POSITION VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
Work Location: The areas to be served are East Baton Rouge, Jefferson and Orleans parishes, located in southeast Louisiana with the domicile office located in Jefferson, LA. The population base combined have approximately 1.2 million residents. The LSU AgCenter’s Nutrition Extension Department includes the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), Supplemental Food Assistance Program- Education (SNAP-ed) and the Flavors of Health Program (FOH). EFNEP and SNAP-ed are designed to work with limited-resource families and individuals that receive and/or are eligible for governmental assistance. Both program areas are based on the USDA My Plate and physical activity, (both adults and youth). The FOH Program focuses on chronic diseases such as obesity/weight management, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cerebrovascular disease. All three programs provide information on food purchasing and preparation skills, as well as goal setting. Another significant component of the nutrition education programs is an effort to build healthier communities through Policy, Systems and Environmental (PSE) changes. By addressing these key issues, people can create a collective vision of what is needed to help their community live a healthier lifestyle.
Position Description: The LSU AgCenter is actively seeking applicants who can contribute to such an environment through their scholarship, teaching, mentoring, and professional service.
The LSU AgCenter’s Urban parishes seek a Nutrition Agent to provide overall leadership for the general health, wellness, and nutrition programs. Example of programs that will be used are Dining with Diabetes, Eat Smart, LEFTHOI, Live Strong for Older Adults, Faithful Families: Eating Smart and Moving More, Smart Portions, Kids in the Kitchen, and C.H.E.F and Teen Cuisine. You must demonstrate the ability to work effectively with culturally, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse audiences. Applicant must have abilities to build and maintain effective working relationships with volunteers, the parishes Advisory Committees, community-based and grassroots organizations, and peers in the LSU AgCenter organization. You will be part of a team that works together in support of initiatives designed to promote and support agriculture and healthy families. This position will require a minimum of 25% of time for teaching and presenting information to audiences from the above curricula listed. The remaining 75% of time would be working with the extension parish offices in Jefferson, Orleans and East Baton Rouge. The agent will report directly to the region director.
As an LSU AgCenter faculty member, you will also: work with agencies and organizations to assist or lead cooperative and interdisciplinary projects, both in the parish and through multi-parish efforts; provide information to majority adults but also work with youth audiences; develop creative works in support of programming, including presentations, professional posters, and web-based education; write extension publications related to your field of expertise; and participate in professional associations and service activities for the LSU AgCenter. You will document efforts through an annual plan of work (POW) and report on accomplishment. For those being hired as an Assistant/Associate agent you will be expected to attain promotion per LSU AgCenter guidelines.
What you will do:
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Conduct a partnership profile to measure levels of partnerships for programming (this would include PSE work and programs such as Faithful Families, Chef Camp and Teen Cuisine and chronic disease programming/education).
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Seek funding support through grants, contracts and program agreement with agencies and organizations that are relevant to the goal and mission of Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) and Extension programming.
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Work along with parish chairs and supervising agents to build levels of partnership for successful programming.
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Assist with parish chairs and FCS faculty and staff with identifying and recruiting volunteers from the community, public and private sectors along with published community assessments for creating an advisory group to support program direction.
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Assist with evaluation and analyzes and interprets impacts to provide support of FCS urban programs.
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Work with FCS Regional Coordinator, EFNEP and SNAP-ed Supervising Agents to receive updates as it relates to onboarding of agents and nutrition educators.
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Discuss with state office FCS programs (EFNEP, SNAP-ed and FOH) to understand FCS programming policies to assist with guidance of urban programming.
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Market the educational programs and activities, using public service announcements, social media, news articles in conjunction with the AgCenter Office of Communications.
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Work jointly with other staff members (parish, region and state) on programs in nutrition
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Conduct occasional educational workshops, method demonstrations and other teaching activities for adults, youth, and volunteers on nutrition.
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Encourage and support health equity programming and systems for youth and adults.
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Perform other tasks that may be assigned by supervisor(s) and work cooperatively with other Extension faculty at the parish, region and state levels.
Desired Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
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Demonstrated organizational skills.
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Effective written and verbal communication skills.
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Experience in community engagement with residents, public and private agencies
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Demonstrated skills in partnership development and project management
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Experience establishing solid partnerships
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Experience working in multicultural settings and coursework/training on multicultural topics
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Ability to use social media in a variety of formats.
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Comfort presenting in front of small and large crowds.
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Highly self-motivated.
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Be willing to continue professional development.
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Innovative audience engagement and development.
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Experience creating lesson plans, developing instructional materials, and applying teaching methods appropriate for the audience.
Qualification Requirements: A Master’s degree in community nutrition or nutritional sciences, human sciences, health promotion or public health or a closely related field from an accredited college or university is required. A registered dietician with community experience is preferred. Applicant must have a grade-point average of all graduate work of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 system. The applicant must demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills. Experience in recruiting, training and supervising adults and volunteers and experience in teaching and applying principles of leadership development to both youth and adult audiences is also desired. Knowledge of public relations 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. The successful candidate will exemplify a positive attitude and a passion to improve the lives of others. Some overnight, weekend and evening work may be required. Knowledge of public relations and the ability to cope with change are highly desirable characteristics.
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). Satisfactory completion of two specific graduate level extension courses (6 credit hours) is generally required in the first two years of employment.
Date Available: Upon completion of the selection process
Application Deadline: December 17, 2022 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, two letters of reference and a statement describing how diversity would figure into your teaching, research, or extension activities. 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. Chiquita Briley
Southeast Regional Director
LSU AgCenter Southeast Region
21549 Old Covington Highway
Hammond, LA. 70403
Email: cbriley@agcenter.lsu.edu
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/Affirmative Action Employer.
