State Specialist for Disaster Education

TITLE: State Specialist for Disaster Education (West Louisville) 

DEPARTMENT: Community Resource Development (CRD) 

REPORTS TO: Assistant Extension Administrator 

CLASSIFICATION: Staff-12 months 

EFFECTIVE DATE: TBD 

STANDARD WORK HOURS: 37.5 hours per week 

EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Full-Time  

EMPLOYMENT CLASSIFICATION: Exempt 

JOB SUMMARY:  

Disaster Educator plays a vital role in providing education and resources related to disaster preparedness, response, and recovery to the community. This position is responsible for developing and delivering educational programs and materials to increase community resilience and ensure individuals, families, and communities are better prepared to handle natural or man-made disasters. The specialist will work closely with county extension offices, emergency management agencies, and community organizations to coordinate and implement disaster education initiatives. 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:  

• Conduct needs assessments to identify community disaster preparedness gaps and priorities.
• Design, develop, and deliver educational programs and workshops related to disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.
• Utilize various teaching methods, including in-person training, webinars, workshops, and multimedia resources, to effectively communicate with diverse audiences.
• Collaborate with other extension specialists and subject matter experts to incorporate relevant information and best practices into educational materials that extension staff may implement or utilize for programming.
• Create and curate educational resources, fact sheets, guides, and instructional materials related to disaster preparedness and recovery. 
• Stay updated on emerging trends, technologies, and best practices in disaster education and incorporate them into resource development.
• Ensure all educational materials and resources are accurate, evidence-based, and accessible to diverse audiences, including individuals with disabilities and non-English speakers.
• Develop and implement evaluation tools and methodologies to measure the impact and effectiveness of disaster education programs.
• Collect and analyze data to assess program outcomes and identify areas for improvement.
• Prepare regular reports and documentation of program activities, including participation numbers, success stories, and recommendations for future enhancements.
• Coordinate and work with extension staff, nutrition expertise, and other external personal to respond to emergency food allocation and distribution (utilizing mobile nutrition kitchen) to assist survivors 
• Partner with other disaster educators across the state to support disaster initiatives and programming

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:  

• Strong interpersonal skills, creativity, technological skills, and attention to detail, are important qualities of a skilled program development facilitator.
• Evidence of demonstrated experience in program planning, implementation, and evaluation.
• Ability to interact and gain support from constituencies outside the university such as business and industry, state and federal agencies and non-profit and private foundations.
• Ability to create, compose, and edit written materials.
• Knowledge of supplies, equipment, and/or services ordering and inventory control.
• Word processing and/or data entry skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of records and information.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to maintain calendars and schedule appointments.
• Organizing and coordinating skills
• Ability to understand and follow specific instructions and procedures.
• Ability to perform simple accounting procedures.
• Skill in the use of operating basic office equipment.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: 

• This position does not have supervisory responsibility. 

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL EFFORT:  

• Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment. 
• No or very limited physical effort required.
• No or very limited exposure to physical risk.

OTHER DUTIES:  

• The position will conduct other duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS:  

• A master’s degree in a relevant field such as emergency management, disaster management, education, or a related discipline. 
• Experience in disaster education, emergency management, or related fields is highly desirable.
• Strong knowledge of disaster preparedness, response, and recovery strategies, including hazard mitigation, community resilience, and post-disaster rebuilding.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to effectively convey complex information to diverse audiences.
• Experience in curriculum development, instructional design, and resource creation for educational programs.
• Proficient in using technology and multimedia tools for developing educational materials and delivering presentations. 
• Ability to work independently, as well as collaborate and build partnerships with community stakeholders and organizations. 
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously. 
• Familiarity with extension programs and the Cooperative Extension System is a plus.

Licensing and Certifications: NA 

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States. At this time, Kentucky State University is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa.