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Working/Functional Title
District 13 Director, MSU Extension
Position Summary
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 i 