Extension Specialist - Community-based Business Development

WVU Extension Service

The West Virginia University Extension Service seeks a dynamic individual to conduct research and develop and deliver educational programs in community-based business development. This is a 12 month, tenure-track appointment at the level of assistant professor. This individual will work statewide with county extension offices, elected officials and other local leaders, rather than with individual businesses.

The individual will provide primary leadership for the WVU Extension Service Business Retention and Expansion Program (BR&E), and will consult with community-based organizations, government agencies, and other citizen groups to develop local support systems for businesses. The individual will also work with Extension agents, Extension specialists, and the national Extension system to develop, modify, and deliver educational programs appropriate for youth and adult business development, including entrepreneurs, producers of niche (including agricultural) products and services, and locally owned business concerns. This person is expected to be an active participant in appropriate local, state, or national groups interested in fostering business-related. The successful candidate is expected to carry out an independent program of research activities related to the educational mission of the position and to mentor county faculty research programs.

Program Leader - Fire Service

WVU Extension Service

Fire Service Extension provides noncredit fire and rescue training for career and volunteer firefighters, junior firefighters, industrial emergency responders, and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) personnel in the state and region. In 2003-04, Fire Service Extension sponsored more than 1,100 courses that attracted 15,529 individuals to participate in fire, rescue, EMS, and law enforcement training programs. In addition, WVU Fire Service Extension is an accredited agency of the National Professional Qualifications Board and IFSAC. Fire Service Extension courses range from 6 to 50 clock hours.

Brief Description: West Virginia University Extension Service seeks a dynamic and visionary individual to provide leadership to the development and marketing of a state Fire Academy at the WVU Jackson’s Mill Center for Lifelong Learning, located near Weston, West Virginia. Incumbent will be responsible for development of physical facilities, programs, and curricula for the Academy; and must be able to articulate a vision for and provide dynamic leadership to meet the future educational needs of volunteer and career firefighters, rescue personnel, industrial firefighters, and safety officers throughout the state and region. Incumbent will be expected to maintain and extend the range of fee-based and income generating programs operated by the Fire Service Extension.

Major Responsibilities: The program leader provides leadership for a statewide fire suppression, fire prevention, and rescue training program; coordinates activities with agencies and organizations such as the State Fire Commission, the State Fireman's Association, the State Fire Chiefs Association, the Professional Fire Chiefs Association, the W.Va. Professional Fire Fighters Association, and the WV Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management; establishes and expands liaisons with local, state, and federal agencies, other WVU units and colleges, other institutions of higher learning, other training facilities, and business and industry; and provides leadership for curriculum development for both non-credit and credit programs in the WVU system.

Additional responsibilities include:

• Encouraging the increased use of technology in fire service organizations throughout the state;
• Building and maintaining numerous partnerships, collaborations, and affiliations to aid in program development and delivery;
• Developing a strong team commitment within the training center and Academy and providing assistance to fire departments upon request;
• Supervising curriculum development, training, and certification of field instructors, and coordinating regional fire schools.
• Overseeing budget and supervision faculty and staff.
• Using creative and innovative strategies to develop resources and secure grants, contracts, and gifts to support the program's mission.

Qualifications: A visionary leader with demonstrated expertise in development, delivery, and assessment of programs; administration/leadership of a program unit/department; building collaborative relationships; and ability to secure extramural funding and successfully operate on a business model. Applicants must have a master’s degree from an accredited college or university. Significant training and experience in an emergency services discipline such as career or volunteer firefighting, law enforcement, FMS, military, or emergency management preferred. Incumbent will hold or be able to meet the NFPA Standard for Firefighter 2 (NFPA 1001), Instructor 2 (NFPA 1041), and Fire Officer 2 (NFPA 1021). Incumbent will hold or be able to meet the NFPA Standard for Firefighter 1 (NFPA 101), Instructor 2 (NFOA 1041), and Fire Officer 2 (NFPA 1021) within two years.

Applicants must have demonstrated experience in working with career and volunteer fire departments serving both urban and rural areas. Due to the nature of the work, applicants must be willing to work a significant number of weekends and some evenings. Extensive statewide travel is required. Applicants must also possess significant computer skills and a valid driver's license.

Extension Specialist - Fire Service/Public Safety

WVU Extension Service

The Fire Service Program is a program of the WVU Extension Service (WVUES) located in the Fire Service Extension Center for Community, Economic and Workforce Development, in cooperation with many other WVU and external partners. The Extension Specialist will provide education and training to support and strengthen fire service, volunteer and career firefighters, law enforcement, rescue services, emergency medical technicians, the military, and industry. Programs and services to be offered include candidate assessment and evaluation, curriculum-based education and training, on-and off-campus education and training, recurrent fire/law enforcement /medical/haz-mat/rescue in-service education.

Working relationships with appropriate academic departments are expected. The Extension Specialist provides professional support for emergency preparedness outreach activities and training curriculum to prepare and assist the First and Emergency Responder communities (fire, law enforcement, medical, industrial, and military) respond to mass disasters (e.g., West Virginia Office of Emergency Services, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). Work is conducted in close collaboration with faculty and staff, who have responsibility for providing professional education to First and Emergency Responders.

The Extension Specialist functions as a member of teams made up of faculty and staff content experts, media production specialists, computer programmers, external consultants, and subcontractors.