District 13 Director, MSU Extension
Michigan State University Extension is committed to fostering a welcoming and collaborative environment, which requires all staff to contribute toward a vision for success regardless of title or position within the organization. We strive to create a positive culture, access to resources, and a sense of belonging for staff, partners, and programming participants. This means that all staff at MSU Extension are dedicated to the following:
- We work together to ensure that programming is available to all audiences, creates meaningful and positive impacts for participants, and demonstrates partnership and collaboration across communities.
- We understand that a welcoming and respectful environment is built through the efforts of everyone.
- We foster an environment that welcomes a broad range of perspectives and experiences, ensuring that all individuals have the opportunity to contribute and thrive.
- We ensure that every team member is prepared with the skills and resources to contribute to our welcoming and supportive culture.
- We foster an environment that values a range of perspectives, skills, and experiences by working to ensure access to programming for communities.
- We commit to continuous learning and engagement to better serve Michigan residents and meet the evolving needs of communities.
- We recognize that broad accessibility and collaboration are essential elements of our work and are vital to organizational and programmatic success.
- We embrace a culture of understanding, coaching, and feedback toward achieving a vision of success for the entire organization and its staff.
- Together we will achieve success, and we commit to these goals in our work, continued education, and ongoing efforts.
POSITION SUMMARY
The MSU Extension (MSUE) District Director is part of the MSUE Administrative Team. The MSUE District 13 Director supports the counties of Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren. The role of the district director is to develop, maintain, and coordinate relationships between MSU Extension and local community partners, provide oversight and mentoring to Extension educators, and non-academic paraprofessional and support staff housed in the district, and to employ entrepreneurial efforts to secure resources with other partners.
In this role, you will join the MSU Extension Administrative team and will collaborate regularly with colleagues across MSU Extension. You will lead efforts in your district to recruit and hire staff and will work in partnership with MSUE Institute Directors to develop, coach, and mentor staff, and when applicable, address personnel matters. The district director’s role operates within a unionized setting and requires an ability to interpret and apply labor relations practices and collective bargaining agreements.
Serving in this role provides you with the responsibility to develop, maintain, and enhance relationships within the district. You will work closely with the county boards of commissioners on budgets and other matters relative to the work MSU Extension does. You will help our partners understand the mission and impacts of MSU Extension through representing MSUE and telling our story to community partners and organizations.
You will make sure they know about the work we are doing and ensure that we are not the best kept secret, but a known and trusted partner within the communities we serve. Additionally, you will assist educators and paraprofessional staff in the development of appropriate community partners related to the staff member’s statewide program focus and will assist in negotiating and procuring resources and support from community partners.
The counties located within District 13 are a diverse mix of shoreline, agricultural, and developed land. Various types of manufacturing production, agricultural production, higher education, and tourism are the predominant economic drivers of the area. There is a unique blend of highly populated urban areas and rural communities; both with diverse programmatic needs.
Although negotiable, the office location for the District 13 Director is the Van Buren County MSU Extension office. The district director will work throughout the counties located in district 13 to support MSU Extension operations and partnerships.
This position may be eligible to utilize a flexible work environment; however, there is an expectation to work from a MSU Extension county office located within district 13. The needs, responsibilities, and opportunities of an individual’s position and office location drive the ability and amount of work-location flexibility.
APPOINTMENT
The initial appointment is for one year in the fixed-term academic appointment system. Following a satisfactory performance review, nine months into the appointment, a two-year extension will be provided at the end of the first year. Thereafter, the incumbent will be considered for additional three-year fixed term appointments, dependent upon performance.
Characteristic Duties/Responsibilities
- Develop, maintain, and coordinate relationships between MSU Extension and local partners including, but not limited to county commissioners, administrators, and leaders; industry; human service agencies; agribusiness; youth-serving agencies; and state and federal government representatives.
- Encourage and support staff in development of requests for special funding contracts and grants and developing proposals that enhance Extension’s mission and programs.
- Develop and maintain positive working relationships intra- and inter-organizationally and create and promote positive public relations for MSU Extension.
- Understand and support MSU Extension’s efforts in diversity, equity, inclusion, and Civil Rights, with a special emphasis on removing barriers from participation and reaching diverse populations, including but not limited to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status, socio-economic class, and other human differences in rural, suburban, and urban communities, and where applicable, increasing programmatic delivery and participation in urban centers.
- Conduct monthly engagement meetings with staff at each county office.
- Work in partnership as a shared leader with the appropriate MSUE Institute Director regarding programming and personnel matters, including the hiring process, recruitment, and performance reviews.
- Act as a resource to project team leaders and MSUE Institute Directors as appropriate on programmatic issues; serve as an information resource to direct reports, staff within the district, and partners.
- Contribute to program planning, implementation, and evaluation.
- Provide guidance and support to staff in the implementation and compliance of MSU policies and procedures.
- Prepare and submit cohesive reports as required for internal and external purposes.
- Work with all offices and staff in the district to assure compliance for Civil Rights, Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action, and the American with Disabilities Act in employment, program availability and participation, and facilities.
- Actively engage in areas of philanthropy working in coordination with the MSU Extension Director’s office and engaging the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources development, when appropriate.
- Actively participate in professional development opportunities.
- Ensure compliance with union contracts and institutional policies while supporting day-to-day operations.
- Other duties or projects as assigned by the Associate Director for Field Operations.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.
Masters
- Master’s degree from an accredited institution must be earned by date of hire.
- Outstanding oral and written communication skills, including the ability to listen effectively.
- Demonstrated experience in building relationships with community partners, resource development, and budget management.
- Effective and demonstrated interpersonal skills, including the ability to work with community and political leaders, as well as campus-based administrators, faculty, and staff.
- Ability to demonstrate sensitivity, knowledge, and use of appropriate approaches, skills, and techniques, which reflect an understanding and awareness of social, cultural, and economic diversity of the target population served.
- Supervisory experience.
- Ability to carry out all functions of staff management in a hybrid work environment.
- Ability to create and carry out a project plan from research of initial concept to project completion and follow-up.
- Ability to work effectively in a unionized environment, including interpreting and applying collective bargaining agreements.
- Experience and proven ability working productively with a team serving in both leadership and contributor roles.
- Self-motivated with the demonstrated ability to work independently without daily supervision and/or coaching.
- Participation in stakeholder meetings, including occasional meetings that fall outside of traditional working hours.
- Proficiency in use of technology (e.g., web research, Qualtrics, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook for mail/calendaring, distance technology, etc.) for day-to-day work and educational program delivery, record keeping, reporting, team-based communications, and overall management.
- Demonstrated success in program development and delivery to diverse audiences/communities, and proven ability in establishing and working with a diverse network of constituents and community members across race, color, gender, national origin, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, veteran status, socioeconomic class, disabilities, and other differences.
- Ability to lift and carry educational materials, equipment, etc. up to 25 lbs.
- Ability to travel in local and surrounding communities and long-distance travel are required as a regular part of this position; if eligible, access to a MSU-owned vehicle will be provided.
- Experience with marketing/promotion of educational programs.
- Demonstrated skills and professional development from the last five years related to cultural competency and inclusive excellence.
- Understanding of and ability to implement Civil Rights principles and compliance standards.
- Other skills and/or physical abilities required to perform duties of the position.
- Minimum of 3-years of Extension system experience, including administrative responsibilities (extensive experience in similar high-level administrative role, including resource development and procurement, staff supervision and collaborative leadership may be considered in lieu of Extension system experience).
- Demonstrated drive and initiative, with proven ability to manage multiple responsibilities and tasks simultaneously.
- Experience in successful contract and grant writing, including securing and managing grant funds and resources.
- Current resume/CV.
- Cover letter.
- Four (4) professional references including two (2) current or previous supervisors.
This position is a full-time, fixed term end-dated appointment, renewable annually based upon successful performance and continued funding.
Starting salary commensurate with education and experience.
https://youtu.be/R58m2-um5Mg?si=Qra8RMsPySKEGpZF
Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.
