Are you a community developer, ready to co-create with rural communities, leaders, and entrepreneurs? Nebraska Extension is searching for an Extension professional who can assist communities to catalyze their local assets, deliver strong regional and research-based expertise, lead impactful learning programs, and serve as a coach to communities that are poised to thrive. Core to this role is the ability to conduct community outreach and engagement to design and deliver educational programming that supports thriving rural communities. Success in this role is driven by an entrepreneurial mindset and a strong passion for building connections with new individuals, communities, and opportunities.
As a trusted partner, you will play a pivotal role in engaging directly with community leaders and residents through outreach, developing relationships through physical presence in communities, and collaboration. Your ability to build relationships, foster innovation, and deliver impactful programs will make a lasting difference in the communities we serve. If you are driven to inspire growth, lead meaningful change, and help communities unlock their potential, we want to hear from you!
We invite you to learn more about this role and Nebraska Extension using the following links: Our Strategic Direction | Nebraska Extension and Nebraska Extension – Rural Prosperity Nebraska. Nebraska Extension is an organization that values individuals who demonstrate excellence, adapt easily, exhibit a passion for helping others, are team players, and are excellent communicators.
We have an excellent opportunity for a full-time faculty position located in Osceola, Nebraska and serving Polk, Seward, Butler, York, Colfax, Platte, Nance, Merrick, and Hamilton Counties. As a member of the Nebraska Extension team, you will collaborate with research and extension faculty who are leaders in their field. We want individuals who are self-directed and thrive in an autonomous work environment. You will work with high performing teams to create and deliver world class, innovative learning experiences that empower Nebraskans to improve their lives around critical issues.
This twelve-month, non-tenure track position carries the title of extension instructor or open rank extension educator, depending on the candidate’s level of education. Those possessing a graduate-level degree in the requested area of instruction will be considered for an educator position, a full-time, promotable, non-tenure track appointment. Those in possession of an undergraduate degree in the requested area of instruction will be considered for an instructor position, a full-time, non-promotable, non-tenure track appointment that will be renewed annually for a maximum of five (5) years in the appointment. If hired as an instructor, the incumbent will be expected to make satisfactory progress toward and complete a master’s degree within the initial five-year appointment period. As part of the Nebraska benefits package, UNL offers tuition remission for full-time employees, up to 15 credit hours per year. Once the master’s degree is earned within that period, the position will advance to an assistant extension educator appointment.
Required Qualifications
- Master’s degree in organizational or community development, economics, leadership studies, community or regional planning, education, rural sociology, entrepreneurship, business administration, landscape architecture, planning – with a focus on community-based, regional, urban, environmental and/or infrastructure, or closely related field (extension educator) OR bachelor’s degree in organizational or community development, economics, leadership studies, community or regional planning, education, rural sociology, entrepreneurship, business administration, landscape architecture, planning – with a focus on community-based, regional, urban, environmental and/or infrastructure, or closely related field (extension instructor). If hired as an instructor, the incumbent will be expected to complete a master’s degree within the initial five-year appointment period and make satisfactory progress towards the approved master’s, assessed annually.
- Successful experience teaching in a formal or non-formal setting.
- Demonstrated ability to clearly communicate in writing, orally, and/or online.
Preferred Qualifications
- Proven experience working with individuals, coworkers, and teams to accomplish individual and/or group goals, as evidenced by community, career, and/or college activities.
- Outstanding leadership skills as demonstrated by roles in community, career, and/or college activities.
- Related work with different ethnic and socioeconomic audiences and a commitment to developing and delivering both inclusive and targeted programming to assist underserved audiences.
- Demonstrated ability to network effectively with businesses and/or community leaders.
- Familiarity with rural communities in Nebraska.
- Experience with or understanding of developing and delivering educational programs focused on rural prosperity Nebraska priority issues.
- Ability to speak language(s) other than English; Spanish preferred.
Recognizing that diversity enhances creativity, innovation, impact, and a sense of belonging, the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) and Nebraska Extension are committed to creating learning, research, Extension programming, and work environments that are inclusive of all forms of diversity. Consistent with the University’s N2025 Strategic Plan, we see every person and every interaction as important to our collective well-being and our ability to deliver on our mission.
This position is not eligible for employment-based permanent residency sponsorship. UNL may be able to sponsor temporary work authorization (e.g., H-1B) for the successful candidate.
Application Process
Review of applications will begin April 28, 2025 and continue until the position is filled or the search is closed. To view details of the position and create an application, go to https://employment.unl.edu, requisition F_240211. Click “Apply for this Job” and complete the faculty information form. Attach 1) a letter of interest that describes your qualifications for the job and anticipated contributions, 2) your curriculum vitae or resume, and 3) contact information for three (3) professional references. In addition, within the application, please complete the required supplemental question(s), one specifically describing your experience working in teams or groups and your anticipated contributions to creating inclusive environments in which every person and every interaction matters. See https://ianr.unl.edu/tips-writing-about-commitment-to-deib for guidance in writing this statement.
As an EO/AA employer, the University of Nebraska considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation. See https://www.unl.edu/equity/notice-nondiscrimination.
