Extension Agent/Agent in Training serving Pleasants County (Family and Community Development)

The WVU Extension Service is seeking a dynamic individual who will implement a comprehensive Extension program in Family and Community Development (FCD) with a primary focus on healthy living and family wellbeing. This is a county-based faculty position serving Pleasants County and supporting Extension activity in the region. This twelve-month position carries the academic rank of Assistant Professor or Visiting Instructor, depending on the candidate's level of education. An Assistant Professor appointment with a graduate level degree will be a full time, promotable, tenure track appointment. A Visiting Instructor appointment with an undergraduate level degree will be a full time, non-tenure track appointment.

Pleasants County is a growing community and offers a variety of activities for residents and visitors alike. Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy kayaking and fishing on the Ohio River and its tributaries, miles of hiking trails through parks and a national island wildlife refuge, and is home to a strong school system including a tri-county technical school that offers 22 programs of study. Pleasants County also offers a quality of life characterized by access to a million-dollar aquatic center, a rich history and culture, and one of the lowest crime rates in the US.

Major Responsibilities

This position's major responsibility is the interpretation and delivery of relevant educational information to the citizens of the county and region, with specific emphasis on efforts to ensure the application of this knowledge. The primary duty is to teach educational programs in community and leadership development, entrepreneurial thinking, personal and family finance, human development, as well as health, wellness, and well-being to adult and youth audiences. As the incumbent will be the only Extension faculty member assigned to Pleasants County, the successful candidate will be expected to develop capacity to provide and support programming in other areas of WVU Extension efforts including 4-H Youth Development and Agriculture and Natural Resources. The Agent is responsible to the FCD Program Director for all programmatic and administrative matters, but will seek input from the 4-H Youth Development (4-HYD) and Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) Program Directors when appropriate for matters related to 4-H and/or ANR. The amount of time which an Agent spends in specific program areas and/or in program components is determined in concert with the Unit Director and will be based on identified county needs. In addition, the Agent will serve as the County Program Coordinator (CPC) which requires high-level communication with the Pleasants County Extension Service Committee, county funding bodies, and stakeholders. The CPC also integrates program efforts into the total County Extension program.

Functions and Tasks

Conducts educational programs in their designated program area to help people more effectively interpret and use research based findings.

• Assumes responsibility for developing and executing a Plan of Work. The Plan of Work will include FCD programming with the possibility to include 4-H Youth Development as well as Agriculture and Natural Resources programming appropriate for county needs. Youth agriculture, for instance, incorporates elements of all three program areas.
• Involves the Extension Service Committee and community stakeholders appropriate program advisory committees to analyze the county situation, identify priority problems and develop and implement programs.
• Uses the resources of the West Virginia University and the community to effectively implement county programs.
• Identifies, recruits, and develops volunteer leadership to assists with the carrying out the program of work in the county.
• Develops and uses appropriate systems for reporting program accomplishments.
• Functions at all times as a professional educator.
• Actively participates with Extension work teams to help focus and develop regional and statewide programs in designated program areas.
• Faculty members are expected to engage in recruitment, retention and student success activities that promote access, education, training, experiences and career opportunities for young people that will lead to their future enrollment at WVU or other post-secondary institutions.

Teaching Follows a sound process in developing educational programs in designated areas of responsibility. Extension faculty are practitioners who develop educational programs to meet the needs of non-credit learners. Program development is a process used to assess needs, mobilize resources, and create and organize educational initiatives to address the needs of citizens.

• Develop, market, deliver, facilitate, and evaluate non-credit educational programming in response to locally identified priority needs in Family and Community Development Family and Consumer Sciences and other Extension program areas as appropriate.
• Establishes clear objectives and uses appropriate subject matter content and learning experiences to reach these objectives.
• Designs and implements a variety of program delivery methods to reach target clientele.
• Takes necessary action to ensure that sufficient groundwork is laid for programs to succeed.
• Evaluates results, measures impact, and accounts to appropriate stakeholders for program accomplishments.
• Uses the results of program evaluation to initiate changes in the implementation of the program.

Service Develops an understanding of the county, the needs of its citizens and Extension's role in meeting those needs.

• Understands the county situation in terms of social and economic factors.
• Understands the role of County Extension Service in effecting changes in the county situation.
• Continuously examines their role as a change agent.
• Assesses the degree to which programs meet the needs of clients, induce positive change, improve performance, or measurably impact priority problems.
• Participates in professional development activities that increase expertise in the discipline.
• Demonstrates the ability to apply current knowledge to address specific priority problems.
• Assesses the degree to which new knowledge moves the faculty and learner to decision making and action
• Faculty members are expected to engage in recruitment, retention and student success activities that promote access, education, training, experiences and career opportunities for young people that will lead to their future enrollment at WVU or other post-secondary institutions.

Research: Uses knowledge of youth development to inform and guide teaching and service and move the faculty and learner to decision making and action. Participates in professional development activities that increase expertise in the discipline.

• Participates in professional development activities that increase expertise in the discipline.
• Demonstrates the ability to apply current knowledge to address specific priority problems.
• Assesses the degree to which new knowledge moves the faculty and learner to decision making and action

Understands the philosophy of Extension and utilizes effective methodology in program delivery and evaluation.

• Understands and conveys the philosophy, objectives and policies of WVUES
• Assists in determining and obtaining resources needed to implement the Plan of Work.
• Plans and provides the training needed to equip volunteer leaders to carry out the program.
• Develops and maintains two-way communications with volunteer leaders.
• Establishes and maintains rapport with personnel of the mass media and arranges for appropriate releases in the program area.
• Understands and implements the provisions of EEO and ADA.

• Degree in a community development, public administration, family and consumer sciences, community or public health field, education, social work, or Extension education is required.
  
• For appointment at the Assistant Professor rank the applicant must have a master's degree.
  
• For appointment at the Visiting Instructor rank the applicant must have a bachelor's degree.
  
• Candidates with a degree in progress may be considered for this position, but the degree must be conferred by hire date.
  
• Desirable areas of educational experience include education, youth or child development, Agriculture and Extension education, Organizational Leadership, or closely related field at the graduate or undergraduate level.
  
• Training and experience in education, youth or child development, Agriculture and Extension education, or Organizational Leadership is highly desired
  
• Demonstrated leadership and management skills through collaborations and partnerships with agencies and organizations is necessary.
  
• Documented experience in volunteer management, supervision, resource development, and team leadership is desirable.
  
• Proficiency in oral and written communication and knowledge and use of computer technology for educational programming and management are required.
  
• Experience working with advisory committees and/or focus groups.
  
• Experience working with the media and web-based information delivery methods.
  

Preferred Experience:

• Successful experience in developing financial support for educational programs including grant writing, fundraising, contracting or cost recovery efforts.
  
• Experience in promoting, marketing or creating public awareness of program/services among key community decision makers.
  
• Extension or similar work experience is preferred.
  Special Requirements:
  
• Ability to meet travel demands of position (overnight stays), such as 4-H youth camps, conferences, professional development sessions and training.
  
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including nights and weekends.
  
• Ability to lift and carry materials needed to conduct training and perform duties of the position.
  

Position Assignment:

• The Assistant Professor Extension Agent position is a 12-month, full-time, tenure track position.
  
• The Visiting Instructor Extension Agent in Training position is a 12-month, full-time position with potential to be considered for advancement to Assistant Professor in a tenure track position. Consideration will be based on additional experience related to the position responsibilities, a track record of proven success in the role, and the academic capacity to successfully enroll and be accepted in a relevant graduate program and be completed within 36 months of employment start date.
  
• The successful candidate will be evaluated for providing a significant contribution in teaching and service and will be expected to undertake a continuing program of studies, investigations, and/or scholarly works through research. Accomplishments will be evaluated at least annually and will be judged in the context of these roles.
  
• The position will provide family and community development programming in assigned counties. They will also be subject matter resource person for regional and statewide programming as needed.
  
• Position expected to begin in May 2026.
  

Application Process:

Applications will be reviewed beginning immediately and the search will remain open until the position is filled.

If you meet the stated requirements and would like to be considered for the position, ALL of the following information must be submitted using https://careers.wvu.edu/career-opportunities:

• Cover letter indicating the position that you are applying for and outlining experience and qualifications.
  
• Resume or curriculum vitae including dates of employment, supervisor(s) name and contact information.
  
• Three (3) references (including address, e-mail and phone) who can reflect on your professional strengths.
  
• Transcripts (undergraduate and/or graduate). Degree must be conferred by start of position.

Special Notice: Upon completion of the application, screening and interview process, a candidate will be presented to the County Extension Service Committee for their consideration. Final placement of this position in the county is subject to the approval of the County Extension Service Committee.

About WVU Extension: WVU Extension is a primary outreach division of West Virginia University, embracing the heart of the University's land-grant mission. WVU Extension maintains a presence and connections in communities across all 55 West Virginia counties. It assesses local needs, seeks science-based best practices to meet these needs, and delivers educational programs and resources through several formal and informal systems. These connections are critical to the design, implementation, and evaluation of Extension and community engagement programs.

WVU Extension envisions a West Virginia where all its people can reach their fullest potential. Our mission is to improve lives and livelihoods of all West Virginians. Extension's work is guided by collaboration and partnership; doing no harm; providing trusted, science-based practical education; helping people help themselves; serving all people, and exercising accountability. WVU Extension focuses on providing trusted and practical educational programs that improve health, education, and prosperity. These programs help people, businesses, and communities solve problems, develop skills, and build a better future.

WVU Extension is part of the National Cooperative Extension System present in every state and territory and is overseen by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It was created by Congress through the 1914 Smith-Lever Act. It is designed as a collaborative program funded through federal, state, and local match. WVU Extension also includes the Fire Service Extension (c. 1931), the Institute for Labor Studies
and Research (c. 1959); the Occupational Health and Safety Extension (c. 1988), and the WVU Center for Community Engagement (c. 2021).

Visit WVU Extension Service's website at www.extension.wvu.edu for additional information about our programs. In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil right activity. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs).

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