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Position Title:Youth 4-H Extension Specialist II - STEM

Job Group:Professional & Scientific

Required Minimum Qualifications:Bachelor's degree and 2 years of related experience

Special Required QualificationsDrivers License

Preferred Qualifications:Experience with developing, implementing, delivering, and evaluating innovative positive youth development programming; preferably with 4-H Youth Development Programs.

Experience developing and managing strategic partnerships.

Experience training staff and/or volunteers.

Experience in fundraising or fund development initiatives.

Experience in STEM or STEM-adjacent environments.

Job Description:

Are you passionate about advancing STEM education and helping young people build critical skills for the future? Are you excited by the opportunity to work directly with young people and make a lasting impact on their lives?

If so, the Department of 4-H Youth Development with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is seeking qualified candidates for a Youth 4-H Extension Specialist II! This position will be located within the Southeast Iowa Field Team.

What You’ll Do:

The Youth 4-H Extension Specialist is a dedicated educator, committed to fostering learning and growth among K-12 youth through innovative and impactful local and regional programs. Through creative teaching methods and hands-on learning experiences, the Youth 4-H Extension Specialist ensures that programming is both effective and accessible to youth in Iowa.

Focused primarily in the area of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), the Youth 4-H Extension Specialist actively delivers programming that strengthens educational opportunities for youth and their communities. They will work to design new and innovative programmatic approaches that enhance the quality and impact of local and regional 4-H STEM experiences with a focus on longer-term experiences and showcase opportunities. This individual will work with county youth staff and other ISU 4-H Specialists in establishing, organizing, and facilitating networks and coalitions at the local and regional levels to build community capacity for 4-H youth development programs. This role also conducts needs assessments, evaluates program effectiveness, and completes system reports as required. Additionally, this role involves training staff and volunteers (youth and adults) to build program capacity and deliver STEM programming.

With a passion for teaching and a commitment to empowering youth, the Youth 4-H Extension Specialist serves as a catalyst for educational growth, equipping the next generation with the skills and knowledge needed to be beyond ready for life and work.

Responsibilities:

+ Deliver core STEM programs within the region and pilot new and innovative programmatic approaches to promote and enhance local and regional STEM experiences for young people.

+ Lead partnership, curriculum, and resource development efforts that expand educational STEM opportunities and reach new audiences.

+ Create and share resources with county youth staff to plan and implement local STEM programs.

+ Develop and deliver workshops and training sessions on topics related to STEM for youth educators.

+ Communicate STEM opportunities and resulting impacts to stakeholders.

+ Serve on the statewide 4-H STEM focus team and support the delivery of club, camp, and showcase experiences.

+ Engage in continuous improvement through intentional, targeted professional development.

The Southeast Iowa region includes Benton, Linn, Jones, Clinton, Iowa, Johnson, Cedar, Scott, Muscatine, Keokuk, Washington, Louisa, Lucas, Monroe, Wapello, Jefferson, Henry, Des Moines, Wayne, Appanoose, Davis, Van Buren, and Lee counties. The primary office location for this position will be an extension office in the state of Iowa and the location will be dependent on the successful candidate and office availability. Travel will be required in this position.

This is a fixed term position with an end date of 6/30/2028, with the opportunity for renewal.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.

About Iowa 4-H Youth Development:

Iowa 4-H Youth Development is the premier youth development program of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Providing research-based education to K-12 youth, Iowa 4-H builds upon more than a century of experience in positive youth development.Level Guidelines• Intermediate-level position with solid professional and/or technical skills working under general supervision to achieve goals• Applies broad, working knowledge of the principles of the field to moderately complex, difficult, and varied problems and issues• Exercises judgment within defined procedures and practices to determine appropriate action and resolve problems• Responds to a broad range of inquiries and requests• May provide training and/or direction to lower-level staff• May lead projects of moderate scope and complexity• Provides guidance to students

Appointment Type:Regular with Term Appointment (Fixed Term)

Proposed End Date or Length of Term:June 30, 2028

Number of Months Employed Per Year:12 Month Work Period

Time Type:Full time

Pay Grade:PS807

Application Instructions:To apply for this position, please click on “Apply” and complete the Employment Application. Please be prepared to enter or attach the following: 1) Resume/Curriculum Vitae 2) Letter of Application/Cover Letter If you have questions regarding this application process, please email [email protected] or call 515-294-4800 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485. Why Choose ISU? Iowa State Employees enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental; as well as: • Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans • Generous vacation, holiday and sick time and leave plans • Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa) • Life insurance and long-term disability • Flexible Spending Accounts • Various voluntary benefits and discounts • Employee Assistance Program • Wellbeing program • Iowa State offers WorkFlex options for some positions. WorkFlex offers flexibility on when, where, and how you do your work. For more information, please speak with the Hiring Manager.

Original Posting Date: October 27, 2025

Posting Close Date:November 9, 2025

Job Requisition Number:R18033

By focusing on the future and providing the best student experience possible, Iowa State University (http://www.iastate.edu/) attracts students and faculty who want to make a difference. With a comprehensive land-grant mission of education, research, extension and outreach, we produce scholars whose ideas change the world. And through Innovate at Iowa State, we provide innovative and entrepreneurial opportunities for students of all backgrounds. Located just 30 minutes north of Des Moines, the city of Ames was recently named one of the Top 10 cities in the U.S. for campus life and career opportunities.

Iowa State University is a welcoming community of students, faculty, and staff. Campus community members have a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and are committed to engaging with each other respectfully as outlined in the university's Principles of Community (https://www.iastate.edu/principles-community) . Iowa State recognizes that diverse intellectual and philosophical perspectives are vital to innovation, critical thinking skills, and a dynamic academic community that fosters the land-grant ideals of putting science, technology, and human creativity to work.

All offers of employment, oral and written, are contingent upon the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by federal and state law, ISU policies/procedures, and may include the completion of a background check and/or a consumer credit check.

Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612, email [email protected].

If you have questions about the application process please email [email protected] or call 515-294-4800 or Toll-Free at 1-877-477-7485. Iowa State University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should email [email protected] or call (515) 294-4800 or Toll-Free: (877) 477-7485. TTY users are welcome to use the Iowa Relay Service number by dialing 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2942.

General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources (https://www.hr.iastate.edu/careers/compensation) website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.