Job Information
Iowa State University Healthy Food Access Specialist in Altoona, Iowa
Position Title:Healthy Food Access Specialist
Job Group:Professional & Scientific
Required Minimum Qualifications:Bachelor’s degree
Special Required QualificationsDrivers License
Preferred Qualifications:Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a discipline related to public health, dietetics, food and nutrition, nutrition education, community nutrition, or closely related field.
Registered Dietitian Certification.
Demonstrated training or experience working with adults with low income and agencies that serve that population.
Experience with multi-level nutrition or food system initiatives.
Job Description:
Are you looking for a position where you get to make a difference in your community? Are you looking for a position where everyday is different?
If so, The Department of Human Sciences Extension and Outreach with Iowa State University is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Healthy Food Access Specialist, which will be hired as a Human Sciences Extension Specialist I or II, for the SNAP-Education Program!
The individual for this position will be primarily serving Polk County, with additional outreach to Dallas, Story, and Warren counties. The primary office location for this position will be the Polk County extension office, which is located in Altoona.
The Healthy Food Access Specialist provides local-level coordination, subject-matter expertise and leadership to SNAP-Education healthy food access initiatives designed to make healthy choices easier for Iowans experiencing poverty. Work will be accomplished in partnership with food banks, pantries and other community agencies.
Responsibilities of this position include:
Providing leadership to local healthy food access initiatives through ISU Extension and Outreach
Assisting county Extension offices and volunteers with Growing Together Iowa healthy food access initiatives which includes drafting proposals, building partnerships and evaluating results
Building partnerships with food pantries, conducting environmental assessments and coaching food pantry staff through environmental and system changes to improve healthy food access
Communicating and coordinating activities with food banks and other local emergency food providers
Managing evaluation of programming at the direction of the supervisor which includes participant surveys, environmental assessments, reports of change, success story collection, partner interviews and other evaluation strategies
Promoting the use of existing ISU Extension and Outreach resources in partner agencies, venues and environments
Relaying to state staff needs for new material development
The successful candidate will possess exceptional communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with a wide variety of individuals and groups, including low-income audiences. The ability to effectively relate to clients different from themselves and the ability to establish and effectively maintain partnerships with community agencies and leaders is essential to this position. The selected candidate will need to be skilled in self-direction and independent work and possess the ability to manage multiple priorities.
This is a fixed term position that has an end date of 9/30/2025, with the opportunity for renewal.
This position will be filled at the Human Sciences Extension Specialist I or II level, depending on experience.
Human Sciences Extension Specialist I
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree
Pay Grade:
PS806
Level Guidelines:
• Individual contributor position with developing professional and/or technical skills working under immediate to general supervision • Grasps professional-level knowledge and concepts of field while working in a progressive learning mode • Works on problems and issues of somewhat limited scope • Follows standard practices and procedures in analyzing situations or data for which answers are available or can be obtained • Responds to inquiries and issues, escalating to manager or higher level workers as appropriate • May lead projects of limited scope and complexity • May provide guidance to students
Human Sciences Extension Specialist II
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree and 2 years of related experience
Pay Grade:
PS807
Level Guidelines:
• Intermediate-level position with solid professional and/or technical skills working under general supervision to achieve goals • Applies broad, working knowledge of the principles of the field to moderately complex, difficult, and varied problems and issues • Exercises judgment within defined procedures and practices to determine appropriate action and resolve problems • Responds to a broad range of inquiries and requests • May provide training and/or direction to lower-level staff • May lead projects of moderate scope and complexity • Provides guidance to students
The Human Sciences Extension Specialist II will have additional duties not listed in the posting.
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an on-going basis without sponsorship.
Appointment Type:Regular with Term Appointment (Fixed Term)
Proposed End Date or Length of Term:September 30, 2025
Number of Months Employed Per Year:12 Month Work Period
Time Type:Full time
Pay Grade:PS806
Application Instructions:
To apply for this position, please click on “Apply” and complete the Employment Application. Please be prepared to enter or attach the following:1) Resume/Curriculum Vitae2) Letter of Application/Cover LetterIf you have questions regarding this application process, please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485.Why Choose ISU?Iowa State Employees enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental; as well as:• Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans• Generous vacation, holiday and sick time and leave plans• Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)• Life insurance and long-term disability• Flexible Spending Accounts• Various voluntary benefits and discounts• Employee Assistance Program• Wellbeing program• Iowa State offers WorkFlex options for some positions. WorkFlex offers flexibility on when, where, and how you do your work. For more information, please speak with the Hiring Manager.
Original Posting Date: September 17, 2024
Posting Close Date:September 30, 2024
Job Requisition Number:R15524
By focusing on the future and providing the best student experience possible, Iowa State attracts students and faculty who want to make a difference. With a comprehensive land-grant mission of education, research, extension and outreach, we produce scholars whose ideas change the world. And through Innovate at Iowa State , we provide innovative and entrepreneurial opportunities for students of all backgrounds. Located just 30 minutes north of Des Moines, the city of Ames was recently named one of the Top 10 cities in the U.S. for campus life and career opportunities.
Iowa State University is a welcoming, global, and culturally diverse community of students, faculty, and staff. Campus community members have a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and are committed to engaging with each other respectfully as outlined in the university's Principles of Community (https://www.iastate.edu/diversity-and-inclusion/principles-community) . Iowa State recognizes that diverse intellectual and philosophical perspectives are vital to innovation, critical thinking skills, and a dynamic academic community that fosters the land-grant ideals of putting science, technology, and human creativity to work.
All offers of employment, oral and written, are contingent upon the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by federal and state law, ISU policies/procedures, and may include the completion of a background check and/or a consumer credit check.
Iowa State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, marital status, disability, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against. Inquiries can be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity, 3410 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, 515 294-7612, email eooffice@iastate.edu .
If you have questions about the application process please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or Toll-Free at 1-877-477-7485 . Iowa State University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should email employment@iastate.edu or call (515) 294-4800 or Toll-Free: (877) 477-7485 . TTY users are welcome to use the Iowa Relay Service number by dialing 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2942 .
General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources (https://www.hr.iastate.edu/careers/compensation) website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.