About The Mount Ida Campus of UMass Amherst
The Mount Ida Campus of UMass Amherst in Newton, Mass. serves as a center for student experiential learning and professional development and facilitates connections between the state’s flagship public research university and the business, civic, government, education, and cultural communities in the Greater Boston region, amplifying UMass Amherst’s impact in the Commonwealth.
Job Summary
The 4-H Extension Educator for the Norfolk and Suffolk Counties, located at the Mount Ida Campus, will provide programmatic leadership and management for the Massachusetts 4-H Youth Development Programs. Develop and implement educational programs and resources for youth ages 5-18 while providing support and oversight for collaborating adult volunteers and partner organizations. The Educator is part of a team that coordinates activities, processes and functions with other 4-H educators and administrators across the state.
Essential Functions
- Plan, deliver, manage and evaluate youth development programs consistent with the history and priorities of the 4-H Program in Massachusetts and nationally.
- Develop and maintain collaborative connections with existing and new stakeholders, communities and organizations, including previously unserved and underserved youth populations and target audiences.
- Routinely assess needs to understand and address local and regional issues related to positive youth development.
- Support and manage local and regional 4-H club system. Recruit youth participants. Recruit, screen, orient, train and manage volunteer club leaders.
- Provide guidance and oversight for 4-H advisory bodies, volunteer committees and other subsidiary groups.
- Serve as the primary linkage between local and regional stakeholders, the Massachusetts Statewide 4-H program, UMass Extension and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Ensure adherence to all relevant national, state and university policies to promote and preserve the health and safety of youth participants.
Other Functions
- Work collaboratively and effectively to promote teamwork, diversity, equality and inclusiveness.
- Work in partnership with colleagues from UMass Extension and the Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment to support strategic priorities.
- Perform other duties as assigned in support of the mission and goals of the UMass Amherst College of Natural Sciences.
Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)
- Bachelor’s degree (preferably in youth development, psychology, education, communication or related field).
- Three (3) years of professional work experience in a youth-related organization that includes working directly with youth.
- Ability to work independently, creatively and decisively. Ability to set priorities for individual and collective action and to operate effectively within a complex and fast-paced office environment.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Ability to interact effectively and work productively in establishing and maintaining harmonious working relationships with a diverse population of volunteers, faculty, staff and students.
- Ability to organize and prioritize goals; ability to collaborate to formulate plans and objectives in accordance with organizational goals; ability to obtain continuous feedback, identify and implement process and programmatic improvements.
- Ability to manage multiple and complex projects simultaneously and to set and meet deadlines while maintaining high standards of accuracy and quality.
- Experience and competency utilizing internet-based computers and software to achieve programmatic goals and for effective communications.
Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)
- Master’s degree in youth development, psychology, education, communication or related field.
- Experience in adult educational programs or environments.
- Experience working with and managing volunteers.
- Experience working in higher education.
- Experience or familiarity with 4-H.
Physical Demands/Working Conditions
- Ability to lift 25 pounds.
- Ability to maintain program of activities requiring frequent travel around region and state.
Additional Details
- This position is based at the Mount Ida Campus and will serve in Suffolk and Norfolk Counties.
Work Schedule
- Flexible work schedule based on Monday–Friday 8:30am–5:00pm but allowing for frequent meetings and activities outside of these hours, including weekends.
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This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee’s work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the Professional Staff Union collective bargaining agreement.
Salary Information
Level 26
PSU Hiring Ranges
Special Instructions to Applicants
Along with the application, please submit a resume, cover letter, and a Contributions to Inclusive Excellence Statement (see below). References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references. Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis until the position is filled. Early submissions are encouraged.
At UMass Amherst and in CNS, we strive to be a community where every individual feels a sense of belonging, where every individual is included, and where every individual is valued. You can find these values and goals here: https://www.umass.edu/strategicplan/strategic-plan. For this reason, we request that all applicants submit a Contributions to Inclusive Excellence Statement that addresses how you see yourself contributing to our community and campus climate and/or our shared goals of building a more inclusive, equitable, and diverse community.
UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.