UNAVCO is seeking a dedicated Education and Outreach Specialist. This position is based at UNAVCO's main office in Boulder, Colorado.
For nearly three decades, UNAVCO has spearheaded the utilization of cutting-edge technology while providing robust operational support for researchers exploring tectonics (earthquakes, volcanoes, plate tectonics), the deformation of ice, the Earth's response to ground water, sea level, and aspects of the hydrosphere, and atmosphere. Our instrumentation toolbox includes high-precision GPS, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) for Airborne Laser Swath Mapping and Terrestrial Laser Scanning, InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar), and more. We host the NSF’s Geodesy Data Archive and provide cyberinfrastructure to support the full data life cycle and interoperability with national and international Earth science Data Centers.
Our long-term success depends on development of a forward-looking, diversified workforce that draws on and cultivates talent across the demographic spectrum of gender and ethnicity, across international boundaries, and across scientific disciplines.
We invite candidates to review the position description below and to submit an application by going to https://unavcocareers.silkroad.com/. Flexible work arrangements may be available. This position will be open until filled; screening date begins 5/14/12.
Summary Of Job
The Education and Outreach Specialist develops products and manages programs that advance geoscience education or UNAVCO outreach. This specialist will manage multiple curriculum or materials development projects, often involving one or more stakeholders and several team members and have a high degree of external visibility. These duties require strong collaboration with staff, scientists, peer organizations, and other stakeholders.
UNAVCO offers this as a term assignment as a UNAVCO staff member (full- or part-time).
Working Relationships
This position requires collaborative and collegial interactions with staff at all levels of the organization and with external constituencies.
Internal. The specialist typically reports to the Director of Education and Community Engagement, interacts and collaborates with peers and colleagues across the organization, and is supported by an administrative assistant.
External. The specialist routinely interacts with external constituencies, especially science community members, peers in partner organizations, students, educators at many levels, or graphic design professionals. May interact with vendors through the Purchasing Agent, as required to clarify procurement requirements.
Essential Job Functions [General]
- Under general supervision, manage programs and the development of education/outreach products that enhance knowledge of the Earth and advance UNAVCO’s mission.
- Build networks of stakeholders (such as scientists, researchers, educators, policymakers) to further communication of UNAVCO community science and its relevance to society.
- Plan, coordinate, develop, and lead professional development workshops, short courses with staff and external partners and support community planning for similar activities.
- Develop, maintain, and renew community, educational and informational, communication content educational or outreach products and programs for broad dissemination.
- Contribute to grant proposal writing to secure resources for the program, and to reporting on awards.
- Represent UNAVCO in networks of peer organizations.
- Manage programmatic information for databases and archives such as scientific publications, photographs, documents, and graphic materials.
- This position requires travel, as well as sporadic response to external events outside of established working hours.
Other duties may be assigned as necessary for the successful operation of the business.
Essential Job Functions [Assignment-specific]
- Design and develop pedagogically sound learning materials, educational, and outreach products and programs for use on the web, printed materials, educational workshops and other methods of dissemination using the ADDIE or similar instructional development process.
- Lead collaborations with staff, scientists, and educators; schedule project team meetings as appropriate. Interface regularly with community, principal investigators and serve as the primary point of contact (spokesperson) for projects and as appropriate represents projects to the organization and the public.
- Build networks of stakeholders (such as scientists, researchers, educators, policymakers) to further communication of UNAVCO community science and its relevance to society. Liaise with partner organizations on projects of shared interest.
- Maintain technical competency in new pedagogical and instructional methods and technologies.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Skills and Knowledge
- Strong interpersonal and organizational skills.
- Excellent written and spoken English, including the ability to clearly explain science to non-specialists.
- General knowledge of Geosciences.
- Ability to manage projects while meeting federal award requirements..
- Ability to exercise independent judgment and interact effectively and in close collaboration with internal and external partners, scientists, educators, and customers.
- General working knowledge of productivity and design software, and HTML.
- Familiarity with print, web, electronic, and exhibit media.
Required Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant field such as Geosciences, Science Education, Instructional Design, or closely allied field.
- Advanced study or four or more years professional experience in geoscience or education.
- Experience in formal education, free-choice learning, or outreach.
Preferred Education and Experience
- Advanced degree relevant to Geosciences and/or Instructional Design.
- Knowledge of the application of high precision geodesy to geosciences.
Physical Requirements
Ability to use repetitive motion on computing and communication devices; see well enough to use computer effectively; and both hear and speak effectively on phone. Must be able to sit for sustained periods of time.
Mental Requirements
Ability to understand, remember and communicate routine, factual information. Ability to organize and prioritize own work schedule on short-term basis (longer than one month). Ability to make decisions which have moderate impact on immediate work unit. Ability to compose letters, outlines, memoranda, and reports and/or to orally communicate technical information. Ability to compute, analyze and interpret numerical data.