Position Description
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County

Working Title: Natural Leaders Initiative Coordinator

Classification Title: Extension Community Educator

Supervisor’s Classification: Issue Leader, Family & Community Development

Primary Role and Accountability:
The Natural Leaders Initiative is a collaborative project with GIAC, TCAction, MRC, and CCE-Tompkins to recruit natural and emerging leaders, convene skill-building and action-planning workshops, mentor, and facilitate community connections on the issues selected by the participants. NLI participants benefit from the leadership workshops, consistent support for their action plans, and mentoring from the NLI Coordinator. Grantwriting and program development are responsibilities of the NLI Coordinator for this long-term effort to increase the voice of underrepresented populations in our community.

The NLI Coordinator is a community educator, organizer, and program developer responsible for NLI with the NLI collaborators and advisory committee.

Program Coordination Accountabilities (80%)
Responsible for the development of programming and implementation for the NLI including:

• Organize day-to-day operations of the NLI for 2 cohorts of participants per year
• Work with collaborating agency staff to create a supportive environment for NLI participants; create training opportunities for collaborators’ staff to learn NLI concepts for inclusion in their roles
• Recruit and support mentors for each NLI participant and presenters for NLI training workshops
• Develop training curricula, agendas, and facilitate NLI training workshops and group meetings for the NLI
• Arrange NLI meeting details: child care, meals/refreshments, scheduling presenters, meeting space, transportation, etc.; recruit and manage consultants, volunteers, child care providers
• Coach NLI participants’ involvement and interest in community action projects; advise NLI groups on their projects
• Provide leadership for the NLI collaboration; coordinate agendas for NLI planning and evaluation meetings; participate in NLI sustainability planning and policy development
  

Program Management and Program Evaluation Accountabilities (15%)
As a team member:

• Track budget and provide reports for grants and contracts as required
• Create an evaluation for the NLI and carry-out evaluation plan with participants, collaborators, and stakeholders
• Document NLI program (curricula guides, references, evaluation forms, etc) and prepare program reports with impact documentation
• Assist collaborators in development of community partnerships, representing the NLI and its goals to the community, and reporting to key stakeholders
• Provide leadership for the NLI collaboration’s relationship-building with funders, recommend funding strategies, and develop grant proposals for funding the NLI
  

Professional Improvement (5%)

In cooperation with supervisor, jointly develop and pursue a professional development plan as a means to increase competencies relative to position accountabilities and to address change in programming and association priorities.

EEO/EPO Accountabilities

Ensure program outreach to diverse audiences, appreciate and embrace diversity in all interactions with clientele, staff, volunteers and the public in the spirit of CCE-Tompkins’ Diversity Statement.

Contacts

Report to and network with Family & Community Development program committee, NLI Collaborators, and related stakeholder meetings to stay abreast and ascertain changes and needs relevant to association program. Participate in community stakeholder meetings to convey resources and capabilities of the association in light of their priority issues. Interact directly with, and seek the resource expertise of, faculty and other subject matter experts to address identified needs and to address complex issues.

Reporting Relationships and Type of Supervision Received/Given

Perform accountabilities under direct supervision of Family & Community Development Issue Leader, deferring and seeking input in non-routine or complex subject matter situations as a developmental process. Independently identify clientele and select appropriate subject matter relative to analyzed needs, alerting supervisor of issues and concerns as well as actual or potential areas of risk or conflict.

Qualifications:

Degree and Experience Pre-requisites

MS/MA related to community development, planning, and/or education with 2-3 years experience in community development and/or organizing; experience working in public settings and coordinating with public and private groups (or BS/BA with 5-6 years experience).

Competencies Necessary:

• Must be community- and people-oriented with solid communication and public relations skills
• Ability to work with a variety of people (e.g., agency directors, collaborators’ staff, community volunteers/groups) of all ages and abilities
• Ability to plan, coordinate, and supervise community-based education
• Knowledge of and ability to develop adult learning activities to promote leadership development
• Demonstrated ability to develop and evaluate educational programs; skills in curriculum development, adult learning and qualitative and quantitative evaluation
• Demonstrated ability to be in a supportive and empowering role with others
• Enthusiastic promoter with the ability to motivate and excite others
• Ability to write press releases, letters and grant proposals
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage a seasonally intense workload
• Ability to develop volunteer and other resources to support program activities
• Ability to participate effectively in professional team efforts
• Ability to construct and monitor an annual work plan with a budget
• Ability to evaluate and document program participation and effectiveness
• Demonstrated competency using computers for word processing, data analysis, publication, and website development
  

Desired

Familiarity with Tompkins County communities, organizations and key leaders.

Special Requirements

• Willingness to work flexible hours including some nights and weekends to accommodate meetings and delivery of educational programs.
• Transportation arrangements to locations away from the office
• Meet the requirements for driving Associatin vans if needed for the program.
  
  

All Cornell Cooperative Extension positions are contingent upon adequate performance and availability of funds.

AA/EOE

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Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County
Education Center
615 Willow Avenue
Ithaca, NY 14850
Phone: 607-272-2292
Fax: 607-272-7088
Email: tompkins@cornell.edu

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County provides equal program and opportunities. No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, color, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, or qualified disability.