Carroll County is a progressive rural county in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, with a population of 29,801. The county borders North Carolina with Interstate 77 running through the county from north to south. The Blue Ridge parkway runs across the southern part of the county. Carroll County consists of approximately 475 square miles, and much of the land is used for agricultural purposes including beef cattle production, pasture, vegetable and fruit production and Christmas trees. There are 7 elementary schools, 1 middle school and 1 consolidated high school. The 4H program is active and well established in both the schools and also through organized community clubs. There is an active and supportive volunteer base for 4H. The extension office is located in the town of Hillsville, which is the county seat.
The 4-H Youth Development Agent is a professional educator who provides leadership to the local 4-H program and manages its day-to-day operation. 4-H is a community of young people learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills. The mission of 4-H is to develop youth, and adults working with those youth, to realize their full potential and become effective, contributing citizens. This is achieved through the development and delivery of research-based, non-formal, hands-on educational experiences.
Responsibilities: Develops and delivers objective, research-based educational programs to meet the needs of diverse audiences, specifies program goals and objectives, and identifies resources needed; provides leadership for 4-H Youth Development programs that meet the needs of all youth; identifies, recruits, trains, supports, and manages volunteers to implement and carry out the 4-H educational programming in the unit; determines unit program needs by monitoring trends and issues, and conducting unit assessments involving the unit Extension Leadership Council (ELC) and other leadership committees; networks and builds coalitions with other agencies, organizations and institutions to address the complex youth and family issues and the needs of the 4-H program; coordinates day-to-day activities and events associated with the unit 4-H program including 4-H delivery (community 4-H clubs, project 4-H clubs, school enrichment 4-H, after-school 4-H, special interest 4-H, and 4-H camping).
Individuals will be hired at the Associate Extension Agent title level. A master's degree and promotion to Extension Agent are required no later than the sixth year of employment.
Virginia Tech has an excellent benefits package, including graduate tuition waiver.
Extension Agents recognize the importance of all communities and broad reach in the development and delivery of Extension programs, actively working to increase program participation of all people. Extension Agents are responsible for VCE's civil rights policies and equal opportunity compliance.
