County Youth Coordinator

Town/City

Ames

Base County

Story

Counties Served

Story

Objective

Iowa 4-H and the County Youth Coordinator will focus on Positive Youth Development (PYD). Staff will work with youth, volunteers, and professionals to plan, implement, and evaluate a progressive series of educational programs and experiences that work toward multiple life skill outcomes (productive citizens, outstanding communicators, effective leaders, and successful learners). This position should empower youth to reach their full potential through Youth Adult Partnerships and research-based experiences.

DESCRIPTION: The position will coordinate 4-H events, assist in the coordination of 4-H Club activities, recruit and retain diverse 4-H Club membership; manage and support 4-H Club programs; design and implement a county 4-H action plan; organize and deliver events and activities for 4-H and Clover Kid club members; encourage, facilitate, and recognize youth participation in learning experiences at local, county, multi-county, or regional, state, and national levels. Serve as staff contact for the County 4-H Council; administer needs assessments and evaluations; manage 4-H membership electronic records; and ensure compliance with risk management policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement a county 4-H action plan.
• Organize county-wide activities for National 4-H Week and the 4-H Awards Program.
• County fair:
• Organize winter and spring livestock weigh-ins with the fair operations manager and superintendents.
• Communicate animal ID deadlines and processes using 4honline with 4-H and Clover Kid families.
• Prepare, in collaboration with the County Fair Operations Manager, the County Fair Book.
• Prepare fair information for 4-H clubs and leaders (ie. hosting times, judging time, food stand work times).
• Prepare Fair Entry system to accept entries for the Story County Fair each year.
• Coordinates judges for static judging experiences (communication and clothing event, static exhibit judging day) and facilitates these events.
• Coordinate with county council and food stand manager details of the 4-H food stand (set-up, hours and volunteer schedule, supplies and food orders).
• Organize and deliver monthly county events and activities for 4-H and Clover Kids club members (i.e. project workshops, officer training, recording keeping, YQCA).
• Encourage, facilitate, and recognize youth and volunteer participation in learning experiences at local, county, multi-county, or regional, state, and national levels.
• Serve as staff contact for volunteer advisors of the County 4-H Council.
• Manage 4-H membership data in 4honline, program experiences in MyData and file records.
• Prepare a monthly 4-H newsletter.
• Develop and implement a year-round county recruitment and retention strategy for 4-H and Clover Kid members and volunteers.
• Manage and support 4-H and Clover Kids club programs with program resources.
• Apply positive youth development program methods and strategies to 4-H experiences and clubs using vetted curriculum and resources.
• Administer needs assessments and evaluations to ensure quality programming from research-based curriculum.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to advance the Iowa 4-H mission and vision.
• Develop and implement a year-round county recruitment and retention strategy for community and corporate volunteers.
• Understand and implement a volunteer management system (ISOTURE-identify, orient, screen, train, utilize, recognize, and evaluate) and Child Protection Policy.
• Organize volunteer training with Youth Program Specialist and directly train locally on specific county organizational assigned tasks/programs and identify available resources.
• Establish and maintain 4-H governance committees.
• Recognize and evaluate the contributions of youth and adult volunteers and committees.
• Delegate responsibility and authority according to volunteer strengths
• Promote and involve youth as partners.
• Coordinate Youth Development Committee comprised of both youth and adult members to guide program management.
• Organize and manage volunteer information.
• Communicate and follow club chartering requirements with 4-H & Clover Kid club leaders.
• Promote 4-H volunteer opportunities for county, multi-county/regional, statewide, and national 4-H events (state conference, camps, trips, and other activities).
• Coordinate and promote media coverage of 4-H programs by preparing news releases and other needed marketing pieces in collaboration with the marketing coordinator.
• Communicate effectively and build relationships with the County Extension Council, youth, families, volunteers, other extension staff and community partners.
• Represent Iowa State University, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, and Iowa 4-H professionally and positively.
• Collect, analyze, and share county data to ensure program effectiveness.
• Implement programs in accordance with state and federal guidelines and policies and share with volunteers and community partners.
• Administer evaluations and share impacts with County Extension Council and partners.
• Work with County Extension Council to ensure adequate financial resources are secured.
  
  

Qualifications

• Team player
• Self-motivated with ability to work with minimal supervision
• Problem solving skills
• Computer skills including Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel
• Organizational skills
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Working towards or in receipt of a postsecondary education
• Experience organizing events and activities
  
  

Additional Information

SUPERVISOR: Regional Director

REPORTING: Reports directly to the Regional Director. Part of a team that includes the Regional Director, ISU student interns, and Extension and Outreach staff. Programmatic guidance is provided by the Iowa 4-H Youth Program Specialist.

JOB TYPE: Regular full-time employee, 40 hours per week. This position may be required to work evenings, weekends and other non-standard work hours.

WAGES AND BENEFITS: Entry level wage of $20 per hour, with the possibility of increases after the introductory period. Competitive benefits and participation in the Iowa Public Retirement System as stated in the Personnel Policy.

APPLYING: Please send a resume, cover letter and a completed Story County Job application to Regional Director Donovan Olson at 1421 S Bell Ave, Ste 107, Ames, IA 50010, donovano@iastate.edu. This position will remain open until filled. Review of applications will begin May 19, 2025.

Job Type

Full Time

Hours

40

Application Deadline

05/19/2025