Rural Community Economic Development Specialist

The Rural Community Economic Development Specialist position will be located in Grant County, Wisconsin and will serve Grant, Crawford, Richland and LaFayette counties. This role is housed in the Community Economic Development Program within the Community Development Institute at UW-Madison's Division of Extension (https://extension.wisc.edu/).

In recent decades, rural America has seen a decline in public services, amenities, and civic institutions, with fewer schools, hospitals, grocery stores, and social organizations. However, not all rural communities have followed this trend. Some have found ways to sustain their public services, local amenity-providing businesses, and quality of life, thereby maintaining a high level of "livability." This Rural Community Economic Development Specialist will focus on rural livability and work to design, deliver, and evaluate research-based educational programming and technical assistance focused on increasing livability in four rural counties: Grant, Crawford, Richland and LaFayette. Although focused on these counties, this specialist will be part of a statewide team of community economic development staff and faculty who work together to conduct educational programming, research, and outreach.

About the Division of Extension:
Extension Vision: A thriving, well-known and sought-out educational resources that reflects the rich diversity of the state.

Extension Purpose: We Teach, Learn, Lead, and Serve, connecting people with the university of Wisconsin-Madison, and engaging with them in transforming lives and communities.

Extension Values: We strive to live by the values of Community, Discovery, Inclusiveness, Relationships, and Respect. (https://extension.wisc.edu/files/2023/01/PurposeVisionValues.pdf)

The Extension Institute of Community Development provides educational programming to assist leaders, communities, and organizations realize their fullest potential. We work with communities to build the vitality that enhances their quality of life and enriches the lives of their residents. We educate in leadership development, organizational development, food systems, community economic development, local government education and much more. In short, the Community Development Institute plants and cultivates the seeds for thriving communities and organizations.

The Community Economic Development Program promotes local economic well-being and quality of life in Wisconsin communities. We work with and support community economic development practitioners and organizations, tribal and governmental entities, and business and nonprofit organizations and help provide the information, research, education, and technical assistance necessary to create resilient local economies.

This position is initially funded for 3 years, with the possibility to be extended contingent upon available funding.

• 25% Identifies, promotes, and maintains external partnerships to support the outreach program
• 10% Schedules and secures resources and communicates logistics in support of an outreach program
• 20% Delivers outreach program content and materials to community members
• 10% Researches, develops, and facilitates outreach program content and materials
• 20% Develops and evaluates curriculum and programs and provides recommendations for improvement
• 5% Leads the implementation of programs, policies, and procedures through oversight of day-to-day activities for program staff and student and community volunteers
• 5% Communicates plans, activities, and achievements to Program Manager, Area Extension Directors, County partners and relevant stakeholders through the reporting portal and verbal updates.
• 5% Participates in statewide meetings and teamwork, as appropriate to role

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion

Required
Bachelor's Degree of Science or Arts in a field of study related to this position's focus.

Preferred
Master's Degree or doctoral degree in a field of study related to this position's focus.

Required:
- Demonstrated ability to engage in community outreach initiatives and collaboration.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both written and verbal, using a variety of methods and technologies.
- Ability to work with diverse populations to deliver research and extension programs and activities.
- Ability to foster and contribute to a positive work climate, work effectively as part of a team, and collaborate with colleagues, advisory groups, audiences, and partners.

Preferred:
- Three or more years of professional experience relevant to the programmatic responsibilities of the position.
- Demonstrated experience in a community development or economic development role in rural communities
- Demonstrated experience working with entrepreneurs and/or small business.
- Demonstrated experience developing outreach programming for a variety of lay audiences and stakeholders.

Full Time: 100%

It is anticipated this position requires work be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location.

Ongoing/Renewable

Minimum $72,000 ANNUAL (12 months)
Depending on Qualifications
Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. Benefits information can be found at (https://hr.wisc.edu/benefits/).

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.

- The primary programming focus for this position is Grant, Crawford, Richland, and LaFayette Counties; however, programming may be conducted over a broader geographical area. The position location is flexible within the region and will be determined based on programmatic needs, successful candidate's preferences, and availability of suitable space.

- It is expected that employees will make individual arrangements for transportation adequate to meet position responsibilities and essential job functions. Information about UW-Madison Driver Authorization can be found at https://businessservices.wisc.edu/managing-risk/driver-authorization-and-insurance/driver-authorization/.

We are eager to learn more about how your experience and passion may align with this position. To begin the application process, click the "apply now" button. You will be prompted to upload the following documents:
- Resume
- Letter of Qualifications (cover letter)

Please submit a cover letter referring to your related work experience and a resume detailing your educational and professional background. Your cover letter should communicate your interest in the position and how your skillset aligns with the role. The application reviewers will be relying on written application materials to determine who may advance to preliminary interviews.

For additional guidance and resources on how to tailor your application materials to the job posting, please click https://extension.wisc.edu/careers/.

Kristin Runge
kristin.runge@wisc.edu
608-890-3378
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

Outreach Specialist(OE009)

A47-EXTENSION/ANRCD/COMM/CED/COMM EC DEV

Academic Staff-Renewable

313367-AS