Working/Functional Title
Maternal and Infant Health Educator
Position Summary
Michigan State University Extension is committed to fostering a welcoming and collaborative environment, which requires all staff to contribute toward a vision for success regardless of title or position within the organization. We strive to create a positive culture, access to resources, and a sense of belonging for staff, partners, and programming participants. This means that all staff at MSU Extension are dedicated to the following:
- We work together to ensure that programming is available to all audiences, creates meaningful and positive impacts for participants, and demonstrates partnership and collaboration across communities.
- We understand that a welcoming and respectful environment is built through the efforts of everyone.
- We foster an environment that welcomes a broad range of perspectives and experiences, ensuring that all individuals have the opportunity to contribute and thrive.
- We ensure that every team member is prepared with the skills and resources to contribute to our welcoming and supportive culture.
- We foster an environment that values a range of perspectives, skills, and experiences by working to ensure access to programming for communities.
- We commit to continuous learning and engagement to better serve Michigan residents and meet the evolving needs of communities.
- We recognize that broad accessibility and collaboration are essential elements of our work and are vital to organizational and programmatic success.
- We embrace a culture of understanding, coaching, and feedback toward achieving a vision of success for the entire organization and its staff.
- Together we will achieve success, and we commit to these goals in our work, continued education, and ongoing efforts.
POSITION SUMMARY
As part of MSU Extension (MSUE) and the Health and Nutrition Institute (HNI), this position provides local as well as statewide leadership and educational programming expertise in maternal and infant health. This position will have statewide responsibilities and will collaborate across work teams, Institutes, and community groups, working with faculty, specialists, and educators for overall advancement of the needs of the Institute clientele.
In this position, you will identify, design, implement and evaluate research-based educational programs that meet current and projected outreach needs related to maternal and infant health. Through your leadership, you will provide evidence-based education to support healthy pregnancies, infancy, and early childhood outcomes across varied communities. Day-to-day responsibilities include developing and delivering culturally responsive programs and curricula tailored to targeted audiences, collaborating with community partners such as state and local WIC, MDHHS/health departments, healthcare providers, and organizations, and strengthening referral pathways to supportive services. You will build programmatic capacity with the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) through staff training, curriculum adaptation, and aligned outreach strategies. Program evaluation, data-informed improvement, and ongoing partnership development to expand the reach and impact of Extension’s maternal and infant health initiatives are key responsibilities too. Additionally, you will actively participate in social media/marketing efforts with the HNI Communications Manager to advance Extension’s work in this programmatic area.
Through collaboration in research, engagement with community members, and dissemination of research-based information through various methods, including in-person and multimedia educational programming and written communications, you will explore and implement programs that lead to public knowledge, attitudes, and behavior changes. You will also develop, produce, and deliver maternal and infant health outreach materials with messaging and content that is accessible and is consistent with the Health and Nutrition Institute messaging.
Your work will include close collaboration with colleagues at MSU and MSU Extension, as well as the network of partner groups that include the Women, Infant and Children (WIC) program, MDHHS, healthcare providers, and community-based organizations. You will collaborate with Educators in the Health and Nutrition institute across all work teams as appropriate. Acting as a statewide point of contact, you will provide support for maternal and infant health education.
Although negotiable, there will be space available for this position to work from the Oakland County MSU Extension office.
This position may be eligible to utilize a flexible work environment, however, there is an expectation to work from a MSU Extension county office. The needs, responsibilities, and opportunities of an individual’s position and office location drive the ability and amount of work-location flexibility.
This position is a full-time, fixed term end-dated appointment, renewable annually based upon successful performance and continued funding.
Characteristic Duties/Responsibilities
- Identify, develop, conduct, and evaluate innovative educational programs that meet current and projected statewide needs, and supports growth and understanding of critical issues facing people in Michigan.
- Develop and maintain positive working relationships intra- and inter-organizationally and create and promote positive public relations for MSU Extension and the HNI.
- Understand and support the Health and Nutrition Institute’s efforts in culture, access, belonging, and Civil Rights, with a special emphasis on removing barriers from participation and reaching all populations, including but not limited to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status, socio-economic class and other human differences in rural, suburban and urban communities, and where applicable, increasing programmatic delivery and participation in urban centers.
- Develop and utilize appropriate media methods to communicate current and timely information, research results, and relevant industry updates, as well as a schedule of current and future activities.
- Collaborate with MSU Extension staff to gather and report programming outputs and impacts, to demonstrate program effectiveness, and to guide future program priorities for MSU Extension, the HNI and work teams.
- Actively participate in professional development opportunities.
- Author, produce, and submit regular research-based educational materials and articles.
- Deliver evidence-based education supporting healthy pregnancy, infancy, and early childhood outcomes across diverse communities.
- Build and maintain strategic partnerships with WIC, MDHHS, healthcare providers, and community organizations to strengthen outreach and referral pathways.
- Participate in grant acquisition and implementation, including contributing to proposal development, supporting funded activities, and ensuring program alignment with grant objectives.
- Collaborate with EFNEP to build program capacity through staff training, curriculum alignment, and coordinated education strategies.
- Engage in program evaluation and continuous improvement using data and community feedback.
- Participate in social media and marketing efforts to promote programs, amplify public health messaging, and increase awareness and engagement with Extension maternal and infant health initiatives.
- Other duties or projects as assigned by the Institute Director.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.
Required Degree
Masters -Nutrition, Public Health, Health Education
Desired Degree
Masters
Minimum Requirements
- Master’s degree from an accredited institution in a field of study related to nutrition, public health, health education, or related field must be earned by date of hire.
- Familiarity with maternal and infant health programs through the state of Michigan. Experience cultivating partnerships with state and local partners that work with maternal and infant health.
- Demonstrated ability and skill in educational program planning, implementation, and evaluation.
- Ability to demonstrate sensitivity, knowledge, and use of appropriate approaches, skills, and techniques, which reflect an understanding and awareness of social, cultural, and varied economic backgrounds and perspectives of the target population served.
- Ability to create and carry out a project plan from research of initial concept to project completion and follow-up.
- Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
- Proficiency in use of technology (e.g., web research, Zoom, Qualtrics, Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook for mail/calendaring, distance technology, etc.) for day-to-day work and educational program delivery, record keeping, reporting, team-based communications, and overall management.
- Ability to travel in local and surrounding communities, and occasional long-distance travel are required as a regular part of this position.
- Demonstrated skills and professional development over the past five years related to cultural awareness and the ability to work effectively with individuals from varied backgrounds.
- Experience with marketing/promotion of educational programs.
- Understanding of and ability to implement Civil Rights principles and compliance standards.
- Other skills and/or physical abilities required to perform duties of the position.
Desired Qualifications
- 3-years’ experience in Extension program delivery or demonstrated ability and skill in educational program planning, implementation, and evaluation (relevant experience acquired within the last 5-years, preferred).
- Demonstrated drive and initiative, with proven ability to manage multiple responsibilities and tasks simultaneously.
- Experience in successful contract and grant writing, including securing and managing grant funds and resources.
Required Application Materials
Current resume/CV.
Cover letter.
Four (4) professional references including two (2) current or previous supervisors.
Special Instructions
This position is a full-time, fixed term end-dated appointment, renewable annually based upon successful performance and continued funding.
Starting salary $56,100/year, commensurate with education and experience.
Please note this is a union position represented by AFT Michigan.
Website
https://youtu.be/R58m2-um5Mg?si=Qra8RMsPySKEGpZF
MSU Statement
Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.
