Extension Program Associate

Position Function:

Encourage and support early care and education providers, families, and children across the state and provide referrals and resources to families.

Salary Grade: 09

Please see or for salary ranges. For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.

Department Profile:

Throughout its history, Mississippi State University-Extension Service (MSU-ES) has demonstrated a deep and abiding commitment to programs that directly impact young children and their families. In the past decade, MSU-ES has distinguished itself as Mississippi’s premier infrastructural support of high-quality early childhood education.

Anticipated Appointment Date:

March 2025.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The following examples are intended as illustrations only of the various types of duties assigned in positions allocated to this classification. The absence of specific statements of duties does not exclude those tasks from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment of the position.

1. Responsible for driving the mobile Resource and Referral to multiple events throughout the state.
2. Coordinate, schedule, and advertise the mobile R&R to visit multiple areas within the state.
3. Organize, catalog, and maintain the educational learning materials and resources for the mobile R&R unit.
4. Responsible for keeping the mobile R&R unit and all materials neat and clean.
5. Responsible for updating the mobile R&R mileage and maintenance records, scheduling van maintenance as outlined by MSU policy, as well as ensuring the van is safe for travel before driving to events.
6. Greet and direct visitors, when appropriate; resolve routine administrative problems and answer inquiries concerning activities and operations of department/division.
7. May answer telephone, route calls, take messages, and provide general information.
8. Operate a computer keyboard to establish, maintain, and update files, databases, records, and/or other documents.
9. Performance a variety of routine typing assignments as appropriate to the position; operate a personal computer to draft basic correspondence, enter data, and print letters, labels, reports, and/or other materials; type and mail form letters.
10. In collaboration with MDHS, schedule, coordinate, and plan trainings.
11. May arrange meetings and conferences, schedules interviews and appointments, and perform other duties related to maintaining one or more individual schedules; makes travel and lodging arrangements, either directly or through travel agencies.
12. Assist with the collection of data for various reports related to the project and outline in the scope of services and evaluations of the project.
13. Perform any related duties as assigned.

Responsible to:
- Executive Director
- Associate Executive Director
- Project Director
- Project Manager
- Area Coordinator (immediate)

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Associate degree in Child Development, Early Childhood or a related field.
Substitution: An equivalent combination of related education and related experience may be considered for this position.
Licensures: Must have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

1. Organizing and coordinating skills.
2. Ability to maintain confidentiality of records and information.
3. Ability to understand and follow specific instructions and procedures.
4. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
5. Ability to travel as required during performance of assigned tasks.
6. Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

1. Ability to travel out of local area (in- and out-of-state travel). Overnight travel will be required. Use of personal car required.
2. Frequent – Externally imposed deadlines set and revised beyond one’s control; interruptions influence priorities; difficult to anticipate nature and volume of work with certainty beyond a few days; irregular hours may be anticipated; meeting of deadlines and coordination of unrelated activities are key to position.
3. Job frequently requires walking, sitting, reaching, talking, hearing, handling objects with hands.
4. Job requires standing, stooping/kneeling/crouching/crawling, and lifting up to 40 pounds.
5. Vision requirements: Ability to see information in print and/or electronically.