Communications and Engagement Manager, SE CASC

Communications and Engagement Manager, SE CASC

Organization/Grantor: Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center (SE CASC)

Position/Title/Fund: Communications and Engagement Manager

Type/Term: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: $70,000 - $75,000 annually

Description: The Department of Applied Ecology performs teaching, research, and extension in the biological and ecological sciences. The Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center (SE CASC) focuses on climate and other global change sciences to help fish, wildlife, ecosystems, and people adapt to a changing climate. SE CASC is a regional center that is part of a national network of nine CASCs embedded in all regions of the U.S. and led by a National CASC.

Responsibilities
:

This position is to provide program management, coordination, outreach, and engagement support for the SE CASC, a university-federal partnership hosted at NC State. Essential duties include, but are not limited to:

Communication: (50% effort)

• Administers the execution of the SE CASC Engagement and Outreach Strategic Plan
• Directs all communications for the program for the purpose of disseminating science results to partners across the Southeast, including the monthly newsletter, website content, graphic design, news releases, social media, and video products;
• Develops and tracks metrics to evaluate outcomes of outreach efforts;
• Provides expertise to ensure all SE CASC materials are accessible.
• Contributes expertise related to SE CASC outreach and engagement in team meetings of NCSU and USGS staff;
• Leads the planning and implementation of the monthly SE CASC science webinar series;
• Provides support in administrative duties and science planning, including but not limited to consortium and staff meeting coordination, annual reporting, and engaging with the Science Advisory Committee and new partners;
• Provides assistance in grant proposal writing and the development of graphics.

Engagement: (30% effort)

• Engages with National CASC and regional CASCs in areas relevant to this position. For example, serving as the primary contact with the USGS National CASC for highlights of SE CASC work and events;
• Represents the SE CASC in meetings of other regional CASCs and the National CASC;
• Represents the SE CASC at relevant national and international meetings;
• Collaborates with PIs across consortium institutions to facilitate engagement with and outreach to stakeholders and partners;
• Facilitates Working Groups, Project Leads, and federal scientists in the development of actionable final products for partners;
• Supports the implementation of research support workshops for graduate students at NCSU and consortium universities and science symposia, and other convenings of research and management partners across the Southeast.

Supervision and Mentorship: (20% effort)

• Supervises at least two student Interns and temporary student workers annually;
• Mentors the Global Change Research Fellows graduate students on climate adaptation synthesis and communications products, and the planning and implementation of graduate seminars annually.

This position supports the SE CASC university director and assistant director, SE CASC federal staff, over 170 faculty affiliates, nine Consortium Institutions, and a cohort of Global Change Research Fellows (graduate fellowships) per year. Interacts regularly via conference calls, workshops, and trainings with other Program Managers. This position is contingent on annual funding of the SE CASC cooperative agreement with USGS.

Qualifications
:

• M.S. degree or equivalent in a scientific field such as natural, physical, or social sciences, or a communications field such as journalism or English.
• Demonstrated expertise in communicating complex science topics to non-expert audiences using media such as science articles, news releases, data visualizations, videos, science posters, or technical reports.
• Proficiency in common software supporting external outreach, especially Word Press website development, as well as applications such as Mail Chimp email design and management, Trello team coordination, video editing, and social media management via Loomly or equivalent.
• Skills in best practices to facilitate engagement among teams comprised of research and management communities and with external users of science.

Preferred:

• Experience in communications within higher ed and/or federal agencies.
• Connections with researchers at NCSU and other Consortium institutions.
• Effective interpersonal skills and presentation style.
• Familiarity with NC State University business systems.
• Strengths in organizational abilities and attention to detail.