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Assistant Cooperative Extension Specialist- Water Justice Policy and Planning

Employer
University of California, Berkeley
Location
San Francisco, California, US
Salary
Competitive
Closing date
Dec 2, 2021

View more

Sector
Academic / Research
Field
Policy / Legal
Discipline
Environmental Justice
Salary Type
Salary
Employment Type
Full time
*Assistant Cooperative Extension Specialist- Water Justice Policy and Planning- Environmental Science , Policy, and Management*

As a part of the Rausser College of Natural Resources, The Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management (ESPM) at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB), in partnership with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), seeks an Assistant Cooperative Extension (CE) Specialist in Water Justice Planning and Policy. This position will provide statewide leadership in water justice policy and planning, with a focus on water quality, quantity, and access for disadvantaged communities. This position is a full-time career-track research and outreach position.

Ensuring that water allocation and management are guided by principles of social and environmental justice is a necessary but challenging goal, especially during times of water scarcity. In California, drought, degraded infrastructure and a dearth of technical and economic resources have stressed both water supply and drinking water quality in many communities. Contaminated ground and surface water sources from agricultural and industrial activities have contributed to often bleak health, social and economic outcomes in affected communities. Low-income communities and communities of color disproportionately bear the negative water-related environmental impacts, which are intensified by climate change.

This position will augment UC ANR's longstanding capacity in the technical aspects of water management by increasing research-based policy and planning capacity to address the water-related needs and challenges of vulnerable communities, thus advancing water justice in urban and rural California regions, in partnership with public agencies, community-based organizations and water justice coalitions.

Examples of high-priority issues for this position include:

* Understanding inequities in water access, water quality and water sovereignty in California communities
* Fostering community-based resilience to the water-related impacts of climate change
* Understanding environmental and human health effects of emerging contaminants from point and diffuse pollution in the aquatic environment
* Identifying wastewater challenges and solutions
* Identifying competing agricultural, environmental, and community demands for water supply and water quality
* Analyzing water governance across multiple scales
* Informing state-level water-related policy implementation

The Water Justice Policy and Planning CE Specialist will provide statewide leadership on water justice research, policy and planning, with the primary components of the position involving:
* *Extension*

* *Research*

* *Network External to UCANR*

* *Outreach*

*Extension* The CE Specialist's objective will be to create a collaborative, multidisciplinary research and extension program with UC Cooperative Extension Advisors and CE Specialists as well as community-based organizations, state and local government agencies, industry groups, professional resource managers, and policy makers. The CE Specialist will partner with key stakeholders to inform equity-centered water policy and planning work in CA communities, co-developing actionable information derived from a robust and collaborative research program. The appointee will work to engage communities in implementation of relevant California legislation and will work with communities both to build resilience and to advance adaptation-planning priorities.
Specific extension-related activities of the CE Specialist might include:

* Development of workshops

* Policy briefs

* Symposia

* Field days

* Webinars

* Preparation of technical documents

* Online methods to extend information

*Research*The CE Specialist will establish an active research program and submit original findings to be published in various journals, including (but not limited to): Water Policy, Water Resources Research, Society and Natural Resources, Environmental Science and Policy, Environmental Planning and Management, Environmental Policy and Planning, Rural Sociology, Environmental Health Perspectives, Environmental Health, Environmental Science and Technology, American Journal of Public Health, and California Agriculture. Other important outlets include proceedings of various conferences, professional publications such as ANR leaflets and manuals, and trade or organizational journals.

*Network External to UCANR* The CE Specialist will build on existing networks within and outside the University of California. The CE Specialist will collaborate across a range of campus units (e.g. Berkeley Water Center, Berkeley Food Institute, Geography Department, College of Engineering, School of Public Health). The appointee will also work closely with state and local government agencies (e.g. CA Department of Water Resources, CA Water Commission, State Water Resources Control Board, Regional Water Control Boards, Local Water Districts) as well as a variety of community-based organizations (e.g. Environmental Justice Coalition for Water, California Rural Legal Assistance, the Water Policy Center of the CA Public Policy Institute, the Pacific Institute, Community Water Center, and local water and agriculture coalitions).

*Outreach* It is expected that the CE Specialist will diligently pursue sources of extramural funding grants from EPA, NSF, and other federal sources. Within California, it is anticipated that the CE Specialist will actively pursue and apply for water-related grants funded by the state.

*Location & Support* The position will be housed on the Berkeley Campus in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management. The CE Specialist will have an office and laboratory space on the Berkeley Campus. A startup package will be provided for equipment, computers, and travel needs.

*To apply, visit [https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF03200](https://apptrkr.com/2606446)*

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