INTRODUCTION

Connecticut Sea Grant, and the Department of Extension, College of Agriculture Health and Natural Resources, University of Connecticut, invite applications for an Assistant Extension Educator – Visiting, to serve as the Long Island Sound Study (LISS) Outreach Coordinator in Connecticut. This grant-funded position is annually renewable that will be housed at Connecticut Sea Grant, with a joint academic appointment in the Department of Extension.

The Visiting Assistant Extension Educator and member of the CT Sea Grant College Program will report to the Director/Associate Director of CT Sea Grant and to the Head of the Department of Extension, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The position will be located at the UConn Avery Point campus.

Successful candidates will also be expected to broaden participation among members of under-represented groups; demonstrate through public engagement the commitment to, and support of, diversity in the learning experience; integrate multicultural experiences in extension programs; and provide leadership in developing techniques designed to meet the needs of diverse learning styles and intellectual interest. 

Founded in 1881, UConn is a Land Grant and Sea Grant institution and member of the Space Grant Consortium. It is the state’s flagship institution of higher education and includes a main campus in Storrs, CT, four regional campuses throughout the state, and 13 Schools and Colleges, including a Law School in Hartford, and Medical and Dental Schools at the UConn Health campus in Farmington. The University has approximately 10,000 faculty and staff and 32,000 students, including nearly 24,000 undergraduates and over 8,000 graduate and professional students. UConn is a Carnegie Foundation R1 (highest research activity) institution, among the top 25 public universities in the nation. Through research, teaching, service, and outreach, UConn embraces diversity and cultivates leadership, integrity, and engaged citizenship in its students, faculty, staff, and alumni. UConn promotes the health and well-being of citizens by enhancing the social, economic, cultural, and natural environments of the state and beyond. The University serves as a beacon of academic and research excellence as well as a center for innovation and social service to communities. UConn is a leader in many scholarly, research, and innovation areas. Today, the path forward includes exciting opportunities and notable challenges. Record numbers of undergraduate applications and support for student success have enabled the University to become extraordinarily selective.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

The successful candidate will lead the outreach program of the Long Island Sound Study (LISS) in Connecticut. Specifically, the successful candidate will:

• Work to increase appreciation, stewardship, awareness, and understanding of Long Island Sound and efforts to restore and protect it. Special emphasis is on educational programs for diverse communities and stakeholders that lead to the protection and restoration of Long Island Sound’s natural resources.
• Work with teams of people to enhance public relations and develop innovative programs and materials to enhance environmental/ocean literacy.
• Enhance the stewardship of Long Island Sound, using the Long Island Sound Study Stewardship Sites to share an appreciation for the impacts of investments on the restoration of Long Island Sound.
• Co-lead the Public Perception Survey project, including coordinating meetings with the steering committee and contractors to develop the survey questions.
• Assist the Long Island Sound Study in meeting National Estuary Program requirements, particularly related to public involvement, education, and outreach and regularly reporting relevant outputs, outcomes, and impacts.
• Work under general supervision from Connecticut Sea Grant leadership and receive program guidance from other agencies involved with the Long Island Sound Study including the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
• Serve as a co-chair of the LISS Communications, Outreach and Engagement Work Group; contribute to the implementation of outreach components of the Five-Year Strategic Communications, Outreach, and Engagement Plan for the Long Island Sound Study.
• Provide support to the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) of the Long Island Sound Study.
• Coordinate and collaborate with Long Island Sound Study Outreach Coordinators in New York State and New York City, the other Long Island Sound Study Work Groups, the CT NERR, and other CT Sea Grant staff to advance the goals of the CCMP and incorporate relevant research and educational resources into the Long Island Sound Study.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

• Master’s degree from an accredited university in any of the following fields: marine science, environmental science, environmental education, or natural resources management.
• Two or more years of experience working as an outreach or public education professional, connecting people to actions and assessing outcomes.
• Demonstrated superior communication (both public speaking and writing) and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate scientific research to lay audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as a member of a team.
• A valid driver’s license/the means to travel to communities; some out-of-state travel may be necessary.
• Willingness and ability to work a flexible schedule, including some evenings/weekends, as required to reach target audiences.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Demonstrated experience working in a team setting with multiple partner organizations on mutually agreed upon goals and tasks.
• Documented experience in implementing and evaluating programs that change human behavior, specifically using social marketing techniques.
• Ability to engage/connect with multi-cultural audiences and communities with environmental justice concerns.
• Demonstrated familiarity with Cooperative Extension/Sea Grant Extension non-advocacy, research-based, educational programming.

APPOINTMENT TERMS 

This full-time, (11-month appointment) end-dated, grant-funded position subject to annual renewal, contingent on satisfactory performance and availability of funds. The initial appointment is anticipated to begin on March 24, 2023. The successful candidate will be located at the UConn Avery Point campus and requires some out-of-state travel as needed. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check.

 TO APPLY 

Please apply online to Academic Jobs Online https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/24452 and submit the following application materials:

• A cover letter, highlighting your qualifications and interests and addressing your commitment to diversity including broadening participation and integrating multicultural experiences in extension to meet the needs of diverse communities
• Curriculum vitae
• Name and contact information for three references

Screening of applicants will commence immediately and continue until the position is filled. More information regarding the Connecticut Sea Grant and the Department of Extension can be found at https://seagrant.uconn.edu/ and https://cahnr.uconn.edu/extension/, respectively. More information regarding the Long Island Sound Study can be found at https://longislandsoundstudy.net/. 

At the University of Connecticut, our commitment to excellence is complemented by our commitment to building a culturally diverse community.

This position will be filled subject the budgetary approval.

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp.

The University of Connecticut is committed to building and supporting a multicultural and diverse community of students, faculty and staff. The diversity of students, faculty and staff continues to increase, as does the number of honors students, valedictorians and salutatorians who consistently make UConn their top choice. More than 100 research centers and institutes serve the University’s teaching, research, diversity, and outreach missions, leading to UConn’s ranking as one of the nation’s top research universities. UConn’s faculty and staff are the critical link to fostering and expanding our vibrant, multicultural and diverse University community. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer, UConn encourages applications from women, veterans, people with disabilities and members of traditionally underrepresented populations.