Position Title: Extension District/State Specialist/Behavioral Health

Employee Classification: Ext District/Area Specialist

College/Division: Cooperative Extension Service

Department: 310021-EXTENSN HOME EC PGM UNIT

Internal or External Search: External - Open to all applicants

Location: Las Cruces

Offsite Location (if applicable):

Target Hourly/Salary Rate:  Commensurate on experience

Appointment Full-time Equivalency:  1.0

Exempt or Non-Exempt:  Exempt

Summary:  Seeking to fill an Extension position to provide statewide leadership for the development, implementation, and evaluation of unique, complex, research or evidence-based education in the area of behavioral health

Classification Summary:
Extension State Specialists provide New Mexico's citizenry and communities with effective leadership and collaboration to foster economic, educational, and community development.

Classification Standard Duties:
Provide statewide leadership for the development, implementation, and evaluation of unique, complex, research or evidence based education in the are of behavioral health.

Required Education, Experience, Certification/License, Equivalency
• Master’s degree from an accredited institution in a field of study related to counseling, social work, family studies, public health, human development, psychology, psychiatry, or a related field of study.
• 3 years of related experience including community experience in the mental health field.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, implement and evaluate community educational programs in the area of behavioral health.
• Demonstrated ability and skill in securing and/or managing grant funds and resources.
• Ability to create and carry out a project plan from research of initial concept to project completion and follow-up.
• Proven ability to work with a diverse network of constituents and community members across race/ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic class, disabilities, and other differences to assist with program development and outreach.

Job Duties and Responsibilities
• Provide subject matter support, leadership and professional development to Extension faculty and staff engaged in community behavioral health programming related, but not limited to, suicide, anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, and substance use disorders.
• Provide statewide leadership for the development, implementation, and evaluation of research- or evidence-based community education in the area of behavioral health including development of educational curricula, products, and publications.
• Coordinate interdisciplinary collaborations with other Extension Specialists, university faculty and staff, and community partners to facilitate state-wide programming responsive to mental health and substance use needs of New Mexico communities including youth and adult populations in rural and urban settings.
• Conduct research related to the intersection of community and behavioral health and advance the interdisciplinary focus of the Extension Family and Consumer Sciences department.
• Seek and secure external grant or contract funding, manage grants as a Principal Investigator, and supervise grant staff.
• Maintain accountability through reporting to Extension, internal and external stakeholders, and funding partners, document outcomes, impacts and successes in Extension scholarship.
• Promote CES programs within the state to meet LEADS 2025.

Preferred Qualifications

•Ph.D. from an accredited institution in a field of study related to counseling, social work, family studies, public health, human development, psychology, psychiatry, or a related field of study.
•Licensed mental health practitioner with clinical experience.
•Experience working with Native American, Latinx, and/or rural populations.
•Bilingual (English/Spanish or English/NM Indigenous language).
•Extension, outreach, or teaching experience.

Special Requirements of the Position
*The following documents are required. Please include on the application:
-Your resume/cv
-Cover letter
-Transcript
-Concise statement of Extension & outreach interests, goals and objectives for this position (2 page maximum)

Located in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Statewide responsibilities; may work evenings, weekends. Personal auto required. Travel reimbursed at current IRS rate per mile. Valid driver’s license required.

Department Contact:  Karim Martinez, (575) 646-2390, karmarti@nmsu.edu

Contingent Upon Funding: Not Applicable

Bargaining Unit Eligibility: This is NOT a bargaining unit position with American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Standard Work Schedule: Standard (M-F, 8-5)

If Not a Standard Work Schedule: 

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Environment: Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment.

Physical Effort: No or very limited physical effort required.

Lifting Requirements: Requires handling of average-weight objects up to 10 pounds or some standing or walking.

Risk: No or very limited exposure to physical risk.