Visiting Senior Program Lead, Education and Strategic Initiatives

Visiting Senior Program Lead, Education and Strategic Initiatives

University of Illinois Extension

Be a part of our story. Through learning partnerships that extend knowledge and change lives, University of Illinois Extension provides educational programs aimed at making life better, healthier, safer, and more profitable for individuals and their communities. Illinois Extension has operated continuously for more than 100 years connecting the citizens of Illinois to their land-grant university by providing educational programming around the state. University of Illinois Extension is based in the College of ACES and works with all colleges and units of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The Visiting Senior Program Lead, Education and Strategic Initiatives, serves as a full-time 12-month academic professional. This senior level Extension position will provide administrative oversight for Extension education, training programs, career development programs, and grant-supported initiatives within the Center for Food Systems, Nutrition Security, and Health Integration (FSNSHI) and affiliated Health and Community Wellness programs. The position is responsible for shaping strategy, directing implementation, and ensuring quality, impact, and sustainability of education and workforce systems that advance food systems, nutrition security, and community health.

Reporting to Center leadership, the position exercises substantial autonomy in leading a complex portfolio with statewide reach, supervising senior professional staff, advancing funded initiatives, and representing the Center in key institutional and external partnerships. The role translates Extension priorities and grant objectives into coherent education systems, workforce development pathways, and professional learning infrastructures that expand capacity across Extension, communities, and partner organizations.

One full-time position is available.
Location: Urbana-Champaign Campus
In state hybrid remote work arrangements are available

This is a security-sensitive position. Comprehensive background checks, including but not limited to a criminal conviction information check, a CANTS check, and a review of the Registered Sex Offender list, will be conducted.

Duties and Responsibilties:

Organizational Leadership

• Provide overall leadership and oversight of the day-to-day operations for education, workforce, and career development programs, and grant supported initiatives within FSNSHI.
• Oversee the strategy and development of grants related to education, workforce preparedness, and strategic initiatives.
• Lead the Education team within FSNSHI. Supervise designated staff, including conducting staff performance reviews and developing and implementing staff development and staff performance improvement initiatives.
• Communicate with 27 units across Extension, grantors, and subcontractors across the state.
• Work in coordination with the Extension business office to maintain sound fiscal decisions that meet grant requirements.
• Lead and oversee the development of the new policy and procedure guides and the management evaluation processes required by grants.
• Oversee preparation of grant reports, impact narratives, and materials for leadership, funders, and stakeholders.
• Contribute to the overall vision of FSNSHI.

Program Development and Implementation Oversight

• Initiate and direct interdisciplinary committees and workgroups pertaining to grants.
• Give regular presentations, in- services, and trainings on topics related to the position for internal and external stakeholders. Train trainers to deliver programs.
• Represent FSNSHI and HCW on the Extension teams.
• Establish and maintain relationships across the campus, state, multi-state region or nation with program stakeholders and other Extension programs.
• Direct the coordination, integration, and continuous improvement of Extension education and training systems in food systems, nutrition security, and community health.
• Oversee development of Extension curricula, credentials, professional development offerings, and