Ext Agent I - II

You Belong at a University that’s Leading the Way

The University of Florida (UF), the flagship university for the state of Florida, is a land grant institution with core values of unique purpose, excellence, integrity, collaboration and partnership, lifelong learning, responsiveness, innovation, communication, and global reach. 

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is creating an environment that affirms community across all dimensions. We particularly welcome applicants who can contribute to such an environment through their scholarship, teaching, mentoring, and professional service.

If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 352-392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800-955-8771 (TDD) or visit Accessibility at UF.

The Opportunity

This full‐time permanent status accruing Extension Agent will work jointly for UF/IFAS Extension and St. Lucie County. The successful candidate will lead through designing, implementing, and evaluating community-based education programs emphasizing health and well-being and family and individual financial management (about 95% of your time). At least 5% of the candidate's time will be devoted to 4‐H Youth Development. The Family Consumer Science Agent's extension education program will be guided by an advisory committee that incorporates the needs of the county's population.

We are looking for candidates with academic and people skills who work well in teams, honor their commitments, and innovate in a rapidly changing world. The candidate will use an understanding of healthy lifestyles, financial management, and quality of life to lead an educational program that empowers people to adopt healthy behaviors, reduce financial stress, and achieve long-term social and economic success. This role provides the opportunity to positively impact the St. Lucie County community in helping to shape future generations. 

The candidate will be able to:

• Plan, develop, teach, and evaluate community-based education programs to promote health and well-being and family and individual financial management.
• Market education programs to reach a variety of populations.
• Employ programmatic strategies to ensure the success of various populations. 
• Build an advisory committee composed of citizens and professionals that will assist with program priorities and design. 
• Partner with colleagues, community leaders, agencies, and elected officials to create urban/rural community opportunities that enhance healthy behaviors and the local economic condition. 
• Promote positive financial resource management practices for limited-resource families. 
• Obtain financial resources to support programs and manage all components (e.g., policies, records, risk, communication, and accountability). 
• Demonstrate resourcefulness, creativity, enthusiasm, collaboration, leadership, and innovation to strengthen current educational programs while reviewing and implementing new policies, maintaining records, assessing risks, communicating and marketing effectively across multi-media platforms, managing financial resources, and creating educational materials and opportunities for St. Lucie County.

Further Information:

UF/IFAS employs more than 2,000 faculty and staff statewide. UF/IFAS Extension is a partnership between state, federal, and county governments to provide quality, relevant education and research-based expertise to foster healthy people, a healthy environment, and a healthy economy. We employ 375 Extension Agents and have an office in each of Florida’s 67 counties. We attribute our success to a workforce that embraces the contributions of people of all backgrounds and ability levels. The Extension Agent will contribute to a community that provides space for innovation, creativity, collaboration, growth, and development for all.

St. Lucie County, with a population of 387,546, is located along the Atlantic Ocean and is bordered by Indian River County to the south-north, Volusia and Martin Counties to the north-south, and Osceola, Okeechobee and Orange Counties to the west. The Extension office is located in Ft. Pierce. St. Lucie County Extension is part of the Southeast Extension District, comprising twelve counties and the Seminole Tribe.

Employment is contingent on the results of a physical examination, a substance screening, and a national background screening.

In the event of an emergency, all employees are considered essential personnel and may be required to perform alternate duties at the county or district level.

Candidates must have the ability to possess (or be able to obtain) a Florida driver’s license, be able to work flexible hours, and have the willingness to occasionally work long and irregular hours, including evenings, weekends, and overnight travel.

Candidates will be reviewed as applications are received, but please be aware that interviews might not be scheduled until 4 to 6 weeks after the position closing date. Are you a good match? Apply today!

Commensurate with Education and Experience

• A bachelor’s degree in family and consumer sciences, health, or a closely related discipline. We will accept applicants without a bachelor’s degree if the degree will be earned by May 2024. 
• Must show significant progress (30% of certification requirements) towards completing Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC) certification within 3 years of employment. 
• Ability to work with community agencies and groups in collaborations and partnerships.
• Ability to work cooperatively as a leader and team member.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision. 
• Ability to complete required documentation (reports/forms) in a timely manner.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. 
• Resourcefulness, creativity, enthusiasm, and innovativeness. 
• High-level organizational development and management skills. 
• Knowledge and experience in using and applying information technology and communications applications. 
• Candidates must also have a commitment to UF core values.

• A master’s degree with a minor in finance. If hired solely with a bachelor’s degree, we want you to continue to grow in your career. As such, we expect you to progress at least 50% toward obtaining your master’s degree within the first 6 years of employment. (Candidates must hold a master’s degree to be hired as an Extension Agent II or higher.)
• Previous experience with family and consumer sciences extension programs. 
• Experience working with people from a multitude of backgrounds. 
• Experience creating lesson plans, developing instructional materials, and applying teaching methods appropriate for a variety of audiences.
• Technological literacy necessary for communication and program management, including social media.

Apply at Careers at UF by 11:55 p.m. (Eastern) of the posting end date, and attach:

• Cover letter that describes how your experience and qualifications have prepared you for this position
• Résumé or Curriculum vitae
• Unofficial copies of all transcripts (showing coursework) of your academic degrees

The following documents are also required and may either be submitted through the above link at the time of application or sent separately to our office (below).   

• Current and Previous Employment Form
• A minimum of 3 reference rating forms from your professional/academic references. Applicants are responsible for sending the rating form link to their references.
• Reference forms will be kept on file for 1 year and will be automatically used with any of our extension agent positions you apply for during that time.

Reference rating forms and unofficial transcripts not submitted at the time of application should be submitted/postmarked by the next business day after the position’s closing date. They may be submitted to:

UF IFAS Human Resources
Faculty Recruitment and Hiring
P O Box 110281
Gainesville, FL 32611-0281

ifas-hr@ifas.ufl.edu

Fax:  (352) 392-3226

Selected candidate will be required to provide an official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. A transcript will not be considered “official” if a designation of “Issued to Student” is visible.  Degrees earned from an education institution outside of the United States are required to be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approved by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).

Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. The University of Florida is a public institution and subject to all requirements under Florida Sunshine and Public Record laws.

The University of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Institution. The University and greater Gainesville community enjoy a variety of cultural events, restaurants, year-round outdoor recreational activities, and social opportunities.