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CIRES/ North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center Communications Specialist (PRA)

Employer
University of Colorado Boulder
Location
Colorado, United States
Salary
Salary Not Specified
Date posted
Jun 28, 2021


Job Summary

The North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center (NC CASC) invites applications for a part-time Communication Specialist. This position will work closely with the NC CASC team to develop communication products that tell engaging stories about the science, education, and outreach activities we do to help natural and cultural resource managers adapt to a changing world. The Communication Specialist will be located with the NC CASC, on the University of Colorado Boulder’s east campus.

Key efforts of the Communication Specialist will be to (1) translate the science, education, and outreach activities of the NC CASC into engaging communication products for a diversity of audiences and outlets (e.g., web stories, social media); (2) provide project-specific science communication support (e.g., project summaries, workshop support); and (3) support the science communication activities of the national-CASC network.

This is a part-time, 24 hours per week (60%), 2-year position. This position offers full benefits.

The University of Colorado Boulder is committed to building a culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to contributing to an inclusive campus environment. We are an Equal Opportunity employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

The NC CASC is one of nine regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers built to help meet the changing needs of natural and cultural resource managers across the United States. The CASC-network fosters innovative and applied research in support of Tribal, federal, state, and local natural resource management and decision-making.

The NC CASC is hosted by the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) within the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES). It is a partnership between CU Boulder, the U.S. Geological Survey, and five consortium partners: University of Montana; South Dakota State University; Conservation Science Partners; Wildlife Conservation Society; and Great Plains Tribal Water Alliance. The Center serves primarily Department of Interior agencies, state fish and wildlife agencies, and Tribal partners across a 7-state region (https://nccasc.colorado.edu/partners/national-network), including Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, and Nebraska. We are committed to open science, making data, code, and tools open and reproducible, to better enable a broad community of participants in the scientific process.

The primary communication audiences of the NC CASC are U.S. Department of Interior, state, and Tribal Nation resource managers, federal and state legislators and policymakers, U.S. Geological Survey and Department of Interior leadership, CIRES/CU Boulder community and leadership, researchers, and the general public. Our current communications platforms include NC CASC website; social media (e.g., Twitter, Facebook) to connect with a broad public audience and promote NC CASC work; submission of weekly highlights to the National CASC; bi-monthly newsletter that includes a summary of accomplishments, current science activities and upcoming events; and webinars to inform and engage remote participation of partners.

CIRES is a leading institute at CU Boulder ( https://cires.colorado.edu/about ). At CIRES, more than 800 environmental scientists work to understand the dynamic Earth system, including people’s relationship with the planet. CIRES is a partnership of NOAA and CU Boulder, and its areas of expertise include weather and climate, changes at the Earth’s poles, air quality and atmospheric chemistry, water resources, and solid Earth sciences. CIRES’ vision is to be instrumental in ensuring a sustainable future environment by advancing scientific and societal understanding of the Earth system.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

  • Work with NC CASC scientists/partners to build and write key content to promote and disseminate information about NC CASC science, data, and tools, and highlight major accomplishments.
  • Translate climate information, scientific findings, and results to inform and facilitate its use among our partners to develop short synthesis documents and press releases, when appropriate.
  • Identify and communicate resource management or climate policy-relevant success stories from the NC CASC across the CASC-network and the general public.
  • Emphasize the relevance and impact of NC CASC activities in communication efforts that target our key audiences: U.S. Department of Interior, state, and Tribal Nation resource managers.
  • Work with the NC CASC team to develop content for current communications platforms, including the NC CASC website, social media, and webinars.
  • Help to further refine and advance the NC CASC communications strategy.
  • Engage and collaborate with communication specialists within the broader CASC-network.


What You Should Know

  • This is a part-time, 24 hours per week (60%), 24-month position. This position offers full benefits.
  • For questions about the position, please contact Jane Wolken, Program Manager (jane.wolken@colorado.edu)
  • For general information on applying, please contact Dawn Umpleby, Executive Assistant (dawn.umpleby@colorado.edu).


What We Can Offer

  • CIRES can offer a generous compensation package. Salary is commensurate with education and experience and determined based on our CIRES internal career track classification.
  • The full-time equivalent annual hiring salary range for this position is $60,000 - $75,000. This is a part-time, 60% appointment and salary will be prorated accordingly.


Benefits

The University of Colorado offers excellent benefits , including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO Pass. The University of Colorado Boulder is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and offers an inspiring higher education environment. Learn more about the University of Colorado Boulder .

Be Statements
Be Brilliant. Be Professional. Be Boulder.

What We Require

  • A Master's degree within a related field, such as ecosystem science, climatology, geography, ecology, environmental studies, forestry, or other. Individuals with a Bachelor’s degree with demonstrated significant experience will also be considered.
  • Demonstrated ability to synthesize large bodies of literature and prepare written summaries.
  • Experience, or strong interest, in working with interdisciplinary and diverse teams.
  • Experience, or strong interest, in working and communicating with non-academic audiences and engaging with partner communities, including Tribal Nations.


What You Will Need

  • Proficiency in document applications, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint (or equivalents).
  • Proficiency in shared document tools (e.g., Google docs/sheets).
  • Experience, or strong interest, in graphic design and/or creating compelling spatial data visualizations (e.g., Adobe Illustrator, ArcGIS StoryMaps, Leaflet, Plotly).


What We Would Like You To Have

  • Proficiency in document design software (e.g., Adobe InDesign or other design software).
  • Experience with web development and/or social media marketing and outreach.
  • Experience using online meeting platforms (e.g., Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams).


Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:
  1. Resume or CV
  2. Cover letter addressed to the Search Committee briefly describing your qualifications, professional goals, and specific interest in this position (maximum 2 pages).
  3. List of contact information for three references who will be willing to write a confidential Letter of Recommendation for you. You don’t need to include letters of recommendation with your initial application. The search committee will request letters of recommendation at a later time if you are identified as a finalist for this role.
  4. Two examples of communication products you have created (e.g., publications, blog stories, websites, research summaries, translated data graphic). Please note that if you are selected for an interview, you may be required to submit an additional work sample, TBD.

If you are selected as the finalist, your degree will be verified by the CU Boulder Campus Human Resources department using an approved online vendor. If your degree was obtained outside of the United States, please submit a translated version as an optional attachment.

Review of applications will start on July 12th. Position will remain posted until filled.

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs .

Posting Contact Information

Posting Contact Name: Jane Wolken

Posting Contact Email: jane.wolken@colorado.edu


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