Position Title:

Youth 4H Extension Specialist II - Southwest Iowa

Job Group:

Professional & Scientific

Required Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree and 2 years of related experience

Special Required Qualifications

Valid U.S. Driver's License

Job Description:

Summary of Duties and Responsibilities:

Are you passionate about advancing youth 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 South Field Team and will primarily serve Southwest Iowa.

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 Education Extension Specialist ensures that programming is both effective and accessible to youth in Iowa.

Focused in the area of Agriculture, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), and/or Leadership, 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 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 youth 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 Agriculture, STEM, and/or Leadership programs within the region and pilot new and innovative programmatic approaches to promote and enhance local and regional learning experiences for young people.
Lead partnership, curriculum, and resource development efforts that expand educational opportunities and reach new audiences.
Create and share resources with county youth staff to plan and implement local Agriculture, STEM, and/or Leadership programs.
Develop and deliver workshops and training sessions on topics related to 4-H focus areas for youth educators.
Communicate educational opportunities and resulting impacts to stakeholders.
Serve on the statewide 4-H Agriculture, STEM, or Leadership focus team and support the delivery of club, camp, and showcase experiences.
Engage in continuous improvement through intentional, targeted professional development.

The Southwest Iowa region includes Mills, Montgomery, Fremont, Page, Adams, Union, Taylor, Ringgold, Clarke, Decatur, Warren, and Madison counties. This individual will deliver programs outside of these counties also.

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.

The selected candidate will have a focus area in Agriculture, STEM, and/or Leadership. Their focus area(s) will be dependent on previous experience and interest.

This is a fixed term position with an end date of 6/30/2029, with the opportunity for renewal.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience with developing, implementing, delivering, and evaluating innovative 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.

Department/Program & College Description:

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 youth development.

Department Unit/Website:
4-H Youth Development

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.

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:

Resume/Curriculum Vitae

Letter of Application/Cover Letter

Why Choose Iowa State University?
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.

If you have questions regarding this application process, please email employment@iastate.edu, or call 515-294-4800 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485.

Appointment Type:

Regular with Term Appointment (Fixed Term)

Proposed End Date or Length of Term:

June 30, 2029

Number of Months Employed Per Year:

12 Month Work Period

Time Type:

Full time

Pay Grade:

PS807

Original Posting Date:

May 6, 2026

Posting Close Date:

May 20, 2026

Job Requisition Number:

R19125

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 eooffice@iastate.edu.

General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.