Jobs at Montana State University

Larry Brence at 406-874-8236 or lbrence@montana.edu

The primary duty for County Extension Faculty is to assess local community needs, and develop, implement, and evaluate Extension programming to meet those needs. The main emphasis of the Fallon County Extension Agent position will be in the areas of Agriculture and 4-H/Youth Development with secondary responsibilities in the areas of Community Vitality and Family and Consumer Science. The office is staffed by a full-time 4-H assistant and .8 FTE administrative assistant.

Fallon County is located in extreme eastern Montana and shares an eastern border with the state of North Dakota. Fallon County is home to 3,049 people with the majority living in the county seat of Baker with a population of 1,802. The landscape of Fallon County is shortgrass prairie with the dominant agricultural activities being cattle ranching and dryland farming. In addition to agriculture, oil and gas production is a major economic driver of the community.

The Fallon County 4-H program has 90 enrolled youth members and 24 active volunteers.

K-12 education is available both in Baker and in the city of Plevna. Baker has a modern hospital with accessibility to many visiting specialists. Baker also has a publicly owned recreational facility with an indoor pool, racquetball courts, and a variety of other fitness equipment.

MSU Extension seeks individuals who work professionally and effectively with diverse individuals, and who foster and maintain effective interpersonal relationships, exhibit excellent written and verbal communications skills and contribute positively to the people of Fallon County under the guidelines and mission of Montana State University.

The successful candidate will possess excellent human relation skills; a high level of professionalism; the ability to work effectively with other staff members; evidence of good judgment; flexibility and innovation to respond to changing needs of people in Fallon County; ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. The successful candidate will also have a familiarity with multi-cultural and different socioeconomic audiences, an interest in working with people from diverse backgrounds, a commitment to the principles of diversity and dedication to supporting and enhancing Montana State University’s initiative for diversity, equity and inclusiveness.

Extension work at MSU is defined as the creation of partnerships, programs, and plans through Extension, or other community-based research, that leverage the knowledge and resources of the university and the public/private sector to enhance learning, discovery, and engagement; educate and engage citizens; strengthen communities; address locally identified issues and problems; apply and disseminate knowledge; and contribute to the public good.

This position, if filled at the Master’s degree level, will be tenure-track. A successful candidate without a Master’s degree will be required to complete their Master’s degree, in a program area relevant to their Extension position, within six (6) years of their start date. Failure to do so may result in termination.

Must possess currently or be eligible to obtain a valid State of Montana Driver’s license and have an acceptable driving record (less than 12 points), or have other reliable means of transportation. Must have access to a vehicle to use for work (mileage will be reimbursed), and have minimum vehicle liability insurance. Do NOT send a copy of the driver’s license.

This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

The scholarship of Extension work at MSU is defined as, “The creation of partnerships, programs, and plans through Extension, or other community-based research, that leverage the knowledge and resources of the university and the public/private sector to enhance learning, discovery, and engagement; educate and engage citizens; strengthen communities; address locally identified issues and problems; apply and disseminate knowledge; and contribute to the public good.”

Screening of applications will begin on April 22, 2024; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.

Montana State University values diverse perspectives and is committed to continually supporting, promoting and building an inclusive and culturally diverse campus environment. MSU recognizes the importance of work-life integration and strives to be responsive to the needs of dual career couples. https://www.montana.edu/hr/recruitment-guidelines/dualcareer.html




In compliance with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile. https://www.montana.edu/hr/recruitment-guidelines/affirmative_action_plan.html.





MSU’s Non-Discrimination Policy and Discrimination Grievance Procedures can be located on the MSU Website: https://www.montana.edu/policy/discrimination/index.html.