MU TITLE: Extension Specialist/Assistant/Associate/Full Extension Professional

LOCATION: Ava, Missouri and primarily serves the counties of Douglas, Texas, Howell, Wright, Ozark, Webster, and Taney Counties in the Southwest Region.

The University of Missouri (MU) Office of Extension and Engagement’s distinct land-grant mission is to improve lives, communities, and economies by producing relevant, reliable, and responsive educational strategies throughout Missouri. Our dedicated and knowledgeable specialists and staff collaborate with researchers and community leaders to develop and deliver programs that address the needs of Missourians, including educational attainment, economic development, and healthy people. For more information about MU Extension and Engagement, please visit https://extension2.missouri.edu/.

MU Extension's Community Health program's goal is to achieve optimal health and well-being for every Missourian at every stage of life, with special recognition for the needs of vulnerable populations.

The Field Specialist in Community Health will provide a link between the community, health educators, health professionals, schools, local public health agencies and community organizations to assist implementing strategies to improve the health and well-being of individuals and the community.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The University of Missouri is seeking an exceptional individual to bring innovation and leadership to enhance the impact of the University in the lives of Missourians at every stage of life. This position provides day-to-day academic, administrative, and strategic leadership for the Community Health Engagement & Outreach Unit and its affiliated faculty and staff.

This position provides leadership to design, develop, deliver, and evaluate Community and Public Health activities by working collaboratively with colleagues, faculty, regional Extension faculty and staff, public health and healthcare systems, community-based organizations, and local stakeholders.

The position is responsible for facilitating cross-disciplinary education outreach, establishing, and cultivating relationships and connections with stakeholders, and working across disciplines to positively impact the health and well-being of individuals, organizations, and the community by using qualitative and quantitative data to establish goals and objectives to address the region’s highest health priorities.

This position will facilitate relationships and build capacity to support translational research.

Extension Specialist positions are a 12-month appointment, not on a promotion track.

Field Specialist are Extension faculty positions on a 12-month, non-tenure track appointments to the promotable ranks of assistant, associate, or full Extension Professional. Rank will be determined at the time of appointment based on qualifications and experience in accordance with the MU Extension faculty standards.

This position will hold a working title of Field Specialist in Community Health.

As a Field Specialist, your workload distribution at appointment will be 90% Extension Teaching and 10% Traditional Service.

This appointment is renewable annually at the discretion of the University and workload distribution may change at the discretion of Extension leadership. Circumstances affecting continued employment include, but are not limited to, work performance, fund availability, and educational priorities.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Implement daily operations of community and public health projects.
• Provide leadership in community and public health, working with community stakeholders, faculty, and staff within the MU System, incorporating university and extension research and innovative ideas.
• Utilize community and public health principles to build CHEO programs with colleagues, teaching and research faculty, Extension faculty and staff, community partners, and other stakeholders to promote translational research, and health equity and wellbeing.
• Provide educational leadership by planning, designing, implementing, and evaluating culturally competent education programs, with a focus on practicing cultural humility.
• Develop, organize, coordinate, and lead comprehensive learning opportunities incorporating community and public health, translational research and addressing health, wellbeing, and creating a culture of health.
• Assist with generating and managing revenue to sustain and grow community and public health opportunities, including participating with grant writing, exploration of funding, and grant management.
• Build and sustain strong connections with MU faculty and staff, community and professional leaders and other partners in fields and disciplines to address root causes for health inequity in local communities.
• Be the liaison of the CHEO program area with community members, partners, stakeholders, and university faculty and staff.
• Provide leadership in Community Health and Public Health regional events, programming, and efforts.
• Other duties as assigned.

PROFESSIONAL EXPECTATIONS

• Identify future trends and stay abreast of current trends and research-based knowledge to effectively create relevant, reliable, and responsive education. Apply this knowledge in programming, educational outreach, presentations at professional meetings, grant proposals and more.
• Actively participate in professional development opportunities to continuously improve skills and increase research-based knowledge.
• Exhibit a high personal standard of excellence, be an effective team player, and demonstrate inclusivity, civility, and respect for all.
• Operate with minimal guidance; be a self-directed learner who is flexible and adaptable to changing environments.

UNIVERSITY INFORMATION

The University of Missouri, also known as Mizzou and MU, is the Flagship University of the four-campus University of Missouri system. It is the state’s land-grant university and one of the most comprehensive universities in the United States. MU’s broad undergraduate programs and its’ graduate, professional and research programs attract annual enrollment of more than 30,000 students. MU is centrally located in Columbia, MO, which is consistently ranked as one of America’s most livable cities. MU Extension programs are located on all four campuses and in 114 counties and St. Louis city.

MU is fully committed to achieving the goal of a diverse and inclusive academic community of faculty, staff, and students. We seek individuals who are committed to this goal and our core campus values of respect, responsibility, discovery, and excellent.

LEADERSHIP RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Programmatic supervision is received from the statewide Community Health Engagement & Outreach Education Director. Regional leadership is received from the Southwest Regional Director.

Master's degree (ranked NTT appointment – Assistant Extension Professional title), bachelor's degree (non-ranked academic appointment - Extension Specialist title) in a discipline or program related to public health, population health, nursing, social work, psychology, or related field at time of appointment.

Employment of a candidate with a bachelor’s degree will be as an extension specialist with the working title of field specialist. Faculty hired as an extension specialist will have the expectations of completing a master’s degree in an approved subject matter area. The faculty member will remain an extension specialist until completion of the approved master’s degree, or if he or she has a master's degree, has completed the agreed upon coursework.

Candidates must demonstrate they are authorized to work in the United States at time of hire. Sponsorship of U.S. temporary employment visas will not be offered for this position.

Candidates will be evaluated on:

• Level of post grad education

• Experience in research, program development and/or evaluation
• Basic knowledge and experience in facilitation of training, educational programming, or multi-disciplinary collaborative work

Successful candidate will also demonstrate the following:

Effective and innovative teaching strategies that engage others. Must be able to integrate new and emerging technology into teaching strategies.

Effective listening, written and oral communication skills including public speaking and presentation abilities.

Organizational skills, interpersonal skills, problem-solving abilities, and collaborative leadership experiences.

Complete the brief online application and be prepared to upload:

• Cover Letter
• Resume/CV
• Copies of all academic transcripts, and
• List of 3-5 references

It’s recommended that these required documents be uploaded as one PDF file as a resume document. For questions regarding the online application process contact or call 573.882.7976. For technical problems with the online application process contact or call 573.882.5000.

This position is eligible for University benefits. The University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, and educational fee discounts. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at http://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits

Diversity Commitment

The University of Missouri is fully committed to achieving the goal of a diverse and inclusive academic community of faculty, staff and students. We seek individuals who are committed to this goal and our core campus values of respect, responsibility, discovery and excellence.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Equal Opportunity is and shall be provided for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without unlawful discrimination on the basis of their race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable state or federal law. This policy shall not be interpreted in such a manner as to violate the legal rights of religious organizations or the recruiting rights of military organizations associated with the Armed Forces or the Department of Homeland Security of the United States of America. For more information, call the Director of Employee and Labor Relations at 573-884-2577.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.

EEO IS THE LAW

To read more about Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) please use the following links:

• EEO is the Law English Version
• EEO is the Law Spanish Version
• EEO is the Law Chinese Version