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Department of 4-H Youth Development

Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, is searching for a community-engaged scholar to provide leadership to a comprehensive research-based youth development educational program for Somerset County youth, grades K-13 (one year out of high school). This position will be housed at the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Somerset County, located in Bridgewater, NJ.

This 12-month, 100% Extension-funded position offers an exciting opportunity for developing new strategic and innovative initiatives in the areas of 4-H youth development and agri-science with a focus on livestock. Reporting to the Chair of the Department of 4-H Youth Development, this position will provide leadership as a liaison between campus-based researchers at Rutgers University, the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, and Rutgers Cooperative Extension, and clientele and colleague groups such as local and state stakeholders. The Department has a strong interest in attracting diverse faculty and providing excellence in community engagement in accordance with the Rutgers Diversity Strategic Plan (https://diversity.rutgers.edu/university-plan) which is why we encourage candidates from diverse, underrepresented communities to apply.

The Department of 4-H Youth Development is a department within the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station and Rutgers Cooperative Extension and is closely aligned with the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences and the land-grant mission of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. The faculty and staff of the Department of 4-H Youth use the principals of positive youth development to deliver engaging, hands-on educational experiences designed to increase the knowledge, attitudes, and skills young people need to become competent, caring, and contributing citizens.
Candidate must demonstrate excellence in written, oral, interpersonal, and information technology communication skills. The candidate should have a deep understanding of youth development and be able to design and implement a program that responds to community strengths, assets, and needs, and leads to positive changes and impact within the community and beyond. Additional position requirements include:
  • A Master’s Degree is required from an accredited institution in Education, sociology, psychology, or STEM related degrees (ex. Biology, animal science agriculture).
  • A minimum of three years of relevant work experience.
  • Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as a team member with external and internal stakeholders.
  • Experience in managing people and evidence of effective interpersonal communication skills (oral and written).
  • Experience in public speaking and written business-level communication.
  • Initiative and creativity – ability to start and complete a project with minimal supervision; self-directed.
  • Ability to adapt as circumstances warranted.
  • Willingness to actively promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and humility, and ability to share complex information in a manner tailored to the audience.
  • Experience working with diverse audiences and communities
  • Experience establishing, leading, and/or serving partnerships and coalitions
  • Demonstrated computer literacy – Microsoft Office and other Windows software.
  • Flexibility – the ability to work daytime, evenings, and weekends, as needed.
  • Experience and/or coursework in conducting community needs assessments, addressing social determinants of health, grant writing, and management, and applied research
  • Local, regional, and (limited) statewide travel is required; personal transportation is required.
Other Information
To perform the functions of this position, the employee will be required to perform work both within an office and outside in the communities that are served and must have the capability to travel from one location to the other in a timely fashion. The employee is responsible for securing personal transportation. Some work will be required during evenings and/or weekends.