Title:                           SNAP-Ed Educator, Northeast Region

Job Classification:    Extension Program Associate 2 (8316A2)

Appointment:             Full-time, Civil Service, and benefits https://humanresources.umn.edu/benefits

Minimum Salary:       $18.14/hour ($37,731/annual) or more depending on qualifications         

Program Area:           Extension Center for Family Development, Health & Nutrition Programs

Office Location:         Northeast Region, A.P. Cook Building – Duluth Extension Office

Apply By:                   April 30, 2021, initial review deadline

The Extension Center for Family Development is in need of a SNAP-Ed Educator to work within Duluth, MN/Northeast communities. SNAP-Ed Educators lead communities to design and implement solutions to improve individual and community health by promoting healthy eating behaviors and physical activity in low-income communities.

The person in this position is responsible for assessing local community health needs; building cross-sector partnerships and relationships with agencies, community leaders and potential funders; implementing evidence-based programs and teaching SNAP eligible individuals and families; and working with community partners to evaluate educational programming and systems change efforts. Additionally, the person in this position will be co-learning with community members around critical issues affecting individual and community health and well-being and developing strategies with community members to address the issues. For more information on the SNAP-Ed program, visit http://www.z.umn.edu/partnersnaped/.

Responsibilities

Please note: due to the COVID-19 pandemic some of the work listed below has shifted to online/virtual format.

Deliver evidence-based education, programs, and initiatives (45%)

• Facilitate community-driven changes in policies, systems and environments through implementing public health initiatives to improve healthy eating, physical activity and food access.
• Deliver nutrition education using evidence-based educational resources and curriculum to participants living on a limited income from youth to older adults.
• Assess and adapt program and educational materials to enhance relevance and accessibility for audience needs including language, culture, disability status, educational levels and other characteristics.
• Recruit and provide train-the-trainer opportunities on evidence-based programs for community professionals and local agencies. Provide technical assistance to community professionals on implementation and evaluation.
• Implement SNAP-Ed programming and evaluation in accordance with program plans and guidance documents to ensure fidelity.
• Work with partners to ensure audience eligibility and establish terms of programming.
• Conduct evaluations and report program outcomes with program participants, partners and stakeholders such as County Extension Committees.

Provide leadership to design, develop and implement community-based health promotion programs and initiatives (40%)

• Use existing community health assessments in the northeast region to determine potential needs for SNAP-Ed health and nutrition programming. Identify and use tools to understand culture, diversity, ethnic composition, religious composition, health or dietary characteristics, poverty, historical trauma, etc.
• Support implementation of program and initiative opportunities determined by community engagement processes.
• Foster and strengthen local and/or regional partnerships across organizations such as food shelves, WIC clinics, employment learning sites, senior citizen centers, schools, child care centers, homeless shelters, summer youth programs, low income housing, and local grocery stores. Connect partners to each other.
• Collaborate with partners and potential participants to determine programming opportunities and community-level initiatives around promoting healthy eating and physical activity for SNAP-Ed eligible families.
• Market and promote health and nutrition educational programs and initiatives to potential and existing partners and participants.
• Collaborate with community members, stakeholders, and other program partners by coordinating and facilitating planning meetings and building capacity for sustainable programs.
• Communicate U of M SNAP-Ed programmatic goals and objectives and federal guidelines to community partners.
• Actively participate in internal statewide project teams to expand and deepen SNAP-Ed impact.
• Professionally represent Extension and federal SNAP-Ed in providing support and expertise when serving on agency or community boards, coalitions, networks or advisory committees related to health and nutrition.

Procedures and Protocols (15%)

• Comply with University of Minnesota, Extension, grant funding agency (Department of Human Services), and community partners’ policies, procedures, and requirements.
• Enter course/programming, participant and partner information into the program database.
• Secure program participant information related to demographics, eligibility, attendance, assessment, and program evaluation using established privacy and data security procedures.
• Complete administrative tasks accurately and in a timely manner, including updated calendar, time entry, expenses and mileage reimbursement.