February 15, 2021
Update KSRE Search Associate Director for Field Operations
The search for the Associate Director for Field Operations is underway. Screening of applications begins today, and we are looking forward to the interview process. During my short time with KSRE I have become keenly aware of the key role that the Associate Director for Field Operations plays in the operation of the system. The new Associate Director for Field Operations must have a broad understanding and knowledge of the structure and internal workings of KSRE.
The position of Associate Director for Field Operations is critical to the overall success of KSRE mission. This position focuses on the operations oversight of personnel, program and business operations of the local units and policies and procedures leadership as well as board leadership initiatives of our 48 county-based and 20 district-based semi-autonomous local units. The responsibilities include the development of local unit operational policies and procedures, and, as such, the ideal candidate must have a thorough understanding of extension, extension human capital development and management, appropriated and non-appropriated fund budgeting and development, the K-State Research and Extension local unit auditing system, Kansas Extension Council law, government affairs, and leadership development.
Most importantly, the Associate Director for Field Operations regularly liaisons with our elected local unit Extension Councils, the State Extension Advisory Council, county commissioners, the Kansas Association of Counties, the State Attorney General’s office, state elected officials, the K-State Research and Extension Budget/Fiscal Office, and the Kansas State University Division of Information Technology and University General Counsel office, among others. In addition, the Associate Director for Field Operations initiates organizational development such as district development and organizational change toward more efficient, effective, and sustainable local extension operations.
Foremost, the new Associate Director for Field Operations needs to be a team player working with the Director for Extension and the Associate Director for Extension Programs to provide overall leadership to, and administrative oversight for, our Cooperative Extension endeavors. The Associate Director for Field Operations focuses on the overall administrative leadership of our local units. In terms of Cooperative Extension administrative leadership organizational hierarchy, the position is tied with the Associate Director for Extension Programs (Dr. Rick Peterson) and answers to, in turn, the Director for Extension (Dr. Gregg Hadley) and the Dean of the College of Agriculture (Dr. Ernie Minton).
Members of the search and screen committee consist of (Chair) Associate Director for Extension Programs Dr. Rick Peterson, Budget/Fiscal Officer Geneva Jahnke, Regional Director for Local Units Aliesa Woods, Wyandotte County Extension Director Dr. Nozella Brown, Central Kansas District Director Cade Rensink, Meade County Agent Elly Sneath, Program Leader Coordinator Trudy Rice, State Extension Advisory Committee Member Don Helwig, and Kansas Association of Counties Director Bruce Chladny.
I want to thank those who forwarded nominations for the position and the members of the search committee for their work on screening and future interviews for the position. Stay tuned for upcoming announcements regarding the candidate interview schedules.