CIRES/ Wester Water Assessment: Colorado/ Wyoming Research Integration Specialist

CIRES/ Wester Water Assessment: Colorado/ Wyoming Research Integration Specialist
Requisition Number:
31839
Location:
Boulder, Colorado
Employment Type:
Research Faculty
Schedule:
Full-Time
Posting Close Date:
20-Aug-2021
Date Posted:
15-Jul-2021
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Job Summary
Western Water Assessment (WWA (http://wwa.colorado.edu) ) is encouraging applications for a full-time Associate Scientist to serve as the Colorado/Wyoming Research Integration Specialist, with a focus on integrating social science expertise throughout the program's activities. The position will be located within the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Science (CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) campus.
Western Water Assessment, a NOAA Regional Integrated Science and Assessments (RISA) program, conducts innovative research in partnership with decision-makers in the Rocky Mountain West, helping them make the best use of science to manage for climate impacts. WWA works extensively with researchers and partners in the fields of water management, natural hazards management, and municipal planning, among others. The WWA team includes the program Director, Managing Director, Utah Research Integration Specialist, and additional research and associate scientists. The team also includes a broader set of program Principal Investigators and other research partners who bring research expertise across a range of topics including social science, climate change, hydrology, and climate assessment at the University of Colorado and beyond.
The University of Colorado Boulder is committed to building a culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to contributing to an inclusive campus environment. We are an Equal Opportunity employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Who We Are
At CIRES, the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, more than 800 environmental scientists work to understand the dynamic Earth system, including people's relationship with the planet. CIRES is a partnership of NOAA and the University of Colorado Boulder, and our areas of expertise include weather and climate, changes at the Earth's poles, air quality and atmospheric chemistry, water resources, and solid Earth sciences. Our vision is to be instrumental in ensuring a sustainable future environment by advancing scientific and societal understanding of the Earth system.
https://cires.colorado.edu/
Western Water Assessment website:
http://wwa.colorado.edu
What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be
The qualified candidate will expand the WWA team's social science expertise while connecting with and helping to meet the climate adaptation and resilience-building needs of partners in Colorado and Wyoming. Overarching responsibilities for this position will include:
- Integrating social science expertise throughout WWA program activities, including finding opportunities to use existing activities in the service of larger social science research objectives;
- Developing and conducting research projects that explore social science dimensions of climate adaptation and resilience, including measuring and tracking resilience of communities and water systems
- Engaging in projects that support increasing resilience in Colorado and Wyoming, with a particular focus on engaging with frontline communities (e.g., Latinx, Indigenous, and small rural communities) and smaller water systems; and
- Engaging directly with stakeholders to identify and help to meet their information needs in collaboration with WWA colleagues and other regional specialists, including delivering presentations about climate impacts and adaptation.
Specific projects will include working directly with regional water providers to explore their perceptions of system resilience; convening cross-scale conversations with water and land managers to support peer learning, and assessing current and future research needs among frontline communities in Wyoming. The Colorado/Wyoming Research Integration Specialist will also participate in future program evaluation activities in collaboration with a professional evaluation team, including tracking "resilience metrics" across projects. As a member of a RISA program, the Research Integration Specialist will also engage with social scientists and other researchers from RISA programs across the country.
What You Should Know
- This position will be filled as a Professional Research Assistant through CIRES at CU Boulder. The position will be eligible for CU Boulder's generous employee benefits.
- Contact Benét Duncan (benet.duncan@colorado.edu) or Lisa Dilling (lisa.dilling@colorado.edu) with any questions about this position.
What We Can Offer
- CIRES can offer a generous compensation package. Salary is commensurate with education and experience and determined based on our CIRES internal career track classification.
- The annual hiring salary range for this position is $65,000 - $78,000.
- Relocation funds are available for this position following CIRES and the University of Colorado's relocation processes and procedures.
Benefits
The University of Colorado offers excellent benefits (https://www.colorado.edu/jobs/benefits) , including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO Pass. The University of Colorado Boulder is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and offers an inspiring higher education environment. Learn more about the University of Colorado Boulder (https://www.colorado.edu/about) .
Be Statements
Be Ambitious. Be Innovative. Be Boulder.
What We Require
- A graduate degree in geography, environmental studies, sociology, economics, or another interdisciplinary social science field (MS degree is required at a minimum, Ph.D. is preferred).
- Experience conducting and publishing social science research, and an understanding of the social science landscape of climate adaptation and resilience.
What You Will Need
- Basic knowledge of climate change science and impacts.
- Interest or experience in partner driven, usable science projects and outcomes.
- Strong oral and written communication skills with technical and non-technical groups, including public presentations in group settings.
- An enterprising approach that includes cultivating relationships with new partners and finding opportunities for projects and research activities
- Dedication to advancing the principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
What We Would Like You To Have
Please note that while the position details both required skills as well as desired skills and experience, we want applicants to be aware that they do not need to have all of the desired skills and experience to be considered for this position. If you meet the minimum qualifications, have passion for the work, along with experience in a related field, you are encouraged to apply. We encourage on-the-job training for any additional skills or knowledge that become relevant to the position.
- Experience coordinating and conducting interdisciplinary projects.
- Experience collaborating directly with partners in research or other activities.
- Experience working with small, rural communities or with Indigenous, Latino, or other frontline communities.
- Understanding of climate change drivers and impacts in Colorado and Wyoming, particularly as they pertain to community and water management decision making.
- Experience working at the interface between research and decision-making.
Special Instructions
To apply, please submit the following materials:
- Resume or CV
- Cover letter addressed to the Search Committee. Cover letters should speak to the applicant's experience with interdisciplinarity, stakeholder engagement, and working with underserved communities. In the cover letter, please also speak to how you would build on your experience and leverage the Colorado/Wyoming Research Integration Specialist position to advance the principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
- List of contact information for 3 references who will be willing to write a confidential Letter of Recommendation for you. You don't need to include letters of recommendation with your initial application. The search committee will request letters of recommendation at a later time If you are identified as a finalist for this role.
If you are selected as the finalist, your degree will be verified by the CU Boulder Campus Human Resources department using an approved online vendor. If your degree was obtained outside of the United States, please submit a certified translation of your degree as an optional attachment.
The position will be open until 8/20/21. Applications will be screened as they are received.
Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs (https://www.colorado.edu/jobs/) .
Posting Contact Information
Posting Contact Name: Benet Duncan
Posting Contact Email: benet.duncan@colorado.edu
The University of Colorado does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, pregnancy, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, political affiliation, or political philosophy. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.