Job Vacancy #25-19
Extension Program Associate .5 FTE
Colorado Master Gardener/Horticulture
El Paso County, Colorado Springs, CO

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of all backgrounds and abilities. We invite you to review Colorado State University’s Principles of Community (http://diversity.colostate.edu/principles-of-community) that guide our mission and vision of access, teaching, service and engagement.

El Paso County is a mix of urban, suburban, and rural communities, and Colorado’s second most populous county with 699,232 residents. Two-thirds of the population live in Colorado Springs, home of the county seat and the Extension office.

The Colorado Master Gardener (CMG) program in El Paso County currently has 32 active volunteer members. This position will provide horticulture programming for youth and adult audiences, and management for the county’s Colorado Master Gardener program. The El Paso County Extension office is staffed by a county director/agent; two 4-H youth development agents; a family and consumer sciences agent; two support staff; two AmeriCorps members; and several county program coordinators.

Visit to learn more about El Paso County Extension https://elpaso.extension.colostate.edu/or http://extension.colostate.edu to learn more about CSU Extension. For more information about the Colorado Master Gardener program, visit www.cmg.colostate.edu. To learn more about El Paso County, go to www.elpasoco.com.

APPLICATION PROCESS AND DEADLINE: For full consideration, all materials must be RECEIVED no later than 11:59 PM Mountain Time on Tuesday, June 18, 2019. Please submit the following to https://jobs.colostate.edu to apply:

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Transcripts of college(s) course work showing degrees conferred. Please remove all references to birth date or social security number prior to submission. Only one document upload is allowed, no larger than 9 megabytes. Please convert all transcript pages into one PDF File to upload.
• Please note, contact information for 4 professional references will be requested of applicants should you move forward in the interview process.
• Special Required Documentation:
  • Statement (no more than 5 pages) of how you meet all the “Required” and “Preferred” criteria listed in the Vacancy Announcement. Please respond to each bullet point separately. Only one document upload is allowed, no larger than 9 megabytes. Please convert your Statement pages into one PDF file.

For questions regarding the application process, contact the Office of Equal Opportunity at (970) 491-5836 or email oeo@colostate.edu. For questions regarding the job vacancy, responsibilities, and salary, please contact JoAnn Powell (970) 491-7887 or joann.powell@colostate.edu.

Candidates moving forward in the process should be contacted within 15 working days after the deadline. Next steps and interview dates will be shared at that time.

PURPOSE OF POSITION: This position will manage and coordinate all aspects of the Colorado Master Gardener, (CMG), program in El Paso County. Primary CMG duties include volunteer recruitment; training and coordination; volunteer tracking; support for CMG activities that engage the public; ongoing recognition; documentation of program accomplishments; and program reporting. This position identifies CMG and community training needs and interests, selects programs, markets and delivers non-credit educational programming to youth and adult audiences using a variety of delivery methods. The individual in this position works as a member of the local county Extension team and as a local representative of Colorado State University. This individual works under the guidance and supervision of the El Paso County Extension Director.

Volunteer Recruitment, Development and Management: 65%

• Maintain, strengthen and grow the El Paso County Colorado Master Gardener program through coordinating the following activities: recruiting, interviewing, selecting, training, deploying and recognizing Colorado Master Gardener volunteers; establish Colorado Master Gardener project teams and coordinate Colorado Master Gardner volunteer project managers, monitor and redirect project implementation as needed.
• Manage Colorado Master Gardener program budget.
• Help the public gain answers to horticultural and related questions through Colorado Master Gardener volunteers; instill quality customer service skills and diagnostic protocols in volunteers.
• Provide guidance and support for volunteer projects in the community.
• Coordinate and schedule Colorado Master Gardener volunteers for speaker’s bureau.
• Educate volunteers to use electronic scheduling and tracking program, maintain email contact lists and databases; create summary reports.
• Provide continuing education opportunities to volunteers.

Note: % of job assigned to this duty may be changed as the program develops.

Program Planning, Development, Delivery, Evaluation and Reporting: 25%

• Based on community needs, assist in developing, deliver, and evaluate research-based educational programming and information to the public using a variety of educational venues including but not limited to: workshops, newsletters, blogs, website, news releases, radio programs, speaker’s bureau and volunteers.
• Develop and promote culturally appropriate programming that is inclusive of youth and adult audiences that are diverse and/or underserved.
• Assure compliance with civil rights and affirmative action policies.
• Actively participate in, develop a plan to invest and regularly report program activities and outcomes to the Environmental Horticulture Program Reporting Unit. Participate in Colorado Master Gardener program leadership team.
• Attend state Colorado Master Gardener policy development meetings. Follow state Colorado Master Gardener program guidelines.
• Assist with updating and maintaining all website and social media platforms with local Colorado Master Gardener and horticulture related information.
• Completion of the Colorado Master Gardener training required of volunteers is required in the first year of hire.
• Maintain horticulture reference book library, files and program demonstration materials.

Note: % of job assigned to this duty may be changed as the program develops.

Initiate and Develop Relationships and Partnerships: 10%

• Promote horticulture and Colorado Master Gardener programs, partnerships and activities in the community. Note: % of job assigned to this  may be changed as the program develops.

Note: % of job assigned to this duty may be changed as the program develops.

SALARY: Salary range is $42,000 – $48,000 full time, for this 50%-time position. Starting salary will be commensurate with education and experience.

REQUIRED JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

• Completed bachelor’s degree. Degree must have been awarded in plant sciences (horticulture, botany, plant pathology, food systems, agriculture, or closely related field).
• Demonstrated experience working with people as individuals and in groups; ability to forge equitable and successful partnerships with other staff, volunteers, county partners, partner organizations, local government staff, or other professionals.
• Prior experience, training or capacity to supervise volunteers and manage a volunteer program.
• Professional experience, training or demonstrated knowledge of the field of horticulture; educational, nursery or greenhouse, and landscaping.
• Understanding of different ethnic and socioeconomic audiences, commitment to include diverse voices in program prioritization and planning, and a commitment to developing and delivering both inclusive and targeted programming.
• Demonstrated leadership ability; evidence of drive and initiative.
• Ability to communicate through teaching, public speaking/presentation, writing and use of technology as demonstrated through application materials and experience.
• Demonstrated use of technology in managing and/or delivering educational programs.
• Strong organizational skills: ability to multi-task; develop, track and implement projects; and meet timelines.
• Flexibility in scheduling; some night and weekend work are required (able to be scheduled in advance).
• Must have a valid driver’s license or the ability to obtain a driver’s license or access to a licensed driver by the employment start date.

PREFERRED JOB QUALIFICATIONS:    

• Knowledge and experience working with the Colorado Master Gardener program in Colorado or another state.
• Ability to speak Spanish.

BENEFITS: Based on full-time employment. Twenty-four working days’ vacation each year, 15 days sick leave. Enrollment in group health, life and accident insurance, various retirement plans, work injury benefits, and disability insurance are all available. Available personal transportation required, travel allowance provided. A full description of benefits is available at: http://www.hrs.colostate.edu/benefits/.

Colorado State University is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based on race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or pregnancy and will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. Colorado State University is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. The Office of Equal Opportunity is located in 101 Student Services. The Title IX Coordinator is the Executive Director of the Office of Support and Safety Assessment, 123 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523 -2026, (970) 491-7407. The Section 504 and ADA Coordinator is the Associate Vice President for Human Capital, Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836.

BACKGROUND CHECK: Colorado State University is committed to providing a safe and productive learning and living community. To achieve that goal, we conduct background investigations for all final candidates being considered for employment. Background checks may include, but are not limited to, criminal history, national sex offender search and motor vehicle history.

Application process and additional information may be obtained at http://jobs.colostate.edu/postings/67293