Assistant Dean, 4-H Youth Development - 1031116

ASSISTANT DEAN, 4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT - 1031116

University of Illinois Extension

College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES)

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Be a part of our story. Through learning partnerships that extend knowledge and change lives, University of Illinois Extension provides educational programs aimed at making life better, healthier, safer, and more profitable for individuals and their communities. Illinois Extension has operated continuously for more than 100 years connecting the citizens of Illinois to their land-grant university by providing educational programming around the state. University of Illinois Extension is based in the College of ACES and works with all colleges and units of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The Assistant Dean / Program Leader and Director of 4-H Youth Development (Assistant Dean, 4-H Youth Development) serves as a regular, full-time, 12-month academic professional with primary responsibility for leading and developing statewide educational programming in positive youth development. The Assistant Dean for 4-H Youth Development supports one of the six core Extension program areas and within the 4-H Youth Development program area will focus on one or more of the following interdisciplinary strategic priorities: Community, Economy, Environment, Food and Agriculture, Health, Partnerships, Technology and Discovery and / or Workforce Excellence. 

The Assistant Dean for 4-H Youth Development provides innovative and visionary organizational leadership to statewide youth programming, including fostering interdisciplinary team efforts, implementing and evaluating Extension research-based programs, and acquisition, leadership and coordination of revenue generation opportunities in support of societal and economic needs and issues of Illinois. The Assistant Dean for 4-H Youth Development provides leadership in building relationships and reporting outcomes to regional and county directors, local, state and national legislators and other stakeholders. The incumbent provides leadership to Extension’s volunteer delivery system and provides summaries of the value of volunteers and 4-H Youth Development program outcomes and impacts. 

The Assistant Dean for 4-H Youth Development will be expected to lead and deliver research-based educational programs and to work within team settings that may consist of other Extension leaders and faculty within and outside the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES). Establishment of a program of work based on community-based needs assessments is essential to provide clear directions, partnerships and collaborations to successfully solve statewide problems. This position will be located in Urbana-Champaign at the State 4-H Office and within approximately two years, on the University of Illinois campus and will report to the Associate Dean and Director of Extension and Outreach and will be available to all of Illinois Extension. The incumbent will provide leadership and coordination to ongoing and innovative 4-H and youth development programs carried out across the state by over 50 academic youth development educators, 100+ civil service staff and 25,000 volunteers reaching over 200,000 youth annually through 4-H clubs, collaborative community education programs and change initiatives, camps, conferences and other innovative programs that address the needs of Illinois’ youth. 

One full time position is available.

Location: Champaign, IL

(Position will be located at the State 4-H Office)

The University of Illinois is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability or veteran status. For more information, visit http://go.illinois.edu/EEO.

This is a security-sensitive position.  Comprehensive background checks, including but not limited to a criminal conviction information check, a CANTS check, and a review of the Registered Sex Offender list, will be conducted.

Specific responsibilities of the Assistant Dean, 4-H Youth Development are as follows:

Program Development, Delivery and Evaluation 

• Develop through participatory strategies an innovative statewide program of work in response to county / regional needs, as well as emerging state and national issues; collaboratively coordinate statewide needs assessments with the Associate Dean and Director of Extension, Assistant Deans / Program Leaders and Associate Directors for Regions (ADRs); encourage the acceptance of 4-H youth development plans and recommendations from Extension personnel.
• Oversee curriculum development or the acquisition of research-based curriculum and basic educational materials to address the program needs of the state, ensuring a strong research-based foundation; guide Extension staff and volunteers in its use.
• Develop collaborations and networks with academic units and other departments on campus and outside the University system that address the needs of Illinois youth.
• Serve as liaison to Extension development teams that address youth issues; effectively collaborate with faculty Extension specialists to deliver programs and information regarding 4-H Youth Development.
• Provide leadership for building relationships with state, multi-state, national and international stakeholders, organizations and constituents.
• Provide information on state 4-H Youth Development programs to leaders of state agencies serving youth and other appropriate groups. Coordinate programs with these agencies when joint sponsorship seems feasible.
• Address urban and rural needs in positive youth development by collaborating with others.
• Identify and / or develop appropriate program evaluation and assessment methods and tools to continuously improve 4-H Youth Development educational programs, trainings and offerings; conduct trainings of the use of each method and tool to effectively evaluate outcomes.
• Collect, analyze and disseminate program outcomes and impact on a local, regional, state and national level; use data to drive decision making.
• Provide leadership to the development, delivery and assessment of research-based in-service education opportunities to ensure continual education of campus and field educators and staff regarding program development, delivery and evaluation.
• Implement and support a statewide marketing plan for 4-H Youth Development, including engaging in public relations and constituent relations opportunities.
• Communicate the need for cross-regional and interdisciplinary collaboration and program delivery to staff, stakeholders and constituents.
• Provide oversight to adult volunteers working with 4-H Youth Development programs, in collaboration with the Workforce Development team; work with University legal counsel, risk management personnel and Extension staff to maintain acceptable risk management and child protection policies.
• Develop strategies for recruitment, training, retention and recognition of volunteers.
• Work and meet at least annually with the state advisory committee for volunteers and youth.
• Serve as program director, primary investigator or co-investigator for grants and other funding opportunities to ensure utilization of organizational resources are consistent with critical program priorities; write grants as needed.
• Collaborate with Extension faculty specialists, principal investigators, ADRs, and county directors regarding local participation on grant-funded projects.
• Develop, lead and coordinate innovative revenue-generating opportunities for Illinois Extension related to positive youth development.
• Participate in statewide Extension activities as assigned by the Associate Dean and Director of Extension.
• Lead and / or actively participate on organizational committees / teams such as Extension Leadership Team, new employee orientation, technology systems, in-service education programs, etc. as needed or requested.
• Participate in meetings with the Extension State Advisory Council (ESAC) by providing leadership to ESAC in making state and national legislative contacts to advance Extension’s programs and funding.
• Maintain constructive working relationships with the Illinois Extension staff, Illinois Extension Professionals for Youth Education (IEPYE) network, and National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals.
• Engage in National 4-H Council priorities as appropriate and relevant for Illinois Extension.
• Participate in professional improvement opportunities when appropriate to the role of Assistant Dean / Program Leader and the Extension profession.
• Conduct all activities in accordance with the Civil Rights Act, Title IX, Rehabilitation, Americans with Disabilities Act, and the University of Illinois Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Plan.

Personnel

• Supervise the academic professional and civil service staff in the State 4-H Office, including hiring, training, coaching, motivating, etc.; coordinate performance evaluation of these staff, requesting input from academic field staff.
• Co-supervise, with the College of ACES, Office of Advancement, and oversee the work and activities of the primary fundraiser for 4-H Youth Development.
• Collaborate with the Associate Dean and Director of Extension and Extension administrative team to determine statewide position priorities, create a staffing plan and position descriptions for 4-H Youth Development.
• Participate in the recruitment, review of applications and selection of Extension staff and specifically 4-Y Youth Development academic professionals; explore opportunities to connect with campus-based staff to address statewide programming needs and emerging trends in the field of youth development.
• Assist in determining statewide performance expectations for academic professional and civil service staff within the program area, including quantity, quality, impact, outcomes, audience and reporting.
• Support the supervision of field academic professional and civil service staff, as well as the 4-H volunteers throughout Illinois; provide input to county directors in consultation with respective ADRs for academic professional staff members regarding annual performance evaluations that may include program quality, quantity, outcomes, impact, and reporting or other issues related to job responsibilities as needed.
• Encourage and ensure scholarship of academic staff who make creative intellectual contributions to their profession.
• Engage as a constructive leader and team member for Illinois Extension.

Reporting

• Prepare required plans of work and state annual reports for 4-H Youth Development.
• Report outcomes / accomplishments in 4-H Youth Development for use in state and national reports.
• Assist in marketing educational programs and reports to highlight the work and accomplishments of the 4-H Youth Development program area.
• Demonstrate to stakeholders the importance of volunteer delivered programs to achieve high program quality, program expansion and program impact.
• Support the online reporting system by working with the director of program planning and assessment to gather critical information to determine program outreach efforts and accomplishments in 4-H Youth Development.

Fiscal

• Provide fiscal oversight of the 4-H Youth Development program area by managing and directing the financial operations of the State 4-H Office, including budgets, monitoring financial activities, approving expenditures and developing needs reports.
• Provide leadership and accountability to the operation, administration, and development of resources to enhance the 4-H Youth Development programs throughout Illinois, including providing leadership in revenue generation for obtaining grants, contracts and fees.
• Coordinate with the Illinois 4-H Foundation, local 4-H foundations, and the College of ACES Office of Advancement in generating and managing gifts and endowments.
• Establish and maintain formal partnerships and collaborations to enable external funding opportunities on a state, multi-state, national and international level.
• Ensure University of Illinois Extension fiscal policies are followed.

Other Information

• Comply with all University of Illinois Extension Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity policies and guidelines in all aspects of Extension and Outreach work, assists as requested with data collection for Affirmative Action, Gender, and Targeted reports.
• Assume additional related responsibilities to enhance the mission of Illinois Extension.
• To perform the functions of this position, the employee will be required to perform work both within an office and outside in the communities that are served and must have the capability to travel from one location to the other in a timely fashion.  Employee is responsible for securing personal transportation.      A valid driver’s license is preferred.  Some work will be required during evenings and/or weekends.  When working, the employee may be exposed to a variety of environmental factors to include, but not limited to, hot or cold weather, exposure to noise and allergens, and uneven ground.  In performing the functions of this position, the employee may be subjected to various mental and physical demands as well to include, but not limited to, independently traveling to and performing work at different locations, ability to move, transfer and/or transport items that may occasionally weigh up to forty (40) pounds and frequently weigh up to twenty (20) pounds, and twisting, pushing and pulling movements. More detailed information regarding the functions of this position (including the physical, mental, and environmental requirements of the position) may be obtained from Human Resources for the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) by contacting hr@aces.illinois.edu.

Administrative and Programmatic Relationship

The Assistant Dean, 4-H Youth Development is administratively and programmatically responsible to the Associate Dean and Director, Extension and Outreach. 

Qualifications

Required: 

• Earned doctorate from an accredited institution of higher education. Appropriate fields of study include those related to education, including agricultural, family and consumer sciences, or Extension, adult education, educational leadership or administration, non-profit administration or child, youth, or human development.
• Ten (10) years of successful and progressive experience in program development in the area of youth development.
• Experience organizing and directing statewide programs and leading and managing teams.
• Experience directing programs pointed toward the resolution of cultural, social, technical and economic problems.
• Demonstrated ability to secure funding from public and/or private sources.
• Experience working with external constituencies, volunteer delivery systems and a variety of audiences.

Preferred: 

• Ability to be eligible for a 0% adjunct appointment in at least one of the eight College of ACES academic units.
• Experience in educational delivery in subject content of positive youth development and with information delivery through various technologies.
• Knowledge, understanding, experience and leadership with AI technologies.
• Experience collaborating with community organizations to develop innovative programs and activities.
• Experience with 4-H operations.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Understanding of and commitment to the land-grant university mission. Knowledge of the organization, objectives, policies and programs of the Cooperative Extension Service. Understanding of rural and urban issues upon which educational programs in 4-H are determined. Experience developing programs for major metropolitan areas. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work within a team environment. Ability to work with a variety of audiences and to be inclusive. Ability to collaborate with other youth-serving organizations to develop programs and activities. Ability to build and maintain a variety of networks. Cultural competency. Knowledge of grantsmanship and developing external revenue generating opportunities with successful outcomes.

Additional Information

Sponsorship for work authorization is not available for this position. This position is a full-time, benefits-eligible, non-tenure academic professional position appointed on a 12-month service basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after the closing date. The previously determined salary range for this position was $135,000 to $150,000. We strive to provide a competitive salary while taking into consideration internal equity, candidate experience and qualifications, as well as budget constraints. The final salary offer will be determined through a calculation involving these elements. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at the top of the full range for this position. Generous vacation and sick leave. State Universities Retirement System. Group health, dental, vision and life insurance.

Application Procedure

To apply, go tohttps://go.illinois.edu/1031116. Please upload a resume, cover letter, and the names and contact information for three professional references. Resume dates submitted must be in month/year format and employment history, at a minimum, should include all work dating back to the completion of your undergraduate degree. Positions that were less than full-time/100% must be noted as being part-time. Transcripts may be requested at a later date. To receive full consideration, all requested application materials must be submitted via the online system by the close date of August 14, 2025.  

The University of Illinois conducts criminal background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer. Convictions are not a bar to employment. As a qualifying federal contractor, the University of Illinois System uses E-Verify to verify employment eligibility. The University of Illinois System requires candidates selected for hire to disclose any documented finding of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment and to authorize inquiries to current and former employers regarding findings of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment. For more information, visit Policy on Consideration of Sexual Misconduct in Prior Employment. The University of Illinois must also comply with applicable federal export control laws and regulations and, as such, reserves the right to employ restricted party screening procedures for applicants.

For further information about the position please contact search chair Sarah Low at salow2@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.