Req #: 234094

Department: EARTHLAB - CLIMATE IMPACTS GROUP

Posting Date: 05/13/2024

Closing Info: Open Until Filled

Salary: $5,870 - $7,325 per month

Shift: First Shift

Notes: As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here. (https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/02/benefits-professional-staff-librarians-academic-staff-20230701_a11y.pdf) Priority consideration will be given to applications completed by 6/10.

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

The Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (NW CASC) at the University of Washington (UW) invites applications for a Research Scientist/Engineer 3. This is a full-time (100% FTE) appointment. Although the position is open until filled, priority screening will begin June 10. A cover letter and resume are required.

The NW CASC is one of nine regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers across the Nation, dedicated to delivering science that helps wildlife, water, land and people adapt to a changing climate. Established by the Department of the Interior (DOI) in 2010 and administered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the NW CASC is a partnership between the federal government and a Consortium of university and non-university partners. The NW CASC Consortium is hosted by the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group and includes the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, Boise State University, Northwest Indian College, Oregon State University, Portland State University, University of Montana, Washington State University, and Western Washington University. Key partners of the NW CASC are the Department of the Interior bureaus (especially National Park Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation), Northwest Tribes and Northwest state fish and wildlife and natural lands agencies.

The NW CASC is housed within the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group (https://cig.uw.edu) (CIG), which helps advance regional climate resilience by advancing understanding of climate risks & enabling science-based action to manage those risks. Since 1995, CIG has linked cutting edge scientific research with innovative approaches to community engagement to produce exceptional research products, develop strong relationships among resource managers, planners, and policy makers in the region and build regional capacity for addressing climatic variability and change. CIG is a member organization of EarthLab at the University of Washington.

EarthLab. is a visionary institute that pushes boundaries to address our most pressing environmental challenges, with a focus on climate and its intersection with social justice. EarthLab does this by connecting faculty, students and researchers at the University of Washington to community collaborators in businesses, non-profits, public agencies, Tribal nations and others to co-produce actionable research that generates solutions and strategies for local and global impact. EarthLab’s vision, an equitable, just and sustainable world where people and planet thrive, supports one of the University’s biggest goals. As a Carnegie-classified Community Engagement University, the UW aspires to be the #1 university in the world as measured by impact. EarthLab is inspired by and committed to this challenge.

Diversity Equity and Inclusion:

EarthLab and CIG acknowledge the systemic racism that exists in the environmental sector and within environmentalism. We believe every member on our team enriches our diversity by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design and deliver solutions. We are seeking candidates who are committed to creating an equitable, diverse and inclusive work environment where all voices are considered and valued.

CIG staff has worked collectively to express our intention around working with and supporting communities historically excluded from environmental and climate change spaces. CIG commits to prioritizing inclusion and justice for all people in our work on climate adaptation, with the aim of decreasing oppression in our organization, our field and our communities. Given our country’s history of slavery and continued violence and discrimination against Black people, violent land seizure and genocide against Indigenous peoples, and the disproportionate impacts of climate change and environmental hazards on Black, Indigenous and other people of color, we commit to addressing the enduring impacts of colonialism and white supremacy in our work.

Research Scientist/Engineer 3, Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center

The Research Scientist 3 will work with the NW CASC’s USGS partners to coordinate the Northwest Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change (NW RISCC) Network. The NW RISCC was established in 2020 as a partnership of regional agencies and organizations dedicated to helping resource managers address the dual threats of climate change and invasive species (including plants, animals, pests and pathogens). The network focuses on exploring on-the-ground management, conservation, and research needs and opportunities unique to the northwestern U.S., including Washington, Oregon, Idaho and parts of adjacent states and provinces. The goal of the NW RISCC is to support federal, Tribal, state and local agencies and organizations to reduce the compounding effects of invasive species and climate change. To achieve this goal, the NW RISCC aims to synthesize actionable science, facilitate knowledge exchange between researchers and managers, build stronger scientist-manager communities of practice and conduct (or facilitate) priority research.

The Research Scientist 3 will also play a leading role in planning and implementing the NW CASC’s annual Actionable Science Deep Dive, which convenes scientists and practitioners to collaboratively understand impacts and response options related to emerging climate risks to Northwest natural resources. Responsibilities include designing an agenda that supports engagement of diverse participants, leading a biophysical science synthesis, and ensuring timely development of workshop products such as reports, fact sheets and manuscripts.

This position will also work collegially to contribute to logistics, program management and integration for the NW CASC as a whole, which includes UW-based and distributed USGS staff, a Consortium Leadership Team representing the NW CASC’s nine consortium institutions, and an Advisory Committee composed of federal, state and Tribal resources management agencies. The Research Scientist 3 will also help support the NW CASC’s engagement with the national CASC network.

We seek an individual who will complement the strengths of our team and build on our strong existing relationships with a wide range of partners. Qualities and attributes that are part of our culture and highly valued include:

• Taking leadership and initiative; • Being willing to pitch in as needed to ensure success of team; • Being timely and professional in all interactions; • Treating others with dignity and respect; • Holding sensitive information in confidence; • Maintaining a sense of humor; • Seeking continuous improvement.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Manages the Northwest Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change (RISCC) Network (50%):

• In conjunction with the NW RISCC Advisory Committee, develop a work plan that describes the guiding principles, direction, and priorities of the NW RISCC Network. • Organize and lead outreach and engagement that includes a NW RISCC webinar series and annual NW RISCC symposium that incorporates a variety of sessions including research talks, management talks, expert panels, brainstorming sessions, and one-on-one conversations to solicit research needs. • Maintain the NW RISCC website and produce an online compendium of relevant publications, topical research briefs and summaries for managers. • Engage undergraduate and graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and university faculty in NW RISCC activities, including research and product development, and promote the nexus of invasive species and climate change as research and learning focus with students and faculty associated with the NW CASC multi-institution consortium. • Manage, organize, and lead regular meetings with the NW RISCC core team and advisory committee. • Lead production of an annual state-of-the-science report, including conducting a literature review, knowledge synthesis, and summary of key findings; and produce fact sheets on the nexus of climate change and invasive species.

Coordinates the NW CASC Actionable Science Deep Dives (40%):

• In conjunction with NW CASC staff and partners, lead the planning and execution of the annual • In conjunction with NW CASC staff and partners, lead the planning and execution of the annual Actionable Science Deep Dive, which convenes researchers, practitioners, and students in collaborative research to assess the state of knowledge and practice around management of an emerging climate risk, and identify science and capacity needs for advancing adaptation. • Lead development of the annual Deep Dive topic, convening of a planning committee, and coordination of research teams spanning diverse entities (e.g., Tribal Nations, universities, non-profits, private, federal, state, and local governments) • Provide management, logistical, and organizational support for Deep Dive workshops and external engagement activities focused on advancing research on emerging climate risks. • Lead the biophysical work group for each Deep Dive, conducting literature reviews, collaborative syntheses, and development of key findings, in coordination with leads for the management and human dimensions work groups. • Lead the collaborative completion and dissemination of Deep Dive products (e.g., writing summary reports, developing fact sheets, delivering webinars, producing manuscripts, and delivering other science communication products). • Recruit, supervise, and mentor Deep Dive research assistants.

Supports NW CASC operations (10%):

• Contribute natural science expertise in support of NW CASC programs (fellowships, communications, evaluation). • Support NW CASC evaluation and contribute to the regular reporting of NW CASC activities and accomplishments through annual reports and reviews. • Support dissemination and uptake of NW CASC products. • Assist with proposal development and grant writing. • Engage with the Climate Impacts Group team through monthly team meetings, strategic planning efforts, and other organization-wide activities.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor’s degree in natural resource management, environmental sciences, natural sciences, or a related field and four years of relevant experience in scientific synthesis and assessment, management of large research collaborations with diverse partners, science communication, and program management. OR Equivalent combination of education/experience.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Experience synthesizing scientific literature and data. • Experience producing science communication materials for diverse audiences, including natural resource managers and policy makers. • Knowledge of or experience with applied climate change impacts and adaptation. • Experience with co-production and use-inspired research. • Demonstrated attention to detail and insistence on technical accuracy. • Experience with convening partners and organizing meetings, webinars and workshops. • Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except where there are legal requirements such as license/certification/registration.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Ph.D. in natural resource management, environmental sciences, natural sciences, or a related field. • Experience with website development and management. • Experience working in or closely with science-management boundary organizations. • Experience engaging with federal agencies, state fish & wildlife and natural resource departments, Northwest Tribes and intertribal organizations.

Application Process: The application process may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you log into your “My Jobs” page. If you choose to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.

University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.