Title: Assistant Extension Agent (4-H Youth Development)
Position Number:
Hiring Unit: College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) Department of Family and Consumer Sciences4-H Program Office
Location: Hilo Hawaii (Hawaii County)
Date Posted: January 14 2026
Closing Date: Continuous until position filled; review of applications to begin on March 30 2026
Minimum Monthly Salary: salary schedules and placement information
Full Time/Part Time: Full-time
Month: 11-month
Temporary/Permanent: Permanent
Tenure Track:Tenure
Other Conditions: Position Workload: 80% Extension and 20% Service; subject to adjustment based on operational needs. This position may be based at any Extension office on Hawaii Island negotiable at the time of hire. First review to begin March 30 2026 or soon thereafter. For best consideration all application materials should be submitted by March 30 2026. Complete applications and required document attachments must be submitted before close of vacancy. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed by the hiring committee. Please see application instructions.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Provide leadership and overall coordinationfor youth development programs in all delivery modes (web-based distance education face-to-face etc.) in Hawaii County (Hawaii Island) in collaboration with a team of Extension professionals and community volunteers statewide.
- Conduct and/or coordinate county-based extension education and applied research programs to build the capacity of youth and adults that are consistent with all national 4-H mission mandates.
- Responsibilities includeprogram planning development implementation and evaluation; volunteer development interagency collaboration professional development and resource development.
- Serve as the Covered Program Administrator for the Hawaii County 4-H program related to the University of Hawaii protection of minors policy and procedures.
- Outreach and work with various target audienceof this program including but is not limited to youth audiences including the 4-H community (youth families club leaders); extension staff members working with youth audiences youth agency personnel and volunteers who work with youth in other community settings and programs that have a youth component (e.g. nutrition community horticulture intergenerational programs).
- Serve as a liaisonto other CTAHR faculty for youth related programs and activities.
- Obtain grantsand pursue other funding opportunities to provide program sustainability.
- Contribute to scholarly activities in regards to positive youth development and related fieldson the county state and national levels.
- Participate in Department College and Universityservice/governance.
- Work with stakeholdersand participate in meetings that may occur after normal working hours and/or weekends at off-site locations.
- Must be willing to travel by air to other islands within the state and travel within Hawaii County and statewide as needed for program coordination and professional development.
* Responsibilities of this position will be comprised of the following types of work as determined in coordination of the County Administrator Department Chair and Associate Dean and Director for Cooperative Extension and the Dean of CTAHR.
Extension (80%)
Instruction
Through nonformal education processes Extension instruction is a sequence of progressive steps of program development and direct client services that lead to behavior change and learning opportunities for clientele.
- Teaching through direct instruction strategies like workshops trainings mentoring and coaching for youth families volunteers and community partners.
- Teaching individuals directly through direct one-on-one coaching technical assistance problem solving coaching and support through individual and site visits phone calls emails etc.
- Disseminate knowledge through indirect strategies such as social media print materials and web-based materials.
- Promote and market to clientele and the management of clientele who do attend educational activities.
- Development of research informed curriculum required for instructional efforts in collaboration with UH and other land-grant university faculty.
- Develop extramural resources and management of those resources to support planned Extension instruction activities in support of the program goals.
- Utilize communication strategies effectively to build engagement consensus and understanding in communities around youth development topics.
Program Management
Extension program management is the work directly related to the management of the educational activities of Extension programs and the development and use of volunteers.
- Provide oversight of the organizational effectiveness of programs used to maximize Extension program impact.
- Support the volunteer management policy and financial oversight and implementation of Extension education organizations if created and utilized in the course of Extension program development.
- Provide financial guidance and oversight to 4-H clubs and affiliate groups that have checking accounts to ensure Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Hawaii Department of Taxation regulations are met.
- Direct Supervision of volunteers employees students AmeriCorps or other individuals who extend Extension efforts if appropriate.
Program Evaluation and Impact Reporting
Conduct rigorous program evaluation efforts to inform evidence of program effectiveness.
- Support impact reporting and Civil Rights compliance through the Program Evaluation and Reporting System (PEARS) Extension impact reporting program.
- Use program evaluation data to inform programing improvement adaptation and program quality.
Extension Scholarship and Applied Research
Generate synthesize interpret and communicate new knowledge methods understandings technologies materials uses insights and beauty in support of community members greatest and highest needs in support of the Extension education program.
- Measure report and relay programmatic impacts in juried outlets and also in outlets that serve to build awareness and trust with the general public.
- Apply research that contributes to discovery creativity integration and application of new knowledge; and Extension program improvement.
- Resource a community-responsive research agenda through grantsmanship; and develop resources that enhance the sustainability of this position and to resource the developed Extension education program.
Service (20%)
Demonstrate leadership in departmental college university professional and community service activities. Particularly demonstrate service in the community that contributes to Policy Systems and Environmental Change.
Minimum Qualifications for Assistant Extension Agent
- Masters degree from a college or university of recognized standing in youth development family development Extension education general education science agriculture agriculture education communications or related areas.
- At least three (3) years of successful experience in Cooperative extension work or equivalent closely related fields.
- Ability to exercise independent judgment and to assume responsibility for developing an Extension program.
- Demonstrated experience and ability in youth program development and implementation.
- Demonstrated understanding and ability in working collegially with community leaders and groups government agencies academic colleagues and clientele.
- Ability to work harmoniously with other agents in an integrated Extension system and with related agencies.
- Excellent interpersonal oral and written communication skills.
- Proficiency in computer and electronic communication to disseminate and communicate information with various stakeholders.
- Ability to travel independently to various geographical locations promptly. Requirement may be fulfilled by a valid Hawaii Drivers License (class 3) comparable drivers license or other means of transportation that meets position needs.
- Professionalism in meeting and conferring with others
Desirable Qualifications
- Ph.D. in youth development family development or related field.
- Demonstrated ability to obtain external funding.
- Completed coursework or demonstrated experience in volunteer development and management.
- Demonstrated ability to use distance education and social media for program marketing and delivery to established 4-H youth and underserved youth audiences.
- Demonstrated experience in developing delivery of innovative science health and/or technology educational programs to enhance positive youth development with families and communities.
- Professional and colloquial language skills in Olelo Hawaiian or any language spoken in Hawaii or U.S. Affiliated Pacific Insular areas.
- Experience in community and family nutrition food systems or other aspects of agriculture.
- Experience working with military youth and military families.
TO APPLY:Click in the Apply button on the top right corner of the screen to complete an application and attach the required documents. If you have not applied for a position before using NeoGov you will need to create an account.
- Cover letter indicating how you satisfy the minimum and some if not all desirable qualifications;
- Curriculum vitae (CV);
- Statement of extension teaching;
- Names of three (3) professional references (contact information including email address); and
- Official transcripts or original documentation from the institution confirming the degree (copies acceptable; however official transcripts will be required upon hire). Diplomas will not be accepted.
Note: Complete applications and required document attachments must be submitted before close of vacancy. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed by the hiring committee.
Inquiries: Dr. Jeff Goodwin