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. The position is a one-year annually renewable grant-funded position, and part of an initiative to implement a five-year work plan on Sustainable and Resilient Communities, under the umbrella of the Sustainable and Resilient Communities work group of the EPA-funded Long Island Sound Study (LISS). We are seeking a professional with a background in resilience, coastal oceanography/engineering, planning, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), or natural/marine resources to engage with and provide education and outreach for local governments and Long Island Sound coastal communities to increase awareness of and local capacity to implement goals of the work plan. The position will be housed at Connecticut Sea Grant and collaborate closely with another Visiting Assistant Extension Educator based in western Connecticut and three other Extension professionals based in New York counties bordering Long Island Sound.

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 and serve eastern Connecticut.

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:

• Coordinate and collaborate with the other four Extension professionals in CT and NY to efficiently and effectively achieve the goals of the LISS Sustainable and Resilient Communities five-year work plan.
• Develop an understanding of the local landscape and establish relationships with local community members and stakeholders, including grassroots leaders, state/local officials, regional planning organizations, non-profits, and LISS staff, among others.
• Develop and provide educational resources and technical support to communities and professionals tasked with providing guidance and increasing capacity for municipalities to achieve sustainability and resilience goals under the LISS Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan (CCMP), and at times, customizing them as appropriate for the region.
• Provide technical assistance related to planning tools designed to enhance sustainability and resilience.
• Promote and encourage partnerships and collaborations both within and between the states of CT and NY in the Long Island Sound watershed.
• Assist communities with implementing/understanding existing sustainability and resilience programs such as the FEMA Community Rating System and hazard mitigation grants, CT’s GC3, Sustainable CT, and other programs that could benefit from broader implementation.
• Provide guidance and training to communities related to planning and permitting processes to achieve sustainability and resilience goals and also help them access funding/grants for implementation (e.g., required Hazard Mitigation Plans, Emergency Operations/Management Plans, and related coastal management plans as appropriate).
• Produce and circulate electronic newsletters regularly and assist with content creation/management for an online resource hub/interactive web-based tool.
• Provide support for regional networks of local governments working towards sustainability and resilience.
• Create a feedback loop with state and LISS stakeholders to provide information on what communities are doing to implement programs and identify gaps in understanding, resources, and tools that need to be addressed.
• Actively incorporate Environmental Justice and Equity best practices.
• Track and report progress against program goals.
• Work with researchers to translate their research results regarding climate change impacts into a format/tool usable by communities.
• Provide researchers with stakeholder needs regarding resilience for potential research projects.
• Collaborate with other faculty, staff, and partner organizations in a multidisciplinary team environment to create and deliver audience-appropriate program materials. Set up program sites and meeting rooms for the presentation of programs; this could include transporting, lifting, and moving boxes of educational and/or program materials as well as tables, chairs, etc. as needed.
• Regularly visit program site locations throughout the state with a focus on coastal communities and out-of-state as periodically needed.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

• Earned Master’s degree or equivalent in environmental/marine policy, coastal management, resilience, coastal oceanography/engineering, planning, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), natural/marine resources, or another relevant field.
• Minimum two years of experience working with/for local governments, non-profits/NGOs, or other professional or community organizations in the field of sustainability/resilience, planning, environmental justice, and/or adult education.
• Demonstrated superior communication (both public speaking and writing) and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as a member of a team, including interdisciplinary teams, as well as independently.
• 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 

• Five or more years of experience working with municipalities/local community organizations/nonprofits, including those with environmental justice concerns.
• Documentation of grant writing and grant management experience.
• Demonstrated familiarity with Cooperative Extension/Sea Grant Extension non-advocacy, research-based, educational programming.
• Working knowledge of Google Docs, OneNote, WordPress, Constant Contact, or similar platforms.
• Relevant professional certification.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively engage/connect with multicultural audiences and communities with environmental justice concerns.

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 may regularly visit program site locations throughout the state and out-of-state as periodically 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/24455 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.