the nation, and the world. ~

Since its founding in 1863, the university has evolved into a modern institution of higher education, committed to quality programs, and responsive to a rapidly changing world and the aspirations of an increasingly diverse society. Together with other major comprehensive universities, K-State shares responsibilities for developing human potential, expanding knowledge, enriching cultural expression, and extending its expertise to individuals, business, education, and government.

These responsibilities are addressed through an array of undergraduate and graduate degree programs, research and creative activities, and outreach and public service programs. In addition, its land-grant mandate, based on federal and state legislation, establishes a focus to its instructional, research, and extension activities which is unique among the Regents' institutions.

Position Overview

Golden Prairie District is comprised of Trego, Gove, and Logan Counties in northwest Kansas. The current district staff consists of two agents, three office professionals, and three 4-H program assistants. The district has a combined population of approximately 9,000 with ten rural communities and six school districts.

Location: Offices in WaKeeney, Grainfield and Oakley. Primary office location for this position is Grainfield.

Responsibilities

• Extension agents are professional educators who serve as a link between Kansas State University and communities across Kansas.
• Agents are administratively responsible to the Director of K-State Research and Extension (represented by a designated administrator) and the local extension board.
• Provide primary leadership for the dissemination of research-based information and implementation and development of horticulture educational programs.
• Programming will include, but not be limited to: horticulture crop production, marketing and economics, conservation of natural resources, horticultural waste management, and landscape maintenance and improvement.
• Provide leadership for 4-H youth development programming related to horticulture.
• Programming will include these steps:
  • Identify local needs and emerging issues related to K-State Research and Extension’s five Grand Challenges (water, community vitality, health, developing tomorrow’s leaders and global food systems) by engaging with program development committees and other community organizations and professionals.
  • Design appropriate educational strategies to engage clientele. These strategies might include delivering educational programming in a community-based setting, coordinating events and activities that provide experiential learning opportunities, using innovative technologies, providing individual educational consultations and facilitating groups seeking similar educational outcomes. Some overnight travel and evening and weekend work will be required.
  • Develop and implement strategies to expand the reach of educational programming to under-served audiences and to make certain K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider of educational programming.
  • Collect evidence of educational program impact.
  • Develop specialized knowledge and skills by engaging as a member of the Horticulture Program Focus Team.
• Secure external funding such as grants, gifts and cost recovery to supplement local tax revenue to support and expand educational programming.
• Serve as a member of the Golden Prairie District team cooperating in the planning and delivery of district-wide programming and related events.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree with knowledge of horticulture sciences as evidenced by academic courses, professional development and/or professional experience.
• Evidence of strong academic and/or professional performance as documented by college transcripts, acceptance into a graduate program or documented success in increasingly responsible professional positions.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with individuals, groups and through mass media.
• Leadership skills as evidenced by working with individuals, groups and co-workers.
• Access to a personal vehicle and the ability to obtain/maintain a valid driver’s license.

Preferred:

• Master’s Degree.
• Experience in managing volunteers.
• Experience working with adults and youth from various ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Commitment to personal professional development.
• Ability to utilize electronic communication and computer applications to fulfill programming responsibilities.
• Self-motivation and ability to work with a minimum of supervision, balancing multiple projects.
• Ability to design, promote, implement and evaluate educational programs.
• Knowledge of adult and youth teaching/learning processes.
• Experience in seeking and administering external grant funding.

Compensation

• Salary commensurate with professional experience and available funding as negotiated by the area extension director, the local extension board and the applicant. The base starting salary is $39,000 for a BS degree with no professional experience and $42,000 for a MS degree with no professional experience.
• Extension agents are Kansas State University educators and have the Board of Regents retirement plan, health and life insurance and vacation and sick leave. Depending on the date of hire, there is a minimum of 30-day waiting period for health insurance. Click here for a complete list of benefits.
• Reimbursement for travel related to achieving program objectives.
• New agents are provided approximately 15 days of new agent professional development on the K-State campus during the first six to nine months. These 15 days are spread out in four different weeks. In addition, new agents spend at least three weeks with a mentor agent during the first year.

To Apply

Please click "Apply" below to upload your cover letter and resume.

• For more information about the position, contact Stacey Warner, Leader, Ext Operations, 785-532-5790.
• To hear personal accounts from Extension Agents, preview videos here.
• For more information about K-State Research and Extension, please click here.

Application Date: Screening of applications will begin March 8, 2018 and continue until the position is filled. This position is available on or after March 8, 2018. The starting date is negotiable.

~ Kansas State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans and actively seeks diversity among its employees. ~