Working/Functional Title
Leader, MSU Tollgate Education Center
Position Summary
Michigan State University Extension is committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive organization, which requires all staff to contribute towards a vision for success. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to our work, regardless of title or position within the organization. This means that all staff at MSU Extension are dedicated to the following:
- We work together to ensure that programming is delivered to diverse audiences, produces equitable impacts for all participants, and demonstrates partnership and inclusion for all groups.
- We embrace that it is everyone’s job to create a culture that promotes diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
- We ensure that every team member is prepared with the skills and resources to contribute to our welcoming and inclusive culture.
- We foster inclusion by recognizing and valuing diverse perspectives, skills, experiences, and work to create equal access to programming for communities.
- We commit to continuous learning for diversity, equity, and cultural competency, in order to achieve inclusive excellence.
- We understand that diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential elements to our work and are vital to the organizational culture and programmatic success of MSU Extension.
- We embrace a culture of understanding, coaching and feedback towards 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
As part of MSU Extension (MSUE) and the Community, Food and Environment Institute (CFEI), the leader of the MSU Tollgate Farm and Education Center will work as the Tollgate Director and will provide on-site leadership for a full/seasonal team of almost forty (40) individuals delivering nationally recognized place-based education from a 160-acre historic university owned/leased farm property located in Novi, Michigan. The director is accountable for the overall management of the facility, its programs and the health and safety of on-site program participants, mostly youth. As such, the director will oversee most aspects of staffing, educational programming/outreach, fund development, business operations/account management, facility operations, staff development, and community relations.
In this position, you will provide leadership to the Tollgate programming team in identifying, designing, delivering, and evaluating youth education programs, including summer STEM-related natural resource and food related topics day camps, school field trips and classroom presentations. You will also provide leadership in identifying adult-focused outreach and education programs on topics related to Tollgate staff expertise. You will ensure that programmatic content and messaging materials are accessible, inclusive, and consistent with MSU Extension messaging.
Your work will include close collaboration with colleagues at MSU and MSU Extension, as well as a diverse network of partner groups that include the City of Novi, local governmental units/departments, local and regional foundations, local and regional school districts, the local and regional business community, local and regional non-profits, and local and regional cultural organizations.
There will be space available for this position to work from the MSU Extension Tollgate Farm and Education Center, located in Novi, Michigan.
This position is a full-time, fixed term end-dated appointment, renewable annually based upon successful performance and continued funding.
Characteristic Duties/Responsibilities
- Identify, develop, conduct, and evaluate innovative educational programs that meet current and projected Tollgate programming needs, and supports growth and understanding of youth and adult educational opportunities in southeast Michigan.
- Assist with new paraprofessional and seasonal staff recruitment efforts.
- Train, mentor, and evaluate staff, ensuring the requirements and objectives of their programming, including the appropriate use of grant funds are met.
- Act as a resource to direct reports as they develop, conduct, and assist with the development and evaluation of innovative programs that meet current and projected needs of the Tollgate Farm and Education Center clientele.
- Ensure, as much as possible, a fair and attainable workload of staff.
- Conduct educational programming as needed.
- Develop and maintain positive working relationships intra- and inter-organizationally and create and promote positive public relations for MSU Extension, the MSU Tollgate Farm and Education Center, and the CFEI.
- Understand and support the Community, Food and Environment Institute’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.
- Develop and utilize appropriate media methods to communicate current and timely information, research results, and relevant industry updates, as well as a schedule of current and future activities.
- Provide information and guidance to staff regarding opportunities for learning through the use of mass media, group meetings, workshops, and individual contacts.
- Collaborate with MSU Extension staff to gather and report programming outputs and impacts, to demonstrate program effectiveness, and to review and make needed changes/updates to curriculum and program offerings to guide future program priorities for MSU Extension, the MSU Tollgate Farm and Education Center, the CFEI, and work teams.
- Prepare and submit cohesive reports as required for internal and external purposes.
- Actively participate in professional development opportunities.
- Author, produce, and submit regular research-based educational materials and articles.
- Other duties or projects as assigned by the Institute Director.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.
Required Degree
Masters -agriculture, business, environmental edu
Minimum Requirements
- Master’s degree from an accredited institution in a field of study related to agriculture, business, environmental education, or other environmental fields, or related field must be earned by date of hire.
- Strong commitment to teaching and to sharing an appreciation for nature and agriculture.
- Prior experience in nature/agriculture place-based education camps, staff management, and budgetary/administrative responsibilities.
- Demonstrated ability and skill in educational program planning, implementation, and evaluation, including successful experiences in proposal development.
- Ability to carry out all functions of staff management.
- Ability to demonstrate sensitivity, knowledge, and use of appropriate approaches, skills, and techniques, which reflect an understanding and awareness of social, cultural, and economic diversity of the target population served.
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusivity in recruiting, supervision, and other employment-related matters.
- Ability to create and carryout a project plan from research of initial concept to project completion and follow-up.
- Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
- Proficiency in use of technology (e.g., web research, Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook for mail/calendaring, distance technology, etc.) for day-to-day work and educational program delivery, record keeping, reporting, team-based communications, and overall management.
- Experience with marketing/promotion of educational programs.
- Ability to travel in local and surrounding communities, and occasional long-distance travel are required as a regular part of this position.
- Ability to lift and carry educational materials, equipment, etc. up to 25 lbs.
- Transportation is the responsibility of the employee.
- Other skills and/or physical abilities required to perform duties of the position.
Desired Qualifications
- 3-years of experience in place-based youth camp experience and skills in educational program planning, implementation, and evaluation (relevant experience acquired within the last 5-years, preferred).
- Supervisory experience, at least 2-years preferred.
- Demonstrated drive and initiative, with proven ability to manage multiple responsibilities and tasks simultaneously.
- Experience in successful contract and grant writing, including securing and managing grant funds and resources.
Required Application Materials
- Current resume/CV.
- Cover letter.
- Four (4) professional references including two (2) current or previous supervisors.
Together-we-will Statement
The university is requiring all MSU students, faculty and staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19 with limited exceptions. Learn more at:
https://msu.edu/together-we-will/
Special Instructions
This position is a full-time, fixed term end-dated appointment, renewable annually based upon successful performance and continued funding.
Website
https://youtu.be/8KBMarSqHos
MSU Statement
Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.