Faculty Employment Opportunity!

Extension Specialist
Family Financial Management

WVU Extension Service Families and Health Knapp Hall Morgantown, West Virginia
Revised Closing Date: October 10, 2008

Brief Description: Assistant/Associate/Extension Professor

This position is an appointment with West Virginia University Extension Service in Morgantown, West Virginia. This position provides statewide leadership in the area of family and consumer sciences, delivering programs that enable families, adults, and communities to build on their strengths, manage their resources, and expand their future capabilities in the area of financial management issues. Extension, research, and educational programs in this area help individuals and families build financial assets instead of debt. Extension provides unbiased, research-based information and education for people to acquire knowledge, skills, and motivation to build financial security. The emphasis of Extension programs is on behavioral change--developing a financial plan, managing risks of loss, reducing household debt, and saving and investing to meet life goals. Research provides the foundation for developing, delivering, and documenting effective behavior modification.

The West Virginia University Extension Service mission is to form learning partnerships with the people of West Virginia to enable them to improve their lives and communities. The Financial Management Specialist provides leadership, direction and support for up-to-date educational programming and research efforts in relation to family economics, self-sufficiency, financial planning, management, and other identified financial issues. The Financial Management Specialist assists Extension faculty, program teams, volunteers, and citizens in education and collaboration across Extension, WVU, and private and public sectors to build the capacity of families, adults, volunteers, and communities.

Major Responsibilities:

• Provide Statewide Leadership to county Extension Faculty for developing, implementing and evaluating educational programs in family resource management.
• Synthesize relevant research and current and future demographic and socioeconomic trends related to financial management; family economics; self-sufficiency; financial planning and management; consumer decision making; consumer protection and redress; insurance; savings; and public policy issues.
• Seek out existing curriculum to develop tailored programs to meet needs of West Virginia citizens.
• Conduct in-service education for field faculty, staff and volunteers.
• Collaborate with State and national agencies such as NEFE, State Treasurer’s office, etc.
• Work with other faculty to conduct research in area of expertise.
• Develop networks and relationships with agencies and organizations to support financial education for West Virginia families.
• Develop and/or identify training resources, materials, methods and programs for field faculty to use within their county.
• Seek external grants, contracts, and unrestricted gifts to support his/her research and extension programs at the minimum level of 10% following the first year of employment.
• In cooperation with other faculty, publish research and extension impacts in refereed journals and extension publications.
• Provide leadership for ensuring that extension programs are open to all citizens regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age or disability.
• Provide leadership for continuous review of issues regarding family resource management.
• Facilitate work team selection of priorities and development of strategies to address them.
• Provide leadership for development or acquisition of effective educational programs and curriculums; provide training, resources and contacts that support the growth of team members and partners to address issues; develop evaluation strategies and report results.
• Participate in WVU Extension functions and activities; and serve on and provide leadership to Extension committees.
• Participate in relevant state and national professional development and associations.
• Statewide overnight travel is required.

• Build relationships with stakeholders
• Provide technical information to the state and to communities
• Collaborate with individuals, groups, and government
• Be 'known' statewide as expert in area
• Operate at "cutting edge" in field
• Provide continuing education in subject area

For WVU Extension:

• Provide leadership to Extension in subject area
• Co-lead program teams
• Support county programming in subject area
• Produce/coordinate educational material
• Develop resources for Extension programs
• Provide in-service training
• Provide leadership in research
• Maintain/continuously improve quality of Extension programs
• Support organizational development

Qualifications:

• Doctorate degree preferred and Masters Degree required with an emphasis in the area of financial study.
• If the required master’s degree is not in the specified academic field, applicants may qualify with related master’s degree plus three years of work experience in the required fields.
• Documented evidence of ability to use research skills, assess needs, evaluate programs, and conduct applied research related to area of placement.
• Proficiency in oral and written communication and computer skills are required.

Special Requirements:

• Ability to pass a criminal background check.
• Ability to meet travel demands of position (occasional overnight stays), such as camps, conferences, professional development sessions/trainings.
• Required to take and pass the WVU Driver's Safety Training exam.
• Willingness to work flexible hours including some nights and weekends.
• Ability to lift and carry materials needed to conduct trainings and perform duties of the position.
• Research and write regular topical articles for newspapers, newsletters, and websites in collaboration with WVUES Communications.

Salary:

• Salary range for position is $52,000 to $60,000.
• Salary will be commensurate with professional qualifications.
• This is a 12-month, tenuretrack position with the West Virginia University Extension Service.
• Faculty rank at assistant or associate or professor level.
• Evaluation system – must demonstrate significant contributions in teaching and research with a reasonable contribution in service. 

Benefits:

• 401k Retirement program with employer matching
• Annual Leave (24 days annually)
• Sick leave (18 days annually)
• Paid holidays (12+ days annually)
• Workers' Compensation
• Optional benefits:
  • Group Health, Life, and Accident insurances
  • Disability Insurance
  • Optional pre-tax benefits:
    • Child care
    • Dental care
    • Supplemental retirement programs
    • Vision care
  • Tuition Waiver (6 credit hours per semester)
• Travel expense reimbursement
• Moving expense reimbursement
• There are several additional programs and privileges.

Application Process:

If you meet the stated requirements and would like to be considered for the position, all of the following information must be received by the closing date of October 10, 2008:

• A cover letter indicating the position that you are applying for outlining experience and qualifications;
• Resume or curriculum vitae of academic training and professional experience of all academic work, must include the following information:
  • Date(s) of employment
  • Supervisor(s) names
  • Contact information
• A list of three references (including address, e-mail, phone, and fax numbers) who can reflect on the applicant's professional strengths.
• All application material, excluding transcripts, must be in electronic submissions in Word format by closing date or the individual will not be considered for the position.
• Transcripts: official undergraduate and graduate by hard copy.
• Send to EHRRecruitment@mail.wvu.edu.
• NOTE: All application material must be received by closing date or the individual will not be considered for the position.

For inquiries, call:

Social Justice:

The incumbent in this position is responsible for fulfilling the legal and moral mandates of appropriate laws and University policies regarding civil rights compliance, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and related social justice issues.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and applicants will be considered solely on the basis of individual qualifications and merit without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. Minorities, persons with disabilities, females and other protected class members are encouraged to apply.

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act, applicants needing reasonable accommodations during the employment process should advise as necessary.

Submitted by Kim Suder.