University of Connecticut, UConn Extension

Position ID:UConn-Extension-495409 [#19070, 495409]
Position Title: Visiting Assistant Extension Educators - Sustainable and Resilient Communities Sea Grant
Position Type:Non tenure-track faculty
Position Location:Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States [map] sort by distance
Subject Area: Agriculture
Appl Deadline: finished (2021/07/30, finished 2022/03/19, listed until 2021/09/15)
Position Description:    

*** this position has been closed and new applications are no longer accepted. ***

INTRODUCTION

Connecticut Sea Grant, and the Department of Extension, College of Agriculture Health and Natural Resources, University of Connecticut, invite applications for two Assistant Extension Educators – Visiting. The positions are one -year annually renewable grant-funded positions The positions are 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 professionals with backgrounds in resilience, coastal oceanography/engineering, planning, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), or natural/marine resources who engage with and provide education and outreach for local governments and Long Island Sound coastal communities in order to increase awareness of and local capacity to implement goals of the work plan. The positions will be housed at Connecticut Sea Grant, and collaborate closely with three other Extension Specialists in the New York portion of Long Island Sound.

The Extension Educator and a member of the CT/NY Sea Grant College Program will report to the Director/Associate Director of CT/NY Sea Grant and to the Head of the Department of Extension, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. One position will be located at the UConn Avery Point campus and the other at the New Haven County Extension Center in North Haven.

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 candidates will:

  • Coordinate with the other Extension professionals in both CT and NY to efficiently and effectively achieve the goals of the position and the LISS.
  • Develop an understanding of the local landscape and establish relationships with the local community members and stakeholders, including grassroots leaders, state officials, regional planning organizations, non-profits, and LISS staff, among others.
  • Provide educational resources and technical support to 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 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, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) Climate Smart Communities, 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 help access funding/grants for implementation (e.g. required Hazard Mitigation Plans, Emergency Operations/Management Plans, related coastal management plans as appropriate).
  • Provide technical assistance for overlay zones and other land use mechanisms to address sea-level rise and other sustainability/resilience issues.
  • Inform and educate communities about the availability of best practices for obtaining grants assistance.
  • Produce and circulate electronic newsletters regularly.
  • 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.
  • Assist in tracking progress against program goals.
  • Work with researchers to translate their research results regarding climate change impacts into a format/tool useable by communities.
  • Provide researchers with stakeholder needs with regard to resilience for potential research projects.
  • Works with other faculty, staff, and partner organizations in a multidisciplinary team environment to create and deliver age-appropriate program materials. Sets up program sites and meeting rooms for the presentation of programs that involve transporting, lifting, and moving boxes of educational and/or program materials as well as tables, chairs, etc. as needed.
  • Regular visits to program site locations throughout the state with a focus on coastal communities requiring in and out-of-state travel.

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 in local governments, non-profits/NGOs, or other professional organizations and communities in the field of sustainability/resilience, planning, and/or adult education
  • Demonstrated superior communications (both public speaking and writing) and interpersonal skills
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently and in a team setting
  • A valid driver’s license and the ability to travel to communities; some out-of-state travel may be necessary
  • The ability to work a flexible schedule, including some evenings, is required to reach target audiences

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

  • Five or more years of experience working with municipalities/local communities
  • Experience in writing and managing grants;
  • Familiarity with Cooperative Extension/Sea Grant Extension non-advocacy, research-based, educational programming.
  • Knowledge of GIS
  • American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification

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 October 1, 2021.  The successful candidates will be located at either the UConn Avery Point campus or another location to be determined in the western portion of the state.  Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

TO APPLY 

Please apply online to Academic Jobs Online https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/19070 and submit the following application materials:

  • A cover letter highlighting your qualifications and interests,
  • Curriculum vitae,
  • Name and contact information for three letters of reference.

Screening of applicants will 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.

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

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

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.


Application Materials Required:
Submit the following items online at this website to complete your application:
And anything else requested in the position description.

Further Info:
http://www.extension.uconn.edu/
 
UConn Extension
University of Connecticut,
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
1376 Storrs Road, Unit 4036
Storrs, Connecticut 06269-4036