The Extension Specialist for CDC High Obesity Program is responsible to the Assistant Dean for the Department of Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) and Program Faculty Lead. This specialist provides leadership as project manager for planning, implementing, and evaluating the CDC High Obesity Program grant. This position works as a team member in coordination of program activities. This is a grant-funded, non­tenure accruing position. Continuation of this grant-funded appointment is contingent upon continued funding through Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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The Extension Specialist for CDC High Obesity Program is responsible to the Assistant Dean for the Department of Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) and Program Faculty Lead. This specialist provides leadership as project manager for planning, implementing, and evaluating the CDC High Obesity Program grant. This position works as a team member in coordination of program activities. This is a grant-funded, non­tenure accruing position. Continuation of this grant-funded appointment is contingent upon continued funding through Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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Required Qualifications:

• Education:
  • Earned Master's degree in Family and Consumer Sciences, Health Social Marketing, Public Health, Health Education, Health Communications, Nutrition, or closely related area or the experience called out below.
• Experience:
  • Substantial work experience which demonstrates promise in teaching, Extension and/or service in alignment with the appointment.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

  • Demonstrated ability to plan, conduct and evaluate efforts in a community setting with a focus on nutrition and behavior change to provide environmental support for direct education components of a program.

  • Demonstrated project management skills and ability.

  • Ability to organize, apply sound judgment, and complete assignments in a timely manner both independently and as part of a team.

  • Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with both intradisciplinary and interdisciplinary teams.

  • Strong interpersonal skills and ability to interact with a wide variety of individuals, including under-represented population.

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

  • Strong computer literacy skills, especially with Microsoft Office applications

  • Ability to travel within and outside the state.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Education:

  • PhD in appropriate discipline

• Experience:

  • 1-3 years of experience

Our Ideal Candidate Will Have:

• Work experience in an area of public health, health communications, or community education

• Experience with community public health approaches

• Experience with development of public education and media outreach materials

• Experience with development of scholarly publications and presentations

• Knowledge of community-based approaches to improve nutrition and physical activity

• Evidence of networking skills and team building

Work Location:

• Location: Knoxville, TN

• This position has the ability to work remotely up to two days per week after the successful candidate proves their work ethic and productivity after a specified amount of time.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here

• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions:

To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments. To be assured of full consideration, completed applications with all requested materials should be submitted on or before 5/8/2026.

• Resume

• Cover Letter

About The College/Department/Division:

The University of Tennessee Extension is the outreach arm of the university. Family & Consumer Sciences (https://fcs.tennessee.edu/) addresses the everyday issues families face and provides help through education. Our top professionals in every county use research-based education to help Tennesseans gain knowledge and develop confidence in making good decisions today and tomorrow.

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• Provide leadership for a program of activities which meets the needs of all eligible clientele regardless of race, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, religion, or veteran status.

• Provide project management for the High Obesity Program (HOP). The HOP will be implemented in several counties using community-based processes (assess, plan, develop, implement, and evaluate public health approaches) to enhance the ability of communities to:

  • Improve access to healthy foods

  • Improve community support and opportunities for physical activity.

• Provide leadership for coordination with local and state Extension staff, and faculty from University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) to meet the goals of the grant workplan.

• Assist with logistical and administrative functions of the grant (such as monthly reports to CDC, organizing regular training for Extension agents, tracking the implementation of the grant activities in the counties, budget management and purchases for the grant).

• Participate in evaluation and reporting requirements of the grant program.

• Participate in formative, process, outcome and/or impact evaluation and reporting for the grant.

• Teach in-service training for agents and multi-county programs and coordinate CDC technical assistance to support the High Obesity Program objectives.

• Foster public relations such as publications, websites, videos, Facebook pages, and other ways of contacting the public with High Obesity Program. Must provide a professional image of Extension.

• Foster and maintain partnerships with program stakeholders.

• Assume other duties as necessary or as assigned.