4-H Youth Development Educator - Owego, NY
This position will serve as the Youth Development Resource Educator for Cornell Cooperative Extension Association of Tioga County and under the leadership and oversight of the Association Executive Director, the Youth Development Resource Educator will be the lead team member in developing, planning, implementing, managing, and evaluating the 4-H Youth Development education programming. Responsible for identifying and assessing educational program needs, developing program goals and objectives, planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating educational programs for youth and adults who work with youth, with a subject focus on agriculture, science and technology, healthy lifestyles, life skills and workforce preparation, as well as community service and leadership. Work as an Extension Association team member in addressing local, regional, and statewide programming priorities. This position will coordinate assigned administrative aspects of the 4-H Youth Development, Family Development and other youth related programs, including supervision of program staff, grant management and fundraising. This position will collaborate with CCE Tioga Agriculture Educators to connect youth with Hilltop Community Farm activities and community agriculture engagement opportunities. The Youth Development Resource Educator will provide guidance, direction and support to program volunteers that assist in the implementation of the 4-H Youth and Family Development programs, utilizing existing policies, procedures and best practices. This position will evaluate and analyze the impact of programs using a variety of assessment tools, interpret evaluation data, and utilize that data to help guide future program offerings.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS
PLEASE READ BEFORE APPLYING
All applicants must apply online by close of day on September 21, 2026 to be considered for this position. All applicants must complete an application packet, which includes: cover letter, resume and three (3) references.
All External Applicants (including applicants currently employed by Cornell Cooperative Extension in Associations other than the Association advertising this career opportunity) must submit his/her application materials via the "APPLY" button located within this job posting.
All Internal Applicants (current employees working for the Association advertising this career opportunity) must apply online via his/her Workday account, which may be accessed here: http://workday.cornell.edu/.
Please contact the Cornell Cooperative Extension office at 607-659-5694 with questions.
POSITION DETAILS
This position is a full-time, exempt position - 100% FTE. The annual salary for this position is $50,000.00 to $62,500.00 commensurate with experience. This position, based on eligibility, offers a comprehensive benefit package, to include: health and dental insurance, retirement, vacation, sick and personal leave.
POSITION INFORMATION
Required Qualifications
- Master’s Degree in Youth Development, Education, or related discipline.
- Experience relevant to the role of the position.
- Valid NYS Driver’s License and the ability to meet travel requirements associated with this position, including valid NYS driver’s license.
- Ability to work flexible hours which may include evenings and/or weekends, as appropriate.
- Ability to transport/move supplies and equipment, and climb stairs with or without reasonable accommodation.
Preferred Qualifications
- Proficiency with windows-based software including use of the internet and Microsoft Office Suite including Outlook, Word, and Excel.
- Ability to communicate effectively through verbal, written and visual channels using traditional methods and educational tools, as well as electronic technology (e.g., video, audio, computers, etc.).
- Ability and willingness to work with a high degree of integrity, accuracy, organization, sound professional judgment, and the ability to handle confidential, sensitive information.
- Experience with Cooperative Extension or other similar educational organizations.
- Experience in guiding and collaborating with volunteers.
- Experience in grant writing.
- Ability to identify and develop volunteer leadership.
- Strong interpersonal skills with proven ability to work effectively with advisory boards and committees, community and funding partners.
- Ability to initiate, plan, organize, implement, teach, and evaluate informal educational programs.
- Ability to effectively participate in professional team efforts.
- Ability and willingness to work with diverse audiences and maintain cultural sensitivity.
- Ability to identify and utilize program resources from the organization and the community.
- Ability to relate effectively to co-workers, advisors, community and professional leaders.
- Ability to plan and organize personal work responsibilities according to priorities developed with the immediate supervisor.
POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES
Program Responsibilities
Assessment and Development - 30%
- Develop methodology to assess the Youth Development Program and ensure that program needs and strategic needs of the Association are being satisfied.
- Ensure program assessment is aligned with the statewide Plan of Work and the Association Plan of Work.
- Develop program needs assessment.
- Use subject matter knowledge to conduct youth, parent, leader, and community-based needs assessments.
- Assess 4-H Youth Development needs for community club and independent members, and for children and youth in the Association’s after-school programs, taking note of traditional as well as emerging opportunities, especially in animal sciences, STEM, public speaking, and leadership.
- Apply subject matter knowledge to identify program gaps and emerging needs and make recommendations for programmatic offerings, enhancements or improvements.
- Apply subject matter knowledge to develop educational strategies to meet identified needs and diverse interests of participants and volunteers within the scope of the statewide and Association Plan of Work.
- Utilize advisory committees to ensure that stakeholders are engaged in the program development process.
- Develop educational programs, materials and activities to meet identified needs and to carry out program priorities and goals.
- Select, adapt, and utilize curricula from approved CCE sources or apply in-depth knowledge to create curricula as needed.
- Create innovative educational programs to meet changing local needs.
- Structure programs to meet the need of diverse program participants and meet changing local and/or regional issues.
- Make programmatic changes based on program evaluation outcomes.
- Maintain linkages with Cornell faculty and other subject matter specialists for guidance in program development, particularly in agricultural, STEM, and afterschool program initiatives.
Delivery, Evaluation and Applied Research - 40%
- Apply in-depth subject matter expertise to create innovative lessons plans, and identify activities and resources necessary to implement initiatives and projects within the scope of the statewide and Association Plan of Work.
- Foster acceptance of program, methods, and policies to address community and individual needs and consider diverse audiences.
- Deliver high quality 4-H Youth Development educational programs and events that address local, regional and statewide 4-H Youth Development programming priorities. Events and programs may require involvement of volunteers.
- Provide leadership and assist in special projects including, but not limited to: 4-H Leader trainings, County and State Fair, 4-H Fundraising, enrollment campaign, Public Presentations, Workshops/Camps, and other Extension Association activities as assigned.
- Deliver volunteer trainings, including but not limited to presentations, workshops, seminars, conferences, individual consultations, electronic and digital media in support of program delivery.
- Evaluate and utilize a variety of educational methods which may include direct teaching, group experiences, media, newsletters, electronic technology, internet, and distance learning to deliver program.
- Provide educational program efforts via mass media including contributing articles to 4-H newsletter, utilizing emails, phone messages, website and social media postings.
- Serve as subject matter expert to staff, clientele, volunteers, and other groups as identified.
- Maintain linkages with Cornell subject matter specialists for program delivery guidance.
- Interact with program participants representing CCE in a professional manner at all times.
- Represent CCE and 4-H Youth Development before the public, community leaders, government officials, Cornell or other land grant universities in a professional manner as part of program delivery.
- Develop program evaluation framework and tools based on subject matter knowledge within scope of the statewide and Association Plan of Work.
- Apply subject matter knowledge to evaluate educational program.
- Interact with program participants, Association staff, program committees, county/community leaders, and other key stakeholders to collect evaluation data for improving programs.
- Analyze and interpret collected program evaluation data and communicate results and findings.
- Recommend changes to strengthen and improve programs.
- Communicate social and economic changes to Cornell University specialists that may be studied and/or acted upon.
- Ensure applied research is within scope of the statewide and Association Plan of Work.
- Assist in conducting applied research in conjunction with Land Grant University Faculty as outlined in CCE program definition and standards.
- Assist in the collaboration with Cornell faculty to design or create applied research collection framework.
Administrative Responsibilities
Direction and Management - 20%
- Provide complex administrative tasks to support the planning of educational programs by...