Cornell Cooperative Extension

Sullivan County

Position Description

 

 

Working Title:                         Family and Youth Development Team Coordinator

 

Office Location:                      Liberty, New York                             

 

 

 

General Responsibilities:

           

            Provides in-depth program leadership for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the Family and Youth Development Program with major program delivery responsibilities for Human Development and Family Well-being for Sullivan County.  Participate as an active member of the Association program management team in developing an integrated overall association educational effort.  Responsible for effective management of resources available to the Family and Youth Development program and for assuring that accountability and affirmative action requirements are met.  Represent the association before the public, community leaders, government officials, and Cornell University in conjunction with program and leadership responsibilities.

 

Program Unit Leadership and Management                                                        (50%)

 

Program Development/Leadership                                                    

 

·        Provide leadership for quality family and youth development programs that improve the wellbeing of youth, families and individuals in Sullivan County communities and are based on a program development process that includes representation of diverse community groups and ongoing involvement of clientele.

 

·         Provide leadership to support a system of ongoing involvement of citizens in the program development process.

 

·         Coordinate and manage short and long-range strategic program planning, implementation, and evaluation of program activities of assigned staff and plans-of-work.          

 

·        Promote team efforts with the other program area and participate in multidisciplinary, multi-association, area, and statewide program development to address priority issues.

 

·        Interpret Cornell program direction to Association committee members and provide for interaction with Cornell faculty and administration.

 

·        Determine educational responses to be delivered and coordinate with program committees, Executive Directors, other associations and Sullivan County program team, utilizing the implementation plan. 

 

·        Ensure content conforms to policies and objectives of the association, Cornell University, and the Cornell Cooperative Extension system.

 

·        Promote acceptance of quality programs, delivery strategies, fund development strategies and public policies to address individual and community needs that consider diverse audiences.

 

·        Organize, coordinate, and direct the work of educators, program assistants, and volunteers in implementing educational events related to program priorities.

 

·        Communicate social/economic/technological/cultural changes in Family and Youth Development and related community policy issues that need to be researched and/or acted upon by Cornell faculty.

 

·        Provide leadership in effecting change to meet changing local issues.

 

·        Develop effective contemporary marketing, fund raising and grant writing efforts.

 

Finance and Personnel

           

·        Under general direction from program committee and Executive Director, assist in the business and management of the association relating to program, including assisting in compiling annual budget data, and managing the program's portion of the association budget.

 

·        Address personnel and administrative problems and resolve conflicts that arise in the operation of the Family and Youth Development program, utilizing appropriate policies and procedures.  Work and communicate with the Executive Director in solving critical situations and in addressing non-routine issues.

 

·        Provide program area leadership for generating new funds combining creative programming vision and fund development strategies for new fees, grants, contracts, etc.

 

Communication, Reporting, Marketing

 

·        Develop written reports on work plans and accomplishments and communicate results to appropriate parties (e.g., Executive Director, association committees, and Cornell administration and faculty).

 

·        Develop and maintain effective working relationships with related program areas, Cornell faculty, local community organizations, and keep these groups informed of extension programs and direction.

 

·        Act as a resource person to staff and volunteers in areas of communications, management, and personal and subject matter development.

 

·        Assure effective marketing strategies are used in the planning and promotion of programs, in interpreting results and communicating impacts.

 

·        Serve as the spokesperson for the association in Family and Youth Development related issues with all clientele, community leaders and media.

 

 

Programming Responsibilities                                                        (40%)

 

Program Implementation and Management

 

·        Responsible for providing expertise and leadership to plan, develop, implement and evaluate comprehensive high impact programs for the major program areas of human development and family wellbeing.

 

·        Programming to include multi-dimensional approaches, a variety of delivery systems, application of research in human development and family ecology, and other county, state, and national human ecology issues to promote healthy development of families.

 

·        Develop research connections with faculty and contribute to research as appropriate.

 

·        Design and maintain a Volunteer Management System to identify, recruit, and support volunteers.

 

·        Actively search out grant resources, prepare grant documents and submit for funding to maintain existing programs and/or create new priority programs.

 

·        Prepare and support the development and compilation of educational materials such as training aids, exhibits, and demonstration projects.  Obtain specialized assistance from Cornell faculty and specialists, as needed, for developing program material.

 

·        Compile annual budget data and other administrative activities, compile and prepare portions of written reports as required.

 

 

Program Delivery                                                                                              

 

·        Identify issues and needs through program committees, advisory committees, clientele and Cornell.

 

·        Plant short and long-range educational programs within assigned subject matter area consistent with plan of work and priority issues as determined by the Association.

 

·        Access Cornell resources.

 

·        Interpret association program directions; communicate statewide directions to clientele, and foster acceptance of innovative programs, methods, and policies to address priority issues.

 

·        Ensure that educational programs conform to association and Cornell Cooperative Extension objectives and mission, and consider the diversity of the community.

 

·        Design and conduct educational programs utilizing a variety of delivery methods.

 

·        Involve mass media efforts related to program implementation.  Act as a resource to the program committee, staff, and clientele, including schools, agencies, and other groups, as they are identified.

 

·        Develop and enhance networks of volunteers to extend program implementation efforts.

 

·        Coordinate annual events such as: Leader Recognition Dinners; Chairman Vice-chairman Dinner; 4-H Clothing Review; 4-H Public Presentations; Sullivan County Youth Fair, etc.

 

Program Evaluation

 

·        Write measurable objectives and design effective evaluation strategies to determine the effects of individual and group program efforts toward making an acceptable impact on Association priorities.

 

·        Analyze and evaluate program impacts and make recommendations to program committee, and advisory committees for strengthening and improving programs.

 

·        Confer with program participants, association committees, Cornell administrators and faculty, and county and community leaders to obtain their evaluation of programs.

 

Staff and Professional Development                                                                 (10%)

 

·         Provide specialized instruction/coaching/mentoring to orient, counsel, and direct the program-related work of assigned professionals, paraprofessionals, and clerical staff.

 

·        Jointly develop and review progress of Educator professional improvement plans and discuss appropriate educational courses as needed to increase staff competency; act as staff development resource person for the unit.

 

·        Act as staff development resource person for unit.

 

·        Design and maintain a volunteer development system to identify recruit and support volunteers providing orientation, instruction, and leadership development to enable them to better serve the community.

 

·        Evaluate performance and conduct annual performance conferences with educators, program staff, and clerical staff.  Review and obtain input from Executive Director and the program committee.  Provide continuous feedback, coaching, and performance management to staff.

 

·        Jointly develop and pursue a professional development plan in cooperation with supervisor to increase competency in position responsibilities.

 

Administrative Relationships

 

Internal

·        Supervised by the Executive Director.  Operate as an educational and managerial professional, subject to association policies.  The program committee and Extension Administration provide guidance and direction.

 

·        Provide for the supervision of extension educators, program assistants, and clerical staff.

 

·        Maintain effective working relationships with Cornell faculty and administration.

 

·        Promote positive internal administrative and program relationships with all Association staff, committees and Board of Directors

 

External

·        Promote external program and working relationships with human service agencies and educational organizations, USDA, and other related governmental agencies, mass media and other extension associations in the region and statewide.

 

 

Education and Experience Requirements

 

·        Master's degree and at least two years of progressively responsible experience in Cooperative Extension or equivalent professional educational experience in an academic, human service, community education or industry setting.  Academic coursework concentration in human/child development, family life or nutrition area required; one degree in the discipline area highly preferred. Coursework in education, supervision and management experience preferred.

 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

 

·        Ability to initiate, plan, organize, implement, teach, and evaluate, nonformal educational programs.

 

·        Demonstrated ability to provide leadership, supervision and guidance to staff and volunteers.

 

·        Demonstrated ability to lead and participate effectively in professional team efforts.

 

·        Ability to relate effectively to co-workers, advisors, community and professional leaders, and clientele groups.

 

·        Demonstrated initiative, reliability, and dependability.

 

·        Demonstrated teaching and motivational skills.

 

·        Ability to effectively involve consultants and committees in the development of program direction and for the resolution of problems.

 

·        Ability to lead, to delegate, and to manage.

 

·        Ability to work effectively with people of varying ages and socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds.

 

·        Demonstrated effective use of a variety of program delivery methods to reach individuals and groups.

 

·        Demonstrated skills in effectively communicating through oral, written, and visual channels using traditional tools.

 

Special Requirements

 

 

·        Willingness to work evenings and weekends as needed.

 

·        Must be able to produce reliable transportation appropriate to the responsibility of the position.

 

 

APPLICATIONS will be reviewed beginning 3/14/2008, or until an acceptable pool of applicants has been identified.

 

Send letter of intent, resume, and transcripts to PA#456, Box 26, Kennedy Hall, Cornell U, Ithaca, NY 14853.

 

 

**Individuals who bring a diverse perspective and are supportive of diversity are strongly encouraged to apply.

 

Cornell Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  http://www.cce.cornell.edu