Assistant Director and State Program Leader for Family & Consumer Sciences in College Park, MD for University of Maryland Extension

The University of Maryland Extension (UME), within the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, (AGNR) seeks a nationally recognized leader in Extension, outreach, and scholarship to serve as Assistant Director and Program Leader (AD/PL) for Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS). This position provides leadership and direction for UME’s FCS programs and faculty across the state. UME’s FCS program strives to advance the health and socioeconomic development of Maryland’s individuals, families, communities, and organizations through education, research, and outreach programs. The FCS works with youth, families, and communities to prevent and manage chronic diseases through healthy food and physical activity choices, handling food safely, teaching financial and health insurance literacy, addressing mental health needs, and creating safe and healthy environments.

UME has four major program areas: Agriculture and Food Systems, 4-H Youth Development, Environment and natural Resources and Sea Grant, and FCS. UME faculty and staff are located at offices in 23 counties and Baltimore City, the 4-H State office, the SNAP-Ed State office, and five research and education centers. This position collaborates with Program Leaders, the Assistant Director of Operations, and other administrators. The position reports to the UME Associate Dean/Associate Director.

Major responsibilities include:

• Providing leadership and oversight of FCS Extension programs, scholarship, and applied research
• Securing and managing extramural funding to support FCS extension programs and research
• Providing direction for FCS programs, including needs assessment, program planning, development, implementation, evaluation, and dissemination of outcomes.
• Developing and maintaining external partnerships with organizations and agencies such as academic institutions, local/state/federal agencies, industry groups, and non-profit organizations.
• Providing leadership and program evaluation to faculty in long-range planning, reporting, professional development, and grants.
• Mentoring faculty to ensure clarity of expectations for Extension programming, scholarship, service, and teaching, providing opportunities for success as an Extension Educator while instilling professional confidence and pride.
• Providing leadership, promotional guidance, and coaching to tenure track and professional track
• Conducting annual program and faculty evaluations, including approval of individual Extension plans and delivery of annual faculty reviews to county and state faculty and staff as needed.
• Providing annual reports and impacts for Federal agencies and other organizations as
• Facilitating collaboration among UME nutrition and health programs at county and state levels, including EFNEP, Maryland SNAP-Ed, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and 4-H Healthy Living.
• Serving as a member of the UME administrative team, which includes program leaders in Agriculture and Food Systems, 4-H Youth Development, and Environment and Natural Resources.
• Assisting in recruitment, hiring, and retention of faculty in critical areas of need for Extension while fostering a thriving environment in support of AGNR’s strategic values of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and

• Candidates must have an earned doctorate degree and must be able to be tenured in a department as a Professor or tenured Extension as a Principal At least one graduate degree, preferably a doctorate, must be in Family & Consumer Sciences, Public Health, Nutrition, Sociology, Education, Community Development, Program Evaluation or other related field.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, preferably land-grant systems or comparable organizations with significant recognition within a field of
• Outstanding record of research-based Extension/community-engaged
• A demonstrated understanding of the Land Grant
• Evidence in successful grant and contract acquisition and management for interdisciplinary
• Excellent scholarly work, as evidenced by peer-reviewed
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to the UME’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect strategic
• Evidence of leadership, teamwork, collaboration, excellence in human relationship skills, and excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Personal transportation and a valid driver’s license are required—ability to travel statewide and nationally as
• Evidence of capacity to build UME Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect capacity through Extension program model.
• This position is subject to a Criminal History Record Check and a University of Maryland Background check. Employment is contingent upon successful completion and clearance of the Criminal History Record