Job description
University of Illinois Extension
WE TRANSFORM LIVES.
Everything we do is designed to
improve the quality of life of the people in the state of Illinois, across the
nation, and around the world. We discover, develop, translate, and disseminate
knowledge to address societal concerns and train the next generation of experts
and leaders in a way that empowers them to expand the boundaries of science to
higher levels of understanding and influence.
Be a part of our story. Through learning partnerships
that extend knowledge and change lives, University of Illinois Extension
provides educational programs aimed at making life better, healthier, safer,
and more profitable for individuals and their communities. Illinois Extension
has operated continuously for more than 100 years connecting the citizens of
Illinois to their land-grant university by providing educational programming
around the state. University of Illinois Extension is based in the College of
ACES and works with all colleges and units of the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign.
The Assistant Dean / Program
Leader and Director of 4-H Youth Development (Assistant Dean, 4-H Youth
Development) serves as a regular, full-time, 12-month academic professional
with primary responsibility for leading and developing statewide educational programming
in positive youth development. The Assistant Dean for 4-H Youth Development
supports one of the six core Extension program areas and within the 4-H Youth
Development program area will focus on one or more of the following
interdisciplinary strategic priorities: Community, Economy, Environment, Food
and Agriculture, Health, Partnerships, Technology and Discovery and / or
Workforce Excellence.
The Assistant Dean for 4-H Youth
Development provides innovative and visionary organizational leadership to
statewide youth programming, including fostering interdisciplinary team
efforts, implementing and evaluating Extension research-based programs, and
acquisition, leadership and coordination of revenue generation opportunities in
support of societal and economic needs and issues of Illinois. The Assistant
Dean for 4-H Youth Development provides leadership in building relationships
and reporting outcomes to regional and county directors, local, state and
national legislators and other stakeholders. The incumbent provides leadership
to Extension’s volunteer delivery system and provides summaries of the value of
volunteers and 4-H Youth Development program outcomes and impacts.
The Assistant
Dean for 4-H Youth Development will be expected to lead and deliver
research-based educational programs and to work within team settings that may
consist of other Extension leaders and faculty within and outside the College
of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES). Establishment of a
program of work based on community-based needs assessments is essential to
provide clear directions, partnerships and collaborations to successfully solve
statewide problems. This position will be located in Urbana-Champaign at the
State 4-H Office and within approximately two years, on the University of
Illinois campus and will report to the Associate Dean and Director of Extension
and Outreach, and will be available to all of Illinois Extension. The incumbent
will provide leadership and coordination to ongoing and innovative 4-H and
youth development programs carried out across the state by over 50 academic
youth development educators, 100+ civil service staff and 25,000 volunteers
reaching over 200,000 youth annually through 4-H clubs, collaborative community
education programs and change initiatives, camps, conferences and other
innovative programs that address the needs of Illinois’ youth.
One full time position is
available.
Location: Champaign, IL
(Position will be located at the State
4-H Office)
This is a security-sensitive
position. Comprehensive background
checks, including but not limited to a criminal conviction information check, a
CANTS check, and a review of the Registered Sex Offender list, will be
conducted.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Program Development,
Delivery and Evaluation
- Develop through participatory
strategies an innovative statewide program of work in response to county /
regional needs, as well as emerging state and national issues; collaboratively
coordinate statewide needs assessments with the Associate Dean and Director of
Extension, Assistant Deans / Program Leaders and Associate Directors for
Regions (ADRs); encourage the acceptance of 4-H youth development plans and
recommendations from Extension personnel. - Oversee curriculum development or
the acquisition of research-based curriculum and basic educational materials to
address the program needs of the state, ensuring a strong research-based
foundation; guide Extension staff and volunteers in its use. - Develop collaborations and
networks with academic units and other departments on campus and outside the
University system that address the needs of Illinois youth. - Serve as liaison to Extension
development teams that address youth issues; effectively collaborate with
faculty Extension specialists to deliver programs and information regarding 4-H
Youth Development. - Provide leadership for building
relationships with state, multi-state, national and international stakeholders,
organizations and constituents. - Provide information on state 4-H
Youth Development programs to leaders of state agencies serving youth and other
appropriate groups. Coordinate programs with these agencies when joint
sponsorship seems feasible. - Address urban and rural needs in
positive youth development by collaborating with others. - Identify and / or develop appropriate
program evaluation and assessment methods and tools to continuously improve 4-H
Youth Development educational programs, trainings and offerings; conduct
trainings of the use of each method and tool to effectively evaluate outcomes. - Collect, analyze and disseminate
program outcomes and impact on a local, regional, state and national level; use
data to drive decision making. - Provide leadership to the
development, delivery and assessment of research-based in-service education
opportunities to ensure continual education of campus and field educators and
staff regarding program development, delivery and evaluation. - Implement and support a statewide
marketing plan for 4-H Youth Development, including engaging in public
relations and constituent relations opportunities. - Communicate the need for
cross-regional and interdisciplinary collaboration and program delivery to
staff, stakeholders and constituents. - Provide oversight to adult
volunteers working with 4-H Youth Development programs, in collaboration with
the Workforce Development team; work with University legal counsel, risk
management personnel and Extension staff to maintain acceptable risk management
and child protection policies. - Develop strategies for
recruitment, training, retention and recognition of volunteers. - Work and meet at least annually
with the state advisory committee for volunteers and youth. - Serve as program director, primary
investigator or co-investigator for grants and other funding opportunities to
ensure utilization of organizational resources are consistent with critical
program priorities; write grants as needed. - Collaborate with Extension faculty
specialists, principal investigators, ADRs, and county directors regarding
local participation on grant-funded projects. - Develop, lead and coordinate
innovative revenue-generating opportunities for Illinois Extension related to
positive youth development. - Participate in statewide Extension
activities as assigned by the Associate Dean and Director of Extension. - Lead and / or actively participate
on organizational committees / teams such as Extension Leadership Team, new
employee orientation, technology systems, in-service education programs, etc.
as needed or requested. - Participate in meetings with the
Extension State Advisory Council (ESAC) by providing leadership to ESAC in
making state and national legislative contacts to advance Extension’s programs
and funding. - Maintain constructive working
relationships with the Illinois Extension staff, Illinois Extension
Professionals for Youth Education (IEPYE) network, and National Association of Extension
4-H Youth Development Professionals. - Engage in National 4-H Council
priorities as appropriate and relevant for Illinois Extension. - Participate in professional
improvement opportunities when appropriate to the role of Assistant Dean /
Program Leader and the Extension profession. - Conduct all activities in
accordance with the Civil Rights Act, Title IX, Rehabilitation, Americans with
Disabilities Act, and the University of Illinois Affirmative Action and Equal
Employment Opportunity Plan.
Personnel
- Supervise the academic
professional and civil service staff in the State 4-H Office, including hiring,
training, coaching, motivating, etc.; coordinate performance evaluation of
these staff, requesting input from academic field staff. - Co-supervise, with the College of
ACES, Office of Advancement, and oversee the work and activities of the primary
fundraiser for 4-H Youth Development. - Collaborate with the Associate
Dean and Director of Extension and Extension administrative team to determine
statewide position priorities, create a staffing plan and position descriptions
for 4-H Youth Development. - Participate in the recruitment,
review of applications and selection of Extension staff and specifically 4-Y
Youth Development academic professionals; explore opportunities to connect with
campus-based staff to address statewide programming needs and emerging trends
in the field of youth development. - Assist in determining statewide
performance expectations for academic professional and civil service staff
within the program area, including quantity, quality, impact, outcomes,
audience and reporting. - Support the supervision of field
academic professional and civil service staff, as well as the 4-H volunteers
throughout Illinois; provide input to county directors in consultation with
respective ADRs for academic professional staff members regarding annual
performance evaluations that may include program quality, quantity, outcomes,
impact, and reporting or other issues related to job responsibilities as
needed. - Encourage and ensure scholarship
of academic staff who make creative intellectual contributions to their
profession.
- Engage as a constructive leader
and team member for Illinois Extension.
Reporting
- Prepare required plans of work and
state annual reports for 4-H Youth Development. - Report outcomes / accomplishments
in 4-H Youth Development for use in state and national reports. - Assist in marketing educational
programs and reports to highlight the work and accomplishments of the 4-H Youth
Development program area. - Demonstrate to stakeholders the
importance of volunteer delivered programs to achieve high program quality,
program expansion and program impact.
- Support the online reporting
system by working with the director of program planning and assessment to
gather critical information to determine program outreach efforts and
accomplishments in 4-H Youth Development.
Fiscal
- Provide fiscal oversight of the
4-H Youth Development program area by managing and directing the financial
operations of the State 4-H Office, including budgets, monitoring financial
activities, approving expenditures and developing needs reports. - Provide leadership and
accountability to the operation, administration, and development of resources
to enhance the 4-H Youth Development programs throughout Illinois, including providing
leadership in revenue generation for obtaining grants, contracts and fees. - Coordinate with the Illinois 4-H
Foundation, local 4-H foundations, and the College of ACES Office of
Advancement in generating and managing gifts and endowments. - Establish and maintain formal
partnerships and collaborations to enable external funding opportunities on a
state, multi-state, national and international level.
- Ensure University of Illinois
Extension fiscal policies are followed.
Other Information
- Comply with all University of
Illinois Extension Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity policies and
guidelines in all aspects of Extension and Outreach work, assists as requested
with data collection for Affirmative Action, Gender, and Targeted reports. - Assume additional related
responsibilities to enhance the mission of Illinois Extension.
Physical Demands
To perform the functions of this position, the employee will
be required to perform work both within an office and outside in the
communities that are served and must have the capability to travel from one
location to the other in a timely fashion. Employee is responsible for
securing personal transportation. A valid driver’s license is
preferred. Some work will be required during evenings and/or
weekends. When working, the employee may be exposed to a variety of
environmental factors to include, but not limited to, hot or cold weather,
exposure to noise and allergens, and uneven ground. In performing the
functions of this position, the employee may be subjected to various mental and
physical demands as well to include, but not limited to, independently
traveling to and performing work at different locations, ability to move,
transfer and/or transport items that may occasionally weigh up to forty (40)
pounds and frequently weigh up to twenty (20) pounds, and twisting, pushing and
pulling movements. More detailed information regarding the functions of this
position (including the physical, mental, and environmental requirements of the
position) may be obtained from Human Resources for the College of Agricultural,
Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) by contacting [email protected].
Administrative and Programmatic
Relationship
The Assistant Dean, 4-H Youth
Development is administratively and programmatically responsible to the
Associate Dean and Director, Extension and Outreach.
Minimum Qualifications
Education:
- Earned doctorate from an accredited institution of higher education. Appropriate fields of study include those related to education, including agricultural, family and consumer sciences, or Extension, adult education, educational leadership or administration, non-profit administration or child, youth, or human development.
Experience:
- Ten (10) years of successful and progressive experience in program development in the area of youth development.
- Experience organizing and directing statewide programs and leading and managing teams.
- Experience directing programs pointed toward the resolution of cultural, social, technical and economic problems.
- Demonstrated ability to secure funding from public and/or private sources.
- Experience working with external constituencies, volunteer delivery systems and a variety of audiences.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Ability to be eligible for a 0% adjunct appointment in at least one of the eight College of ACES academic units.
- Experience in educational delivery in subject content of positive youth development and with information delivery through various technologies.
- Knowledge, understanding, experience and leadership with AI technologies.
- Experience collaborating with community organizations to develop innovative programs and activities.
- Experience with 4-H operations.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Understanding of and commitment to the land-grant university mission. Knowledge of the organization, objectives, policies and programs of the Cooperative Extension Service. Understanding of rural and urban issues upon which educational programs in 4-H are determined. Experience developing programs for major metropolitan areas. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work within a team environment. Ability to work with a variety of audiences and to be inclusive. Ability to collaborate with other youth-serving organizations to develop programs and activities. Ability to build and maintain a variety of networks. Cultural competency. Knowledge of grantsmanship and developing external revenue generating opportunities with successful outcomes.
Appointment
Information
Sponsorship
for work authorization is not available for this position. This position is a full-time, benefits-eligible, non-tenure academic
professional position appointed on a 12-month service basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after the
closing date. The previously determined salary range for this position
was $135,000 to $150,000. We strive to provide a competitive salary while taking
into consideration internal equity, candidate experience and qualifications, as
well as budget constraints. The final salary offer will be determined through a
calculation involving these elements. It is not typical for an individual to be
offered a salary at the top of the full range for this position.
The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.
Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal, or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing [email protected].
Requisition ID: 1031116
Job Category: Off-Campus
How to apply
Apply at: https://jobs.illinois.edu
The University of Illinois is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. The administration, faculty and staff embrace diversity and are committed to attracting qualified candidates who also embrace and value diversity and inclusivity.
Applications must be
received by 6:00 pm (CST) on July 7, 2025. Apply for this position using
the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Please upload a resume, cover letter, and
the names and contact information for three professional references. Resume
dates submitted must be in month/year format and employment history, at
a minimum, should include all work dating back to the completion of your
undergraduate degree. Positions that were less than full-time/100% must be
noted as being part-time. Transcripts may be requested at a later date. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered.
For further
information about this specific position, please contact search chair Sarah Low at [email protected]. For questions
regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.
The University of Illinois offers a very competitive benefits portfolio, depending on the position. Click for a complete list of Employee Benefits.
