The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is a pioneer of purpose-driven science and home to Cornell University’s second largest population of students, faculty and staff. We work across disciplines to tackle the challenges of our time through world-renowned research, education and outreach. The questions we probe and the answers we seek focus on three overlapping concerns: natural and human systems; food, energy and environmental resources; and social, physical and economic well-being.  CALS is fundamentally invested in improving the lives of people, their environments and their communities both in New York state and around the world.

This specialist will be a statewide leader in designing, developing, and implementing innovative applied research and outreach programs to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and adapt to climate change on farms, forests, and private lands. These programs will focus on New York State but are applicable to other regions and will be designed to improve the economic and environmental sustainability of working lands (farms and forests) under ongoing climatic change. This specialist will take a leadership role in collaborating with personnel from state agencies such as the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSAGM), the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and NYS Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) to improve GHG mitigation and climate change adaptation within ongoing State outreach and implementation programs. As part of these programs, the specialist will synthesize research findings to improve policy and management practices for GHG mitigation in the context of other environmental services and new opportunities to develop the bio-economy.

This specialist will also be a statewide leader in designing, developing and implementing applied research and outreach programs with and for stakeholders including farmers and landowners, non-profit organizations, Cornell Cooperative Extension agents, Soil and Water Conservation District personnel, NYSAGM outreach and programing, Natural Resource Conservation Service and others. These programs will “connect the dots” between ongoing developments in climate change science, policy, and land management practices. The individual will design, develop, and provide innovative educational programs to effect real, permanent, and verifiable greenhouse mitigation for NYS and the global community to limit the damage from climate change and to help meet local, State, national, and international GHG mitigation goals.

Responsibilities include a combination of research and education outreach. Applied research will include implementing international protocols for quantitatively and qualitatively assessing GHG emission sources and sinks, prioritizing mitigation strategies, and building out best management practices for state mitigation agendas. Outreach includes developing educational materials to assist educators and landowners to integrate climate change into their best management practices for working lands, leading training programs for stakeholders and assisting state policy makers to ensure that policies promote GHG mitigation along with water quality, air quality, soil health, social justice, rural economic development and farm viability. This individual will work with farmers to understand and address the costs and benefits for adopting certain practices, identifying success stories and implementation issues to iterate next generation policies with NYS policy makers such as NYSAGM and their Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) framework. Outreach programs will be designed to assist technical service providers and farm managers in their efforts to formalize GHG mitigation activities much like previous soil/water/air mandates, including decision tree matrices, educational materials, training activities, and outreach events to facilitate statewide adoption of GHG mitigation practices. Outreach and applied research activities will involve collaboration with College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) faculty along with faculty in other schools and colleges at Cornell University. The specialist is expected to actively engage in seeking out sponsored and college funding opportunities, through grants and gifts, to contribute to his/her support annually.

Specific Job Functions and Responsibilities

Applied Research 40%

• Initiate and conduct in-depth applied research projects appropriate to the needs of working land implementation of GHG mitigation in New York State.
• Identify, analyze, and prioritize quantifiable greenhouse mitigation from land-based systems.
• Participate in statewide, collaborative research projects with university and extension faculty and staff as well as other agencies and organizations.
• Engage with State agencies and Cornell faculty on emerging trends, needs, and opportunities related to program development and implementation.
• Meet the evaluation and reporting requirements of funding partners.

Program Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation 40%

• Provide leadership for planning, implementing and evaluating innovative educational programs that address mitigation of GHG emissions and adaptation to climate change on farms, forests, and private lands.
• Provide leadership to design, develop, and provide innovative educational programs to effect real, permanent, and verifiable greenhouse mitigation for NYS and the global community to limit the damage from climate change and to help meet local, State, national, and international GHG mitigation goals.
• Provide leadership and collaborate with personnel from state agencies to improve GHG mitigation and climate change adaptation within ongoing State outreach and implementation programs.
• Plan, implement and lead educational programs utilizing a variety of methods including direct teaching through group experiences, mass media, newsletters, electronic technology, use of the internet and distance learning.
• Develop educational materials to assist technical service providers and landowners to mitigate GHG emissions across different land uses.
• Analyze and evaluate major program efforts with the input of all program partners and make recommendations for enhancing these efforts.
• Communicate evaluation results, findings, and recommendations as appropriate.
• Prepare reports, impact statements, and yearly success stories on program progress and accomplishments.

• Provide leadership for developing, implementing and evaluating an effective educational program.
• Communicate and interact with faculty, staff, and stakeholders on emerging issues, opportunities, and program outcomes.
• Plan and direct the area program effort, ensure annual implementation plans reflect program goals and reach appropriate audiences.
• Individually and collaboratively explore and pursue new and additional funding sources to enhance and extend program opportunities; actively engage in seeking out sponsored and college funding opportunities, through grants and gifts, to contribute to his/her support annually.

Organizational Leadership 5%

• Support Cornell University and Cooperative Extension system-wide initiatives through participation in program work teams, ad-hoc committees and advisory groups.
• Participate in regional, statewide and national work groups related to the work of Cornell University, Cooperative Extension and the New York State Agricultural Industry.
• Foster collaboration among faculty, peers, and industry.
• Establish and maintain positive relationships with the many individuals and groups that support the work of the organization.

Professional Development 5%

• Participate in professional development opportunities, conferences and workshops appropriate to program and personal skill enhancement.
• Participate in related regional, statewide, and national professional organizations.
  

Requirements

•  Masters in Environmental Science, Resource Management, Climate Science or a related area.
• 10+ years of relevant work experience in working lands GHG accounting, climate change mitigation opportunities, or closely related fields.
• Experience in conducting, interpreting, evaluating and communicating the results of applied research related to agriculture and greenhouse gases.
• Knowledge of the philosophy, objectives and operation of an informal education system such as Cornell Cooperative Extension.
• Demonstrated interest and experience in working with farms, private landowners, general public, and State agency personnel.
• Ability to develop public education efforts that describe GHG mitigation opportunities for landowners to adapt to and assist the state in meeting its legislative mandates including the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
• Strong group and educational facilitation skills.
• Skilled at establishing and maintaining professional work relationships and networks.
• Ability to work with College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) faculty along with faculty in other schools and colleges at Cornell University to develop applied research projects necessary to support a strong Extension program.
• Ability to build effective relationships and communication with NYS and other state agencies, other educational institutions, producers/growers, consultants and other industry or non-profit representatives.
• Ability to work across sectors related to working lands, including crops, livestock, forestry and renewable energy projects.
• Experience in budget development and management.
• Experience in project management.
• Experience with website management.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as essential job functions require.
• Experience in writing grant proposals.
• Must be able to meet the travel requirements of the position, including having reliable transportation or having and maintaining a valid New York State driver’s license.

Desired

• Peer-reviewed articles in renewable energy, GHG accounting, GHG mitigation, life cycle analysis, or similar land-based activities as they relate to climate change mitigation.
• Proven experience in project management for educational initiatives reaching broad and diverse communities.
• Teaching experience at the college or graduate level.
• Supervisor experience.
• Ability to teach climate science basics to various constituencies, including landowners, college students and policy makers for greater cultural appreciation for successful implementation of the CLCPA goals more generally for NYS and the world at large.

This is a 1 year appointment with the possibility of renewal dependent on available work, continued funding and successful performance.  

Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.

The anticipated start date for the appointment is November 22, 2021.