Hello All: Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant is hiring a Climate Extension Specialist to work on the University of Illinois campus in Urbana, Illinois. More information can be found below. Applications are due January 3, 2018. Visit http://go.illinois.edu/A1700731 to apply. Please spread the word!
Climate Extension Specialist, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (A1700731) University of Illinois Extension College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences The Climate Extension Specialist position is a joint position with Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) and the Midwestern Regional Climate Center (MRCC). This position is responsible for fostering relationships with users of climate data and information in the Midwest regarding agriculture, Great Lakes coastal issues, and other climate-sensitive issues. This position will develop weather and climate outreach programs and decision-support tools that will improve the decision- making processes of communities and partners with regard to climate adaptation, as well as coordinate all climate-related outreach and stakeholder engagement activities for IISG and MRCC. One full time position is available. Location: Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, University of Illinois campus The University of Illinois conducts criminal background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer. Specific responsibilities of the Climate Extension Specialist are as follows: • Collaborate with researchers, agencies, and the public to provide science-based, climate information to stakeholders and develop weather and climate outreach programs and decision support tools for communities and partners. Coordinate all climate-related outreach and stakeholder engagement activities for IISG and MRCC, this includes: • Work with partners and community stakeholders in the southern Lake Michigan region to identify information gaps or training needs, and design decision support tools, workshops, publications, meetings, webpages, social media feeds, or other outreach tools to meet those needs. This work will be done in conjunction with other state federal agencies, NGOs, community groups, etc., as appropriate. • Work with critical facilities to enable their use of the IISG and MRCC assessment and monitoring tools and resources (e.g., Flood Vulnerability Assessment) to reduce their risks to flooding. • Lead or co-lead grant proposals related to climate outreach and stakeholder engagement in the Great Lakes and Midwest region. • Serve as the liaison between IISG, MRCC, and NOAA climate programs, the researchers at relevant University units, and regional Sea Grant climate specialists. • Communicate climate and climate-related topics to diverse audiences including scientists, community officials, and the public. • Provide science-based communication and educational opportunities to stakeholders concerning preparation strategies for climate extremes and variability, including but not limited to vulnerability assessments, workshops, and presentations. Collaborate with other climate services in the region, including but not limited to, state climatologists, Land Grant Extension, National Integrated Drought Information System, and National Weather Service offices. • Market the products and resources of the MRCC and IISG. • Develop educational resources for educator and student climate literacy, this includes: working with federal, state, local, NGO, and other partners to provide resources for formal and informal educators, and developing or participating in the development of train-the-trainer workshops, curricula, websites, and/or publications so that educators have materials needed to educate the students they work with about climate concepts. • Prepare reports and news releases concerning the impacts of weather and climate in the Midwest and assist with answering requests from the media. • Supervise students, interns, and technicians contributing to IISG or MRCC climate outreach programming and stakeholder engagement activities as needed. • Assume additional related responsibilities to enhance the mission of the unit. • Local, regional and out-of-state travel required; personal transportation required. Administrative Relationship: This position is administratively responsible to the Outreach Program Leader, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant. Qualifications (Required): • Master’s degree in Atmospheric Sciences, Geography, Meteorology, or closely related field. • Experience in outreach work • Excellent writing and public speaking skills, and a demonstrated ability to communicate science to non-scientists. • Ability to work as part of a team. • Proficient in MS Office Suite Qualifications (Preferred): • Experience developing decision-support tools and other outreach products. • Experience co-planning stakeholder workshops including: identifying and inviting participants, developing workshop materials, contributing to agendas, and coordinating workshop logistics. • Experience in grant writing. Additional Information The position is a full-time, benefits-eligible, non-tenured academic professional position appointed on a 12-month service basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after the closing date. Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications. Generous vacation and sick leave. State Universities Retirement System. Group health, dental, vision and life insurance. Application Procedure: To apply, go to http://go.illinois.edu/A1700731. Log in to your account and upload a cover letter, resume, as well as the names and contact information of three professional references. Resume dates must be in month/year format and employment history, at a minimum, should include all work dating back to the completion of your undergraduate degree. Positions that were less than full-time/100% must be noted as being part-time. Transcripts may be requested at a later date. To receive full consideration, all requested application materials must be submitted via the online system by the close date of January 3, 2018. For further information about the position, please contact Sarah Zack at [email protected]. For technical assistance with the online application process, call 217-333-6747 or email [email protected]. Illinois is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a disability. Illinois welcomes individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and ideas who embrace and value diversity and inclusivity. (www.inclusiveillinois.illinois.edu). --- Sarah A. Zack | Pollution Prevention Extension Specialist Visiting Scholar at Loyola University Chicago p: 217-300-4076 | f: 773-508-3646 | [email protected] Illinois Indiana Sea Grant | University of Illinois Extension
