Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County

Program Family Position Description

 

Working Title:                        Hudson Valley Regional Nutrition Education Program (HVRNEP)

                                                Coordinator

Classification Title:              Extension Senior Resource Educator

Supervisor:                           Issue Leader

                                                (Note: Housing of the position in another county within the region may warrant supervision by Executive Director)

 

 

Primary Role and Accountability:

Responsible for facilitating the in-depth planning, implementation and evaluation for the Hudson Valley Region Food and Nutrition Education in Communities (FNEC) Programs.  The primary FNEC programs are Expanded Food and Nutrition Education (EFNEP) and Food Stamp Nutrition Education (FSNE) known also as Eat Smart New York (ESNY), and other nutrition education programs targeted to low-income participants (e.g. Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program) as they exist within the counties in the region.

·         Represents the regional program in concert with the regional management team to collaborators, potential funders, governmental officials, Cornell University and other stakeholders.  Acts as the regional program’s liaison to the state EFNEP and FSNE/ESNY, as well as other programs that address the needs of low- income residents of the state.

·         Responsible for developing and implementing FNEC regional plan and budget, regional evaluation, training of regional nutrition educators at all levels, and networking with regional agencies and organizations to facilitate the nutrition education work of Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE).

·         Responsible for effective management of regional program funding and resources and for assuring that accountability and affirmative action requirements are met by the program.

·         May develop regional marketing materials and strategies, facilitate a regional advisory committee, and/or engage in other activities and responsibilities as determined by the regional management team.

·         Works with FNEC program supervisors in the Hudson Valley Region which is comprised of the following CCE associations: Dutchess, Orange, Ulster, Rockland, Sullivan and Westchester.

 

Program Development and Leadership Accountabilities – 95%

In addition to Primary Role and Accountabilities, knowledgeable in- and ability to perform- all of the following, plus other duties as assigned is required.  Within all work activities, must comply with policies and procedures issued by Cornell Cooperative Extension county association as well as those regulations and policies prescribed by project or grant stakeholders.

Program Development - (10%):

·         Develops and recommends a regional program plan and budget to the regional management structure, and once approved, to FNEC campus leadership.

·         Assists FNEC program supervisors in ensuring program content across the region conforms to policies and objectives of the regional program, FNEC programs and Cornell University.

·         Assists FNEC program supervisors in the region with the development of strategies for implementing programs that utilize a variety of educational methodologies and that consider the needs and diversity of the targeted communities.

 

Program Leadership - (10%):

·         Facilitates short and long range program implementation in coordination with management team.

·         Assists FNEC program supervisors with problem solving, programming, administrative, or personnel issues as appropriate.

·         Analyzes and reports the impact of the regional program to management team and other stakeholders as needed.

 

Program Delivery - (75%):

·         Communicates regularly and effectively with executive directors and nutrition managers in the region regarding system FNEC policies, plans, activities, and concerns.

·         Communicates regularly and effectively with campus FNEC staff regarding regional plans, activities, and concerns.

·         Communicates regularly and effectively with state-level FSNE/ESNY leadership regarding plans, activities, and concerns.

·         Participates in FNEC program evaluations, site visits, and technical assistance, within the Mid Hudson Valley Region, in cooperation with campus FNEC staff.

·         Contributes to statewide quality assurance efforts in cooperation with campus FNEC staff.

·         Ensures training of new paraprofessional staff using Navigating for Success. Coordinates training locations and dates, arranges facilitators, ensures completion of supervisor follow-up, assists in supervised transition via site visits and additional training as necessary.  Will continue to observe and provide assistance to frontline program staff in the delivery of NFS educational programs.

·         Identifies needs, plans and conducts or arranges on-going in-service education for paraprofessionals working in the FNEC programs.

·         Within the region, participates in new supervisory orientation via facilitation of initial training, Navigating For Success (NFS) facilitator training, onsite visits, mentoring, and professional updates for new supervisors.

·         Assemble and implement agreements between regional county associations on an annual basis.

·         Track regional project expenses according to policies and financial reconciliation plan of the association.  Provide regular budget reports to regional management team based on data received from financial manager. 

·         Analyzes regional quarterly data reports to develop impact statements from which an annual report may be prepared.

·         Conducts scanning for educational resources, professional development opportunities and funding sources on an on-going basis. 

 

Professional Improvement - (5%)

In cooperation with supervisor, jointly develop and pursue a professional development plan as a means to increase competencies relative to position accountabilities and to address changes in Association priorities.  Attend all CCE full staff and FCS meetings, in-services and mandatory training sessions or conferences as indicated by regional management team and direct association supervision.  Participate in annual performance review.  Perform periodic self-effectiveness evaluation and determine areas for development in preparation for annual performance review.

 

 

EEO/EPO Accountabilities

All association employees have accountability in this area including appreciating and embracing diversity in all interactions with clientele, staff, volunteers and the public. A primary role of this position is to ensure that limited resource audiences receive access to nutrition education, health information and food-related services to every extent possible.  Limited resource targets include particularly low income, limited education, minority, urban, rural, at risk youth, teen parents, welfare-to-work, mentally disabled, learning disabled, and those with high risk health concerns such as HIV/AIDS, obesity and diabetes (type 2).  This is accomplished secondarily by impacting the skills and knowledge of regional nutrition program staff.  In all educational situations with staff or directly with participants (through educational materials developed by coordinator), services will be provided with respect for and will be tailored to ethnically, culturally and religiously diverse groups.

 

Contacts (Level of Interaction and Outcomes

All aspects of this position require interpersonal communication and contact including those with clients, organizational administrators, agency staff, and fellow nutrition staff.  All primary accountabilities involve direct and indirect inter-organizational and intra-organizational staff and client interactions, one-on-one and in groups.

 

Reporting Relationships

·         This position is under the direct supervision and general direction of the Family & Consumer Sciences Issue Leader.  Housing of the position in another county within the region may warrant supervision by Executive Director.  Feedback to supervisor regarding efforts and outcomes is required. 

·         Guidance provided by regional management team, operating as a member of a professional team.

·         Maintains effective working relationships with all Cornell faculty through regular contact with campus FNEC staff via monthly conference calls, semi-annual meetings on campus, video conferencing and email communication.

 

Degree and Experience Requirements

Required:          Masters degree in nutrition, health education, or a closely related field.  Coursework in nutrition required. 

Necessary:        Experience with confidentiality and fiscal accountabilities.

Desired:            Registered dietitian credential highly desirable.

                        Coursework in family and consumer sciences, public health services administration or management, or education highly desirable.

                        Experience with evaluation, including but not limited to outcomes identification

                        Community nutrition education experience in Cooperative Extension or community health related field.

 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

·         Demonstrated ability to initiate, plan, implement, and evaluate informal adult and youth educational programs to address the needs of diverse audiences.

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

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

·         Ability to empower in FNEC frontline program staff in the delivery of nutrition education programs.

·         Ability to identify and utilize program resources within the community.

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

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

·         Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively through oral, written and visual channels using traditional tools as well as innovative applications of electronic technology (e.g. computers, audio, video, etc.)

·         Demonstrated ability to manage resources.

 

APPLICATIONS will be reviewed beginning on July 15, 2008, or until an acceptable pool of applicants has been identified.

 

Send letter of intent, resume, and transcripts to PA#474, 2715 Route 44, Suite1, Millbrook, NY 12545, attention: Linda Byster.

 

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

 

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