Work Location: The extension office is located in Greensburg, Louisiana. The area to be served is St. Helena Parish, which is in southeast Louisiana with a population of approximately 10,920 residents.
Position Description: The Extension Agent (Nutrition and Community Health (NCH) will serve as the Healthy Communities Program Facilitator and will work under the supervision and direction of the Parish Chairs, Regional Director, NCH Regional Coordinator, and the NCH state office. The agent will work on the Healthy Communities projects in St. Helena Parish designed to improve the nutrition and health of the community members. The community development project will promote a broad Healthy Communities initiative to increase healthy food access and physical activity in the parish by addressing the food system and built environment. The agent will organize community based advisory committees involving stakeholders, local government, volunteers, other health professionals and community residents to identify the most critical needs in the communities served, strategies to address those needs, ways to overcome community barriers to good nutrition and health for the communities and build community advocacy. Following the identification of those needs identified by the aforementioned advisory committees, the agent will then work with advisory committees and community groups to promote healthy behaviors among the parish. The agent will provide primary leadership in planning, implementing, evaluating, and reporting food and physical activity, policy, environmental and systems interventions as well as implementing health and nutrition education programming for adult and youth in the parish leading up to and as a result of these efforts. The agent will also work with other agents and educators in the parishes as required. This individual must be willing to maintain professional competence as an extension agent of the LSU AgCenter. The agent is expected to perform other tasks as assigned by supervisor(s). Coordination and collaboration with other LSU AgCenter Extension faculty and SU Ag Center staff will be essential. In order to attend and conduct programming to meet the needs of clientele, this position may require overnight travel and work on evenings and weekends.
Qualification Requirements: A baccalaureate degree in human nutrition and foods/dietetics, community development, public health, humanities, social sciences, social work, community nutrition, family and consumer sciences, or other qualifying degree from an accredited college or university is required. Degrees in other fields that relate to the duties of the position may be considered if combined with directly related experience. This applicant must demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills. Applicant must have knowledge of community organizing. Two years of experience is desired in recruiting, training and supervising volunteers and paraprofessionals and experience in teaching and applying principles of leadership development to both youth and adults is also desired. Knowledge of public relations, food systems, walkability, a familiarity of the cultures within the parishes assigned and the ability to cope with change are highly desirable characteristics. Ability to work with and through others is essential, as is the ability to function with minimum supervision. Successful candidates will exemplify a positive attitude and a passion to improve the lives of others.
Salary and Benefits: Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. The LSU AgCenter has an attractive benefits package with a wide variety of benefit options. Benefits offered include retirement, multiple medical insurance options, supplemental insurances (dental, life, long-term disability, accident, vision, long-term care, etc.), Tax Saver Flexible Benefits Plan (saves tax dollars on some child care and medical expenses), university holidays (14 per year, typically includes a week off at Christmas), generous annual (vacation) and sick leave benefits, Employee Assistance Program, and possible educational leave and tuition exemption for coursework at campuses of the LSU System. Specific benefits depend on job category, percent effort and length of employment.
Conditions of Employment: A personal automobile and appropriate insurance coverage is required (travel allowance provided). Some work on evenings and weekends should be expected. A cell phone is required. Satisfactory completion of two specific graduate level extension courses (6 credit hours) generally required in the first two years of employment. Additionally, a faculty member who does not have a related master’s degree must complete an additional 9 hours of related graduate level coursework in order to be promoted to associate agent and such promotion must occur in the first seven years of employment. An exception is that additional agent experience may be substituted for nine hours of coursework, but not for the two required courses.
Date Available: Upon completion of the selection process.
Application Deadline: February 29, 2024 or until a suitable candidate is identified.
Application Procedure: Qualified candidates must apply online at https://lsu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/LSU (or through Workday for internal applicants) by attaching file(s) containing a curriculum vita, a letter of application, official university transcripts, and two letters of reference. Questions about the online application system should be directed to the HRM Office at 225/578-0324. (Paper, faxed, or emailed application materials will not be accepted.) In lieu of attaching the letters of reference, they may be sent directly to:
Dr. Charity Schaffer, Parish Chair
St. Helena Parish
PO Box 1505
Greensburg, LA. 70441
Email: charity_schaffer@suagcenter.com
Phone (225) 222-4136
Web site: www.lsuagcenter.com
The Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and applications will be accepted without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, or disability. Information on Equal Employment can be obtained from the EEO and Civil Rights Coordinator, 103 J. Norman Efferson Hall, LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA 70803. Phone 225.578.2258. It is the policy of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service to employ only United States citizens or aliens lawfully authorized to work in the United States.
The LSU Agricultural Center is a statewide campus of the LSU System and provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. An Equal Opportunity Employer
