Climate Services Expert

The Institute on the Environment (IonE), Knowledge Initiatives (KI) team, at the University of Minnesota, seeks a Climate Services Expert to advance our science translation and outreach strategies in collaborative interdisciplinary, team-based science, and partner- and community-engaged science projects aimed at supporting sustainability impacts. The Knowledge Initiatives (KI) team within IonE leads the portfolio of interdisciplinary sustainability research and scholarly activity within IonE.

The Climate Services Expert would advance our decision support science research portfolio, an area of work that focuses on the processes and tools that enable evidence-based decision-making in public and private sectors. This position will be critical to the translation of forecast and projection data products for a range of national to regional audiences, thereby increasing the research-to-impact pathways for climate, weather, and environmental data.

This position is to support ~100 hours in academic year 2025-2026 for externally funded projects led by Dr. Melissa Kenney (http://environment.umn.edu/staff/melissa-kenney/), including:

• a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) project titled, "The Dashboard for Agricultural Water Use and Nutrient Management". The goal is to develop a decision support system that helps to increase land, nutrient, and water use efficiency in order to maximize crop production in corn, soy, and bioenergy fields. A core aspect of the project is a robust portfolio of extension research and engagement (https://dawn-nifa.nrel.colostate.edu/)
• and as needed, connections in the Midwest region for grant writing and to advance the research-to-impact pathways for a portfolio of decision support projects funded by Federal agencies.

The work plan for the Climate Services Expert will be collaboratively developed with their supervisor to structure a strategy focused on translation, contextualization, and impact of the decision support tools that builds on the experts networks, climate service expertise, and impact pathways that will be influenced. Research outcomes are also co-produced with non-academic project partners to support the implementation of research findings into operations and environmental decision-making, which requires thoughtful partner engagement, regular briefings, and recommendation memos.

More Details & Working Conditions: Our offices are located in St. Paul, MN. This position is structured as P4 allowing employees to work remotely given the engagement priorities within the Midwest region and across the nation. The person must have high speed internet connection and an appropriate office space to allow for remote work. The person will be expected to engage via web-conferencing, attend important IonE events and meetings, and develop working relationships with project team members and key IonE staff.

The appointment is 100% funded externally by federal grants except for activities involving, as requested, grant writing.

How to apply: A complete application is required for consideration. The required application materials are listed below and need to be submitted as a single PDF and in the following order:

1. Cover Letter: Cover letter (2 pages max) that describes your qualifications and existing experience with climate services and establishing deep, trusting relationships with stakeholders in the Midwest region and U.S.
2. CV
3. Work Product Example: One example of a product, such as a website, report or paper, or event agenda or similar, relevant to this job position

Questions or barriers to submitting an application? Email ione@umn.edu. We recognize applying takes effort, and we look forward to reading and reviewing your materials.

• 80% climate services translation and outreach to advance research impact. Activities, which require regular team collaboration and expertise to work independently, include:
  • Develop a work plan of regional-scale or multi-stakeholder translation and contextualization activities - such as integration into existing webinars, newsletters or email updates, social media posts, group engagements, or trainings - related to forecast and projection data and decision support tools to identify barriers to use and develop translation and outreach strategies that will increase awareness, understanding, and potential uses of DAWN and other NOAA data and decision support products
  • Develop or collaborate on public engagement activities and documents to accelerate and increase the use of research findings in decisions and decision support products
  • Project goal setting, meeting planning, and managing-up of supervisor and project team members, including:
    • monthly report back on project progress, metrics, collaborate, and identify needs with other team members on Basecamp
    • organize, document, and share work in Basecamp, Google suite collaborative products, and fully adopt team file organization structure and work best practices
• 20% Other
  • Support the development of grant proposals and other research priorities not included above
  • Participation in specific IonE community activities, as requested
  • Other duties as assigned
    

• BA/BS + 10 yrs experience, or advanced degree + 8 yrs relevant experience
• Experience in climate service delivery
• Established network of public, NGO, and private sector partners in the Midwest and U.S.
• Both self-directed and team-oriented
• Excellent writing and communication skills to translate scientific material for non-technical audiences
• Expertly lead virtual meetings with 50+ participants; and proactively manage up and communicate project status and metrics supervisor and project team members
• Deep experience with Federal agencies, and particularly NOAA, and the facilitation research-to-impact pathways

The University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment (IonE) is a nationally recognized interdisciplinary institution that works to advance sustainability through collaborative research, leadership and education programming, and public-interest storytelling and communications.

Pay Rate: $50.00 per hour.

Retirement plan options are available for Civil Service, Faculty, Labor-Represented, Professional & Administrative, and Temp Casual classifications. Learn more about retirement plans.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).