The posting
Overview
Job Summary Extending knowledge, improving lives! Make an impact in your community and in the lives of Alabamians.
The Alabama Cooperative Extension System is seeking qualified applications for a 4-H Extension Agent based out of Covington County, AL. Applicants must be self-directed and able to thrive in a flexible work environment.
Reasons you’ll love being an Extension Agent at ACES – Auburn
• Job Satisfaction! Be a part of life-changing work in your community! • Excellent full-time benefits that start on Day 1! • Medical, dental, and vision insurance options! • Work/life balance!
- 4 weeks of vacation accrued each year.
- 96 hours of sick leave accrued annually.
- 7 paid holidays in addition to 2 weeks of paid leave during Christmas/New Years when the University closes.
- 6 weeks of paid parental leave for the birth or adoption of a child (available for BOTH moms & dads).
- AU tuition assistance for you and your dependents after a year of service.
• Generous state retirement plan along with other voluntary retirement plan options and benefits. • Fun, flexible & diverse work environment. Every day is different! • Supportive leadership & peers. The ACES team supports you and your work!
Who we’re looking for: We are seeking a servant leader that has a passion for working with youth in Covington County! As a 4-H Extension Agent, this position provides the opportunity to do something new every day — our 4-H Agents work with animals, outdoors, STEM, gardening, cooking and everything in between. Must be willing to work as part of team and serve a diverse population. We expect all of our employees to uphold the following values: service excellence, team, inclusiveness, accountability and integrity.
Team Description: Extension Agent’s (EA’s), Urban Extension Agent’s (UEA’s), County Extension Directors (CEDs), and Specialists form the core of Extension teams. This EA will participate as a cohesive team member working with local clientele, advisory groups, volunteers, and other interested parties to determine regional needs for program outreach. As a team member, the EA will partner with other EA’s and CEDs to provide educational leadership in planning, implementing, evaluating, and reporting programs conducted in the region.
Responsibilities
Serving under the supervision of the County Extension Director, the primary role of non-tenure track 4-H Extension Agent is to provide programmatic leadership and program delivery to build life skills in Alabama youth.
- Develops leadership and engagement skills to grow and sustain the county 4-H program in five areas of excellence: forming a unified county 4-H team and program, utilizing consistent research-based curriculum resources, diversifying delivery modes tailored to today’s youth, promoting plan-of-work development and teamwork at all levels, and aligning staff and position assignments to support program resources and delivery modes.
- Diversifies program delivery by learning new programs, resources, and skills offered by Program Priority Team (PPT), professional organizations, and networks in the key 4-H program subject areas: animals and agriculture, creative arts, environmental education, healthy living, leadership and citizenship, outdoor education, and science and technology.
- Stays current on demographic and socioeconomic change to include diverse voices in program prioritization and planning, and a commitment to developing and delivering inclusive and targeted programming.
- Outdoor work will be required at times. May be asked to work with or in proximity to animals, water, sporting equipment, plants, and wildlife.
Program Leadership:
- Provides leadership, direction, organization, and implementation of a broad-based county 4-H program.
- Provides experiential learning opportunities for youth through teaching and mentoring to improve knowledge, develop leadership skills and abilities, gain independence, and engage in personal growth and development in preparing for a positive role in society.
- Provides leadership to development of an annual county 4-H strategic plan that includes a youth demographic report, determines delivery mode application, and sets goals.
- Provides leadership to develop and implement a county 4-H annual program plan-of-work that ensures youth ages 9 to 18 have access to 4-H programming through a balance of delivery modes and curricula supported by State 4-H Office.
- Provides leadership for county 4-H Youth Council and works cohesively with County Extension Director to provide leadership for the 4-H Adult Advisory Committee.
- Meets regularly with colleagues in SET to share needs assessment results, coordinate programs, and establish priorities and new initiatives.
- Provides leadership and/or assists with county, regional, state, and national events as necessary, including required annual assignments to 4-H statewide events and 4-H summer camp.
- Cooperates with and informs County Extension Directors, State Extension Specialists, and appropriate Assistant Director for Programs and Assistant Director for Field Operations on 4-H programs, resources, protocols, and policies and has a positive working relationship with colleagues and clients in SET and PPT.
Program Management and Marketing:
- Serves as the leading program resource member of the County 4-H Team in the assigned county(s) (along with the County Extension Director, Agent Assistant, and Administrative Support staff) with each team member carrying out specific roles and responsibilities.
- Responsible to County 4-H Team for providing expertise and leadership regarding policies, decisions, and directions of county 4-H program in alignment with ACES and Auburn University guidelines and policies.
- Promote and market Alabama 4-H and local, regional, and state programs in accordance with Auburn University and ACES communications and branding guidelines and requirements through all media sources.
- Maintains effective communication and develops networks and partnerships with volunteers, schools, agencies, and organizations to enhance program delivery and evaluation.
- Assures compliance with civil rights and affirmative action policies related to serving underserved and underrepresented audiences.
- Implements and enforces all Auburn University Risk Management requirements and policies designed to help keep our youth safe.
- Responsible for data collection and input, including 4-H Online, in conjunction with program area requirements. Prepares evaluation summaries and success stories of delivered educational programs focused on short, intermediate, and long-term outcomes and impacts.
- Develops a communication plan to reach 4-H members and their families using all forms of traditional and social media to disseminate information and market programs and has a professional presence in major forms of media.
Volunteer and Resource Management:
- Provides leadership and coordination for 4-H volunteer development, including recruitment, orientation, and specialized training in conjunction with Auburn University Risk Management for Youth.
- Appropriately identifies, secures, and manages fiscal resources (contracts, grants, fees, donations, sponsorships) to support local and priority programs and initiatives within county, and may also assist with securing resources for multi-county, state, and national level events.
- Participate in grant funded projects led by State Extension Specialists or State Program Lead as necessary.
- Builds capacity of volunteers and partners in technical areas to strengthen programming through training.
This position may require hours outside of the typical 7:45am-4:45pm, including potential night and weekend opportunities.
Qualifications
Level 1: Bachelor’s degree and 0 years of experience. Level 2: Bachelor’s degree and 4 years of experience OR Master’s degree and 2 years of experience. Level 3: Bachelor’s degree and 8 years of experience OR Master’s degree and 6 years of experience.
Valid driver's License
Focus of Education: Discipline related to extension programming.
Focus of Experience: Experience implementing, managing, or delivering educational programs in a relevant discipline, including formal and/or informal teaching methods.
Contract Type
Continuing Why Work at Auburn?
- Life-Changing Impact: Our work changes lives through research, instruction, and outreach, making a lasting impact on our students, our communities, and the world.
- Culture of Excellence: We are committed to leveraging our strengths, resources, collaboration, and innovation as a top employer in higher education.
- We’re Here for You: Auburn offers generous benefits, educational opportunities, and a culture of support and work/life balance.
- Sweet Home Alabama: The Auburn/Opelika area offers southern charm, vibrant downtown scenes, top-ranked schools, and easy access to Atlanta, Birmingham, and the Gulf of Mexico beaches.
- A Place for Everyone: Auburn is committed to fostering an environment where all faculty, staff, and students are welcomed, valued, respected, and engaged.
- Ready to lead and shape the future of higher education? Apply today! War Eagle!
Equal Opportunity Compliance Statement
It is our policy to provide equal employment and education opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other classification protected by applicable law. Please visit the Office of Equal Opportunity Compliance's website to learn more. Posted Date
10/15/2026
