Job Summary:
The Climate Outreach Specialist will serve as a bridge between the State Climatology Office (SCO) and its stakeholders across Wisconsin by engaging in outreach that disseminates climate information, facilitates educational opportunities, and fosters collaborative relationships. This is one of a pair of Climate Outreach Specialist positions the SCO is currently seeking to fill, one of which will be housed within UW-Madison's Division of Extension and the other within the Nelson Institute Center for Climatic Research.
This SCO Climate Outreach Specialist housed within UW-Madison's Division of Extension will design, promote, administer, and support outreach activities, community engagement, and educational programming. This statewide role will assist SCO stakeholders in understanding and adapting to weather and climate challenges in Wisconsin. The primary focus will be working with Extension specialists to integrate climate-related content and offerings across the Division.
Programming will develop Extension's capacity to integrate climate-informed content into existing and future programming. The scope includes providing content expertise, developing and delivering outreach content, building relationships, securing program resources, and assisting in research and communications.
Expected job duties include the following:
-Provide expertise and support to Extension educators and outreach specialists to integrate climate-related content into current and future outreach programs that reach diverse audiences, including UW-Madison students and staff, K-12 students, life-long learners, local governments, and rural and Tribal communities.
-Lead outreach program curriculum development and evaluation efforts, including needs identification and content creation, covering Wisconsin's weather and climate, including climate change and its impacts that can be integrated into outreach programs by Extension specialists and partners.
-Coordinate workshops (in person and virtual) to translate and disseminate climate knowledge and foster community engagement to meet the needs of SCO stakeholders.
-Secure program resources, including identification of any future funding needs or grant opportunities.
-Contribute to the research component of the SCO by identifying relevant topics based on stakeholder engagement and translating research findings to a wide range of audiences.
-Engage with media (traditional and social) to convey climate-related information.
-Interact with close SCO partners at the state, regional and national levels.
Funding for this position is projected to cover an initial employment period of 34 months, with the possibility to be extended contingent upon available funding.
The Division of Extension has a deep and profound commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity, believing that these values are foundational elements to eliminate disparities and expanding access for all. As Extension, we acknowledge the need for strategic and coordinated actions that help us form a more equitable, anti-racist, non-biased, and inclusive organization. (https://blogs.extension.wisc.edu/oaic/call-to-action/) As such, all Extension employees are expected to foster and promote the values of diversity and inclusion.
Responsibilities:
Delivers and assists with planning outreach program activities, strengthens partnerships, ensures adherence to policy, and assists with program administration to promote stable and productive relationships between the university and local community. Strives to expand and ensure access to programs, facilities, and educational services to diverse audiences. May assist with tracking and managing the outreach program budget.
- 20% Identifies, promotes, and maintains external partnerships to support the outreach program
- 20% Schedules and secures resources and communicates logistics in support of an outreach program
- 20% Delivers outreach program content and materials to community members
- 20% Researches, develops, and facilitates outreach program content and materials
- 10% Develops and evaluates curriculum and programs and provides recommendations for improvement
- 10% Assists in communications activities, including the SCO's media presence (social and traditional)
Institutional Statement on Diversity:
Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.
For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion
Education:
Required
Bachelor's Degree or an advanced degree in a field that relates to the responsibilities of this position, including (but not limited to) meteorology, climatology, science education, or communications
Preferred
Master's Degree in a field relevant to the responsibilities of the position
Qualifications:
Required:
-Work experience relevant to the programmatic responsibilities of the position, including excellent communication skills
-Demonstrated skill in interpreting, utilizing, and applying evidence-based information and research findings
-Experience working with people from different cultural backgrounds, including those associated with race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, socioeconomic status, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, and other aspects of human diversity
Preferred:
-Experience planning, implementing, and/or evaluating community-based, non-formal, innovative outreach programs related to climate or environmental resources
-At least 2 years of experience developing, delivering, and evaluating outreach programs for diverse audiences, preferably in a climate or environmental resources context
-Experience in facilitation to assist other agencies, community-based services, or organizations
Work Type:
Full Time: 100%
This position may require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location.
Appointment Type, Duration:
Ongoing/Renewable
Salary:
Minimum $60,000 ANNUAL (12 months)
Depending on Qualifications
Employees in this position can expect to receive a generous benefit package, including paid time off, competitive insurances and savings accounts, and retirement benefits. Benefits information can be found at (https://hr.wisc.edu/benefits/).
Additional Information:
Must be able to work evenings or weekends as needed to meet programming needs.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison has a remote work policy that offers the potential for remote or hybrid work. More about that policy within the Division of Extension can be found here: https://kb.wisc.edu/extension/113536.
Must be able to make arrangements for transportation adequate to meet position responsibilities and essential job functions, including travel within Wisconsin's 72 counties. It is expected that employees will make individual arrangements for transportation adequate to meet position responsibilities and essential job functions. Information about UW-Madison Driver Authorization can be found at https://businessservices.wisc.edu/managing-risk/driver-authorization-and-insurance/driver-authorization/.
Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.
How to Apply:
We are eager to learn more about how your experience and passion may align with this position. To begin the application process, click the "apply now" button. You will be prompted to upload the following documents:
-Resume
-Letter of Qualifications (cover letter)
Please submit a cover letter referring to your related work experience and a resume detailing your educational and professional background. Your cover letter should communicate your interest in the position and how your skillset aligns with the role. The application reviewers will be relying on written application materials to determine who may advance to preliminary interviews.
This is one of a pair of Climate Outreach Specialist positions the State Climatology Office is seeking to fill. If you are interested in applying for the other, please search for PVL 307662 on the UW Jobs Board under the Nelson Institute Center for Climatic Research.
Contact:
Steve Vavrus
sjvavrus@wisc.edu
608-265-5279
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.
Official Title:
Outreach Specialist(OE009)
Department(s):
A47-EXTENSION/ANRCD/NR/NATURAL RES INST
Employment Class:
Academic Staff-Renewable
Job Number:
307674-AS
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence through diversity and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings,
click hereIf you need to request an accommodation because of a disability, you can find information about how to make a request at the following website:
https://employeedisabilities.wisc.edu/disability-accommodation-information-for-applicants/Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require you and your references to answer questions regarding sexual violence and sexual harassment.
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).
The
Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the
University of Wisconsin Police Department.