County Extension Director

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Auburn University, is seeking a dynamic County Extension Director to provide visionary leadership, oversee county-level programs, and serve the citizens of Butler County.

This individual will build partnerships and collaborate with multiple entities to deliver research-based educational opportunities that transform lives and communities. The County Extension Director is a community-based professional of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) who knows and represents the research-based resources and other resources available through Alabama A&M University and Auburn University. They are recognized as a community leader who addresses the contemporary challenges, issues, and opportunities facing the citizens of the county through university programs and knowledge.

Reasons you’ll love being a County Extension Director at ACES – Auburn:

• Job Satisfaction! Be a part of life-changing work in your community!
• Excellent full-time benefits that start on Day 1!
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance options!
• Work/life balance!
• • 4 weeks of vacation accrued each year.
  • 96 hours of sick leave accrued annually.
  • 7 paid holidays with the possibility for additional days during the holiday season.
  • 6 weeks of paid parental leave for the birth or adoption of a child (available for BOTH moms & dads).
• AU tuition assistance for you and your dependents after a year of service.
• Generous state retirement plan along with other voluntary retirement plan options and benefits.
• Fun and flexible work environment. Every day is different!
• Supportive leadership & peers. The ACES team supports you and your work!

• • Program Competence and Capacity:
  • • Learns major programs and resources available across program areas (Agriculture, Forestry, Natural Resources, Human Sciences, 4-H and Community & Economic Development) to become actively involved in serving traditional audiences and new audiences in and outside the office.
    • Develops leadership and engagement skills to be confident and credible when engaging communities of place, practice, interest, and identity across a broad spectrum of issues.
    • Functions as a member of the County 4-H Team and contributes administrative and programmatic support.
    • Maintains a subject matter emphasis related to one of four major program areas and participates in the appropriate priority program team (PPT).
    • Participates in professional development related to educational programming, county office administration, customer service, and public relations and marketing.

   

  County Office Administration:

  • • Serves as ACES primary representative in the county and develops an ethic of customer service as the front-door to the state’s land grant universities.
    • Responsible for the recruitment, hiring, supervision, professional development, mentoring and performance assessment of administrative support position, agent assistants, 4-H Extension Agents (4-H EA), and potentially an administrative professional position or temporary staff.
    • Responsible for the daily operation of the office, including staffing, scheduling, promoting a positive culture, and teamwork within and outside the office.
    • Responsible for county budget administration and the interface with County Commissions and municipalities to provide local support for office space, utilities, equipment, and program supplies.
    • Ensures compliance with laws, statutes, and University policy that regulate the handling of public funds and program implementation.
    • Understands, implements, and promotes EEO, ADA, Civil Rights, and other affirmative action polies and procedures within the County Extension Office and in the countywide community.

   

  Program Leadership:

  • • Provides leadership for county program initiatives, a balanced and comprehensive county plan-of-work, some program delivery related to subject matter emphasis, to ensure county office is current on programs and resources.
    • Serves as role model for others in using innovative and creative approaches to program development and delivery.
    • Organizes a County Extension Advisory Committee and provides leadership in analyzing and interpreting information to assess needs through stakeholder input.
    • Meets regularly with colleagues across multiple counties (SET) to share needs assessment results, coordinate programs, and establish priorities and new initiatives.
    • Cooperates and informs Extension Agents, State Extension Specialists, and appropriate Assistant Director for Programs and Assistant Director for Field Operations and has a positive working relationship with staff and clients in SET and PPT.
    • Manages local data collection in line with program area requirements. Prepares an evaluation and success stories of delivered educational programs focused on short, intermediate, and long-term outcomes and impacts.

   

   

  Program Management and Marketing:

  • • Provides leadership to develop working relationships with local stakeholder groups, organizations, and agencies and to function as ambassador for ACES.
    • Follows appropriate fiscal management for programmatic needs and appropriately administers the resources and completes all system reports when due.
    • Secures resources (volunteers, contracts, grants, fees, and donations) to support local and priority programs and initiatives within county and may participate in grant funded projects led by State Extension Specialists.
    • Utilizes multiple delivery modes to include face-to-face interactions, printed materials, online and digital formats that provide greater audience access, quick delivery of information, and convenience.
    • Serves as the primary contact for all forms of traditional and social media to disseminate information and market programs and has a professional presence in major forms of media.
    • Identifies innovative ways to engage targeted under-served and under-represented audiences.
    • Builds programmatic partnerships and networks to multiply organizational capacity

• • • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Agriculture, Natural Resources, Forestry, Family and Consumer Sciences, Business Administration, Management, Education, Marketing, Public Relations or a related field AND
    • 7 years of experience in teaching and the delivery of educational programs and experience with fiscal management and business operations AND
    • 3 years of experience in supervising full-time employees. Internal candidates only may substitute completion of both the Leading Self and Leading People Leadership Programs, or equivalent.

OR

• • • Master's degree from an accredited institution in Agriculture, Natural Resources, Forestry, Family and Consumer Sciences, Business Administration, Management, Education, Marketing, Public Relations or a related field AND
    • 5 years of experience in teaching and the delivery of educational programs and experience with fiscal management and business operations AND
    • 1 year of experience in supervising full-time employees. Internal candidates only may substitute completion of both the Leading Self and Leading People Leadership Programs, or equivalent.

Minimum License and Certifications:

• Valid driver’s license required.

Desired Qualifications:

• • Master’s degree in a discipline directly related to one of our major program areas (Agriculture, Forestry, Natural Resources; Human Sciences; 4-H Youth Development; Community Engagement/Development) is highly preferred.
  • Demonstrated work history of coaching, training, performance evaluation, merit, and other Human Resources related tasks.
  • Proven success in securing financial resources such as grants and extramural funding, budget management, and fiscal accountability.

Minimum Required skills:

• • Candidates must have experience in leading others or completion of broad leadership training.
  • Experience managing budgets.
  • The position requires exceptional communication, managerial and leadership skills.
  • Must possess a strong work ethic and a sense of responsibility.
  • Must demonstrate a high degree of objectivity.
  • Exhibit effective interpersonal and written communication skills.
  • The ability to work successfully with staff, volunteers, community leaders, and county officials
  • Excellent public relations skills and the ability to connect local program needs with the ACES mission are required.
  • The successful candidate must demonstrate a highly collaborative work style, the ability to engage and motivate others, a positive attitude, show enthusiasm for the work, be a self-starter, and work with minimum supervision.
  • The ability to act creatively, confidentially, and professionally when working with people from diverse educational and cultural backgrounds.
  • Demonstrate the ability to take initiative, work independently, and manage multiple projects.
  • Demonstrated leadership competencies that include servant leadership experience.
  • A high level of motivation and effective organizational management are expected.
  • Driving is a required function of this position. Must have a valid driver's license and access to reliable transportation.

• Life-Changing Impact: Our work changes lives through research, instruction, and outreach, making a lasting impact on our students, our communities, and the world.
• Culture of Excellence: We are committed to leveraging our strengths, resources, collaboration, and innovation as a top employer in higher education.
• We’re Here for You: Auburn offers generous benefits, educational opportunities, and a culture of support and work/life balance.
• Sweet Home Alabama: The Auburn/Opelika area offers southern charm, vibrant downtown scenes, top-ranked schools, and easy access to Atlanta, Birmingham, and the Gulf of Mexico beaches.
• A Place for Everyone: Auburn is committed to fostering an environment where all faculty, staff, and students are welcomed, valued, respected, and engaged.
• Ready to lead and shape the future of higher education? Apply today! War Eagle!