About this role
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## Job Category:
Academic Staff
## Employment Type:
Regular
## Job Profile:
Outreach Specialist
Job Summary:
The 4-H Program Educator is a part of the Division of Extension’s Positive Youth Development (PYD) Institute. The PYD Institute works to catalyze positive change to engage Wisconsin youth in opportunities they need to learn, lead, grow, and thrive. The Wisconsin 4-H club program contributes to this work through the purposeful engagement of over 25,000 youth members and 5,000 adult volunteer leaders in 4-H clubs and groups throughout the state and tribal nations. The Wisconsin 4-H PYD program is a youth-driven, volunteer-supported organization committed to expanding access to all and empowering youth to thrive. More information about Wisconsin 4-H can be found at https://4h.extension.wisc.edu/ .
The 4-H Program Educator provides overall leadership and direction for a county-based 4-H club and program. This position includes three primary roles: 1) Program Leadership, 2) Volunteer Management, 3) Education and Youth Advocacy.
The position in Rock County is responsible for leading the 4-H membership program (900 youth members and over 200 adult volunteers) and oversees the day-to-day operations, including the supervision of volunteers.
Additionally, this position will be focused on cultivating collaborations and expanding 4-H membership and programming opportunities.
Program Leadership*
- Provides leadership to the county 4-H program focused on expanding 4-H membership and ensuring quality membership experiences.
- Responsible for assuring that all programs bearing the 4-H name and emblem are consistent with the purpose, vision, and values of the PYD Institute’s program, including chartered 4-H clubs and groups.
- Cultivates partnerships with other organizations to expand 4-H club and participation programming opportunities.
- Supervises staff and volunteers who deliver 4-H PYD programming.
Volunteer Management*
- Establishes and maintains a comprehensive 4-H volunteer development and management system that includes: identification, selection, orientation and training, utilization, recognition, and evaluation.
- Provides ongoing coaching and support to volunteers in delivery of 4-H PYD programs.
- Ensures compliance with PYD Institute, Wisconsin 4-H club and membership program, UW-Madison Division of Extension, and USDA policies and procedures.
Education and Youth Advocacy*
- Utilizes a variety of delivery methods to provide resources and teach content in youth development, organization development, and volunteer development.
- Serves as the connection to the educational resources of the PYD Institute, UW-Madison Division of Extension, and the USDA.
- Supports youth engagement and leadership in 4-H clubs, groups, programs, projects, and activities.
- Facilitates the positive development of young people through 4-H PYD programs, projects and activities.
* The amount of time that is spent in each of these roles is dependent on the needs of the specific county-based 4-H program.
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County Location
The main office for this position is located in Janesville, WI and the primary programming focus is Rock County; however, some programming may also be conducted over a broader geographical area.
In Person
This position requires work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated work locations.
Evening/Weekend Work
This position requires working frequent nights and weekends to meet the program needs and priorities of the communities served.
Travel Expectations
It is expected that employees will make individual arrangements for transportation adequate to meet position responsibilities and essential job functions. Read more about UW-Madison Driver Authorization.
Applicants are required to: Have a valid drivers license and a reliable source of independent transportation for periodic in-state work travel, and/or comply with requirements for UW-Madison vehicle use authorization.
Bilingual Preferred
This position has a bilingual preferred qualification, which means a bilingual skillset is desired to bolster programming initiatives but is not required. A bilingual title designation and unique responsibility will be added to the final position description if the final candidate passes the language proficiency assessment.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to lift 30 pounds with assistance
Key Job Responsibilities:
- Delivers outreach program content and materials to community members
- May assist with the monitoring of outreach program budget spending
- Schedules and secures resources and communicates logistics in support of an outreach program
- Develops and evaluates curriculum and programs and provides recommendations for improvement
- Identifies, promotes, and maintains external partnerships to support the outreach program
- Researches, develops, and facilitates outreach program content and materials
- Leads the implementation of programs, policies, and procedures through oversight of day-to-day activities for program staff and student and community volunteers
Department:
About Extension
Extension embodies the Wisconsin Idea by developing and connecting the research and educational resources of UW–Madison with residents and communities to address local, statewide, and national issues. We teach, learn, lead and serve, transforming lives and communities.
About the Institute
The Extension Institute of Positive Youth Development prepares the youth of today to become the effective, empathic adults of tomorrow. Our research-based youth enrichment programs like teens in governance build youth and adult capacity that help both sides grow. 4-H clubs, camps and afterschool programs give young people the hands-on experiences they need to develop an understanding of themselves and the world.
About the Program
Salary is negotiable based on experience and qualifications.
Compensation:
The minimum annual (12 months) starting salary for the position is $60,795. Salary is negotiable based on experience and qualifications.
Bilingual Preferred
This position has a bilingual preferred qualification. Upon the successful completion of a Language Proficiency Assessment, a ‘bilingual’ prefix will be added to the official title. The bilingual prefix is accompanied by a $3500.00 pay increase applied to the annual salary.
Benefits
Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. Benefits information can be found at ( https://hr.wisc.edu/benefits/ )
Required Qualifications:
- Three years of experience leading, managing and/or evaluating youth development programs;
- Two years of experience managing and/or supervising volunteers and/or staff;
- Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to build and maintain professional work environments;
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively;
- Ability to apply relevant policies, procedures, and regulations including reporting requirements and risk and data management; and
- Ability to effectively work with people from different cultural backgrounds, including those associated with race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, socioeconomic status, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, and other aspects of human diversity.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Demonstrated ability to resolve conflicts;
- Ability to work cooperatively with other agencies, community-based services, or organizations to address educational needs
Bilingual Preferred
Spanish-speaking, writing and comprehension skills; knowledge and understanding of Latino culture. Language skills will be evaluated.
Education:
Required Education
Bachelor's Degree
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Preferred Education
Master's degree in a field relevant to the responsibilities of the position.
How to Apply:
We are eager to learn more about how your experience and passion may align with this position. To begin the application process, click the "apply now" button. You will be prompted to upload the following documents:
- Resume
- Letter of Qualifications (cover letter)
Please note when applying, there will be only one attachment field . You must upload all your documents in the attachment field . Please submit a cover letter referring to your work experience and a resume detailing your educational and professional background as it relates to this position. Your cover letter should communicate your interest in the position and how your skillset aligns with the role. The application reviewers will be relying on written application materials to determine who may advance to preliminary interviews. Failure to upload all required materials may result in your application not being considered.
For additional guidance and resources on how to tailor your application materials to the job posting, please click https://extension.wisc.edu/careers/ .
Candidates interested in the bilingual title designation should submit (1) writing samples or unscripted video/audio recordings in both English and the target language (Spanish), and (2) documentation of a recognized second-language proficiency certification completed within the last 5 years (if applicable). These materials may be used to determine who advances in the interview process. If your certification is approved, you may be exempt from our internal language proficiency assessment. Preferred certifications include those from the Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI) and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), though others may also be considered.
Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment. UW–Madison cannot employ F-1 STEM OPT Extension participants, because UW–Madison does not meet the E-Verify employer requirement.
This position has been identified as a position of trust with access to vulnerable populations. The selected candidate will be required to pass an initial caregiver check to be eligible for employment under the Wisconsin Caregiver Law and then every two years.
Application Deadline is December 14, 2026 at 11:59pm (CST).
Contact Information:
Michele Blakeman
(608) 262-7110
Christine Wen
[email protected]
(262) 379-9431
Institutional Statement on Diversity:
Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website .
To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.
Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department .