Area Extension Director - Area 7 (Portage, Marathon, Wood, Waupaca Counties)

The Division of Extension is hiring an Area Extension Director to serve as an administrative leader across Area 7 (Marathon, Portage, Wood, Waupaca Counties).

The Area Extension Director (AED) provides overarching leadership, direction and guidance within the geographic area, leading a team of county-based Extension educators and support staff to cultivate an inclusive, respectful, and collaborative work environment. Through ongoing engagement with local communities, the AED helps identify emerging needs and opportunities, aligning Extension resources and programming to address those priorities effectively.

A successful AED will require great competency to work with diverse staff and clientele and have the political savvy required to work with counties to identify and assess new opportunities in programming, funding, and staffing.

Reporting to the Assistant Dean, the AED will support the work with county governments, municipalities, and partner organizations to ensure that the educational needs of local communities are met. The AED serves as the direct supervisor for the programmatic Division of Extension staff in the Area and provides leadership in staff development and partnerships. The AED ensures compliance with equal employment opportunity and civil rights laws, regulations and policies while carrying out the primary duties.

The principal duties of this AED position include program and community relations; supervision and staff development; financial management; and policy implementation and management. The AED contributes to the delivery of evidence-based outreach that addresses the needs of local communities through coordination with Extension programs to identify programmatic needs and support programmatic responses to those needs.

• Recommends, reviews, and directs personnel resource allocation to ensure appropriate utilization of resources

• Directs, implements, and monitors strategic planning initiatives to ensure appropriate use of financial, administrative, and staffing resources

• Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees

• Develops and audits administrative operating reports, budgets, policies, and procedures to comply with regulations, institution policies, and business objectives

• Serves as the unit liaison to internal and external stakeholder groups providing organizational information and representing the interests of the unit

• Supervises managerial, professional, and support staff of the unit or division and facilitates unit staff developmental opportunities

Division of Extension, Office of the Assistant Dean is hiring for an Area Extension Director for Area 7.

The minimum annual (12 months) starting salary for the position is $92,000 but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications.

This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax-advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund. Please review the summary of benefits for more information.

• Two or more years of demonstrated supervisory and/or management experience

• Significant experience in coordinating, developing, or delivering community-based educational programs

• Knowledge of budget management for a business, non-profit or governmental organization

• Demonstrated success collaborating with partner organizations (e.g., government bodies, non profits, corporate entities, municipalities, and tribal nations)

• Demonstrated ability to communicate, direct, and lead effectively - orally, in writing, and through virtual communication technology (e.g. collaboration platforms, video conferencing, etc.)

• Demonstrated experience working with people from different backgrounds and perspectives

• Five or more years of supervisory and/or management experience

• Experience managing a budget for a business, non-profit, or government organization

• Experience with and/or knowledge of county governments

• Experience generating additional revenue from new or existing sources of funding

• Experience identifying and prioritizing educational programmatic opportunities

• Knowledge of the legacy of Cooperative Extension, as part of the U.S. system of land-grant institutions, dedicated to service in the public good

• Understanding of and/or experience working with Native Nations communities

Bachelor's Degree

We are eager to learn more about how your experience and passion may align with this position. To begin the application process, click the "apply now" button. You will be prompted to upload the following documents:

• Resume

• Letter of Qualifications (cover letter)

Please submit a cover letter referring to your work experience and a resume detailing your educational and professional background as it relates to this position. Your cover letter should communicate your interest in the position and how your skillset aligns with the role. The application reviewers will be relying on written application materials to determine who may advance to preliminary interviews.

For additional guidance and resources on how to tailor your application materials to the job posting, please click https://extension.wisc.edu/careers/.

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.

This position has been identified as a position of trust with access to vulnerable populations. The selected candidate will be required to pass an initial caregiver check to be eligible for employment under the Wisconsin Caregiver Law and every four years.

Application Deadline is December 17, 2025 at 11:59pm (CST).

Jason Hausler

jason.hausler@wisc.edu

(715) 533-8006

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

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The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

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