Extension Specialist, 4-H Youth Development – Outdoor Education & Shooting Sports Specialist

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

Contribute to a dynamic team dedicated to implementing high-quality, research driven delivery strategies to engage diverse youth audiences at the state, regional, county, and tribal nation levels. As a key 4-H youth development program team member, this position will provide leadership for the state 4-H educational programming in outdoor education programs, as well as the state 4-H shooting sports program. The scope of role includes expanding outdoor adventure programming, promoting nature-based learning, overseeing diverse camping experiences, and exploring other exciting experiential learning opportunities. Topic areas may include wildlife, forestry, fishing, water science, plant sciences, conservation, outdoor recreation, energy, and more. The individual in this role will work to develop curricula, lesson plans, train the-trainer, and programming resources in related topic areas. Contributing to and collaborating with NDSU Extension personnel, faculty, industry stakeholders, 4-H volunteers, and youth on work focused on outdoor education, shooting sports, wildlife experiential, and digital learning is integral to the success of this position. This position will work with youth and adult volunteer advisory groups as they provide leadership, input, and direction to identify programmatic needs and outreach efforts.
Specific duties will include, but not be limited to, the following:
• Provide leadership in planning, developing, conducting and evaluating innovative extension education programs in outdoor education and the state 4-H shooting sports program.
• Provide leadership and oversight to the statewide 4-H shooting sports program, including, but not limited to, conducting official state shooting sports matches, conducting training to certify shooting sports instructors and volunteers, leading committees and advisory groups, implementing North Dakota and national rules and regulations, maintain state-owned shooting sports equipment and provide support and guidance to Extension personnel for their local shooting sports programs.
• Develop and sustain strong relationships with NDSU Extension personnel, NDSU faculty, stakeholders, advisory groups, parents, volunteers, youth and others.
• Develop and utilize appropriate media methods to communicate current and timely information to various audiences.
• Collaborate with Extension staff for needs assessments, gather and report program outputs and impacts, demonstrate program effectiveness, work with advisory groups and the 4-H plant science program planning team, and guide future program priorities.
• Actively participate and develop professional development opportunities.
• Secure extramural funding for outdoor education and shooting sports programs.
• Provide support and guidance for the ND 4-H camp in Washburn, ND, in cooperation with the State 4-H Activities Coordinator.  Duties include, but are not limited to, camp programming, content planning, and counselor training.
• Support other 4-H youth development program efforts as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications
• Master’s in education, youth development, environmental science, outdoor education, forestry, biology, ecology, or related fields.
• Experience in teaching (formal or non-formal) and positively interacting with and managing youth and adults.
• Experience in program development and delivery to diverse audiences/communities and proven ability in establishing and working with a diverse network of individuals.
• Demonstrated personal/interpersonal skills, including effective oral and written communication skills to teach and interact effectively with various audiences including youth, Extension personnel, faculty and stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team to prioritize workloads and meet deadlines.
• Evidence of ability to effectively use established and emerging technologies related to education and youth development programming.
• Ability to travel in local and surrounding communities and occasional long-distance travel is required as a regular part of this position.
• Basic understanding of 4-H and the Cooperative Extension system.
• Ability to lift and carry 10–75 pounds occasionally.
• Possess a valid driver’s license.
• Pass a background check and youth protection screening.

Preferred Qualifications
• Earned Ph.D. in education, youth development, environmental science, outdoor education, forestry, biology, ecology, or related fields.
• Five or more years of professional experience in designing, conducting and evaluating educational youth and adults programs.
• Basic understanding of the Cooperative Extension System and a land-grant university.
• Experience using organizational and logistical skills, with attention to detail, leading, organizing, implementing, managing, market and evaluating youth-focused and/or adult educational programs related to outdoor education, shooting sports, wildlife and closely related fields.
• Demonstrated success in writing and securing grants with the ability to fulfill grant deliverables.
• Applied scholarly interest in experiential and inquiry-based education.
• Record of positive youth development and successful partnerships at community, state and/or national levels.
• Experience in program planning and event management.