New

Community Development Educator

University of Wisconsin Madison
paid time off
United States, Wisconsin, Fond du lac
Feb 09, 2026
Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Jobs Hub to apply through the internal application process. Job Category:Academic Staff Employment Type:Regular Job Profile:Outreach Specialist Job Summary: The Community Development Educator serves the people and communities of Wisconsin by addressing local, statewide, and national issues, improving lives through research-based education, fostering partnerships and action, and facilitating positive impacts that support: thriving individuals and families; effective organizations; healthy and vibrant communities; and strong economies. This Community Development Educator position will serve Fond du Lac County, WI, and surrounding communities. The Community Development Educator designs, delivers, and evaluates research-based educational programming and services aligned with the position's programmatic focus: building the capacity of nonprofits, community organizations, and coalitions. The Educator will assess needs and develop educational responses (e.g. workshops, peer networks, facilitated processes) that support community-serving organizations with action planning, board governance, volunteer engagement, fund development, and program/service evaluation. The Educator will collaborate with local partners already serving the area. This position will work with a team of colleagues to refine and deliver existing peer-learning programs aimed at increasing the capacity of nonprofits to deliver on their mission, implement continuous improvement and equitable practices, and work jointly with other organizations to address local needs. The Educator will also develop new content to meet additional needs of nonprofits, especially in areas of the state with fewer resources available to support nonprofits. As part of the position's county-based work, the Community Development Educator connects Fond du Lac County and its communities to other Community Development and Extension resources and supports priority local initiatives through the facilitation of group and community engagement processes. Programmatic Focus: Organizational and Leadership Development with an emphasis on building the capacity of nonprofits, community organizations, and coalitions. Examples of this work include: Assess the organizational development needs of community-serving organizations (e.g. nonprofits, coalitions, school districts, local governments) and develop educational responses (e.g. workshops, peer networks, facilitated processes). Collaborate with local partners already serving area nonprofits (e.g. Fond du Lac Area Foundation) to support their capacity building efforts in the following ways: assist with needs assessments, advise on curriculum design, and deliver organizational development content (e.g. fund development strategies, board governance, volunteer management, program planning and evaluation). Support community-serving organizations with consultation, design, and facilitation of goal-setting, action planning, strategic planning, and program evaluation processes. Support local coalitions addressing community development issues (e.g. housing, transportation, childcare) in the following ways: training and resources on group processes, assist with adopting appropriate structures and policies that support their ongoing work, facilitate group action planning and goal setting, and advise on evaluation strategies. Meeting Other Local Needs: The Community Development Educator will prioritize and spend most of their time on a clearly defined programmatic focus: building the capacity of nonprofits, community organizations, and coalitions. To the degree local needs shift or other programmatic needs arise, the CD Educator will serve as the primary conduit for the community to access the appropriate research and educational resources, if they are available within the Community Development Institute. The Educator serves as the 'on-ramp' for the community to access the wide range of resources in Community Development and Extension more generally. Examples of such resources include: training for local government officials, assistance with housing needs studies, broadband, and food entrepreneurship. Recognizing that, regardless of programmatic area of focus, CD Educators are often called upon to support the facilitation of community and group processes (e.g. action planning, visioning, group decision-making), all CD Educators will have these core competencies and support these efforts as resources allow. Statewide Contributions: All CD Educators are expected to contribute to statewide efforts related to their area of focus. This benefits the local funding partner. Through their statewide work, the CD Educator is connected to the most current research, best practices, programming, and networks. They bring that expertise back to the county for application to local issues and needs. This particular CD Educator will work with a team of colleagues to refine and deliver existing peer-learning based programming, as well as develop new content that can be delivered in-person, virtually, or through self-paced formats. This position will play an important role in ensuring Extension is responding to areas of the state where there are fewer resources available to support nonprofits. County Location The main office for this position is located in Fond du Lac, WI and the primary programming focus is Fond du Lac County; however, some programming may also be conducted over a broader geographical area. In Person It is anticipated this position requires work be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Evening/Weekend Work This position may be required to work occasional nights and weekends to meet the program needs and priorities of the communities served. Travel Expectations It is expected that employees will make individual arrangements for transportation adequate to meet position responsibilities and essential job functions. Read more about UW-Madison Driver Authorization. Applicants are required to: Have a valid drivers license and a reliable source of independent transportation for periodic in-state work travel, and/or comply with requirements for UW-Madison vehicle use authorization. Key Job Responsibilities: Leads the implementation of programs, policies, and procedures through oversight of day-to-day activities for program staff and student and community volunteers Delivers outreach program content and materials to community members Researches, develops, and facilitates outreach program content and materials Identifies, promotes, and maintains external partnerships to support the outreach program Communicate plans, activities and achievements to Area Extension Director, Program Managers, partners and relevant stakeholders Develops and evaluates curriculum and programs and provides recommendations for improvement May assist with the monitoring of outreach program budget spending Schedules and secures resources and communicates logistics in support of an outreach program Department: UW-Madison's Division of Extension serves the people and communities of Wisconsin by addressing local, statewide and national issues, improving lives through research-based education, fostering partnerships and action, and facilitating positive impacts. About the Institute The Extension Institute of Community Development provides educational programming to assist leaders, communities, and organizations realize their fullest potential. We work with communities to build the vitality that enhances their quality of life and enriches the lives of their residents. We educate in leadership development, organizational development, food systems, community economic development, local government education and much more. In short, the Community Development Institute plants and cultivates the seeds for thriving communities and organizations. Compensation: The minimum annual (12 months) starting salary for the position is $59,603, but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications Benefits Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. Benefits information can be found at (https://hr.wisc.edu/benefits/) Required Qualifications: Demonstrated ability to design and deliver educational programs for adult learners. Two years of relevant work experience in the area of programming and service delivery Experience facilitating group processes, including strategic planning, visioning, or community engagement. Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders. Demonstrated ability to effectively work with people from a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives Preferred Qualifications: Experience working with or for community nonprofit organization Knowledge of organizational development practices (e.g., governance, fund development, volunteer management, evaluation). Familiarity with research-based approaches and data-informed decision-making. Education: Required Education Bachelor's degree Preferred Education Master's degree in a related field How to Apply: 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 note when applying, there will be *only* one attachment field. You must upload all your documents in the attachment field. 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. Application Deadline is Monday, February 23, 2026 at 11:59pm (CST). Contact Information: Jeremy Solin jeremy.solin@wisc.edu 715-498-7051 Institutional Statement on Diversity: Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals. 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. To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you. Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment. The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7). The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.