Merakey Jobs

This job was posted by https://illinoisjoblink.illinois.gov : For more information, please see: https://illinoisjoblink.illinois.gov/jobs/12539314 *Extension Specialist, Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy (Climate Resilience)*

*University of Illinois Extension*

WE TRANSFORM LIVES.

Everything we do is designed to improve the quality of life of the people in the state of Illinois, across the nation, and around the world. We discover, develop, translate, and disseminate knowledge to address societal concerns and train the next generation of experts and leaders in a way that empowers them to expand the boundaries of science to higher levels of understanding and influence.

Be a part of our story. Through learning partnerships that extend knowledge and change lives, University of Illinois Extension provides educational programs aimed at making life better, healthier, safer, and more profitable for individuals and their communities. Illinois Extension has operated continuously for more than 100 years connecting the citizens of Illinois to their land-grant university by providing educational programming around the state. University of Illinois Extension is based in the College of ACES and works with all colleges and units of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The Climate Resilience Specialist, Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy (NREE) serves as a regular, full-time, 12-month academic professional with primary responsibility for serving as a subject matter expert in weather and climate outreach issues largely focused on enhancing community and ecosystem resilience in a changing climate. This includes leading the development and use of relevant outreach programs and materials as well as disseminating information gained from university faculty, research, and general learning to Extension Educators and others throughout University of Illinois Extension and beyond. This is a statewide position providing programmatic leadership to bolster climate resilience through education and outreach programs within the NREE program area of University of Illinois Extension.

One full-time position is available.

Location: Urbana-Champaign Campus or negotiable Extension Unit location.

In state hybrid remote work arrangements are available.

(There is flexibility for this position to be housed in an office in one of the 27 Extension Units throughout Illinois instead of on campus in Urbana, IL. See Extension website here for details on office locations.)

This is a security-sensitive position. Comprehensive background checks, including but not limited to a criminal conviction information check, a CANTS check, and a review of the Registered Sex Offender list, will be conducted.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Program/Instructional Development, Implementation and Evaluation

• Assess the needs of communities and stakeholders across Illinois in a systematic and analytical manner to ensure effective allocation of resources and implementation.
• Develop innovative programming and instructional materials that address relevant climate issues.
• Collaborate with Extension faculty to translate research into climate outreach programming.
• Provide opportunities to integrate campus-based research and teaching into Extension.
• Identify and communicate new practices in community-based programming and train statewide Extension staff and other stakeholders and partners, as appropriate.
• Initiate educational delivery systems, including digital educational instruction formats, within relevant subject area expertise.
• Evaluate the effectiveness and impact of educational programs.
• Improve program impact and share results across the 27 Extension units and other appropriate stakeholders in support of their reporting, program development and program marketing.

Organizatio al Leadership and Development

• Lead and implement key statewide climate outreach projects.
• Initiate and maintain relationships with key leaders and stakeholders across the state as well as other professionals working nationally in Extension climate programming.
• Allocate resources for key projects and oversee grant deliverables.
• Seek resources and funding to support climate programming.
• Provide training and technical assistance for statewide staff on programmatic needs and decisions.
• Participate on state and national task force and working groups.
• Contribute to the overall vision of NREE programming and climate applied research and outreach, as appropriate.

Research and Development

Collect data that contribute to the research-based evidence of climate outreach programs.

Write scientific and/or outreach publications that advance the field and represent the work of climate outreach.

Pursue professional development opportunities to enhance competency in climate outreach programming.

Conduct literature reviews to stay abreast of the latest research related to current and emerging