Job Description

About the Department
The Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences (MEAS) within the College of Sciences at NC State is one of the nation’s largest interdisciplinary geoscience departments. MEAS provides: (1) high quality geoscience instruction to the University community through it courses in marine, Earth, and atmospheric sciences; (2) educational opportunities for undergraduate, masters and doctoral students in geosciences through world-class research, and (3) outreach activities that foster improved public awareness and understanding of science. Research programs cover a diverse spectrum including meteorology, climatology, geology, oceanography, and marine biology. MEAS includes approximately 40 faculty, 70 graduate students, and over 200 undergraduates involved in basic and applied studies of Earth systems with degree programs in marine sciences, geology, and meteorology. MEAS is dedicated to excellence in research, teaching, and promoting an environment that allows all members of the department to thrive. Principal concentrations include weather prediction, air quality, air-sea interactions, climate modeling, hydrology, geochemistry, oceanography, active tectonics, surface processes & Quaternary studies, geochronology, sedimentology, regional geology, and geospatial analytics applied to the geosciences. Programs include many tracks in each of our program areas and thus provide the opportunity for an education broader than bachelor’s degrees in more traditional departments.

The multi-disciplinary nature of MEAS lends itself to the study of such problems as prediction of severe weather (e.g. hurricanes), geologic hazards, coastal erosion, air-sea-land interactions, pollution of surface and groundwater, big-data assimilation, and global climate change. While basic research is always important, many research projects also have direct application to current issues such as water quality/water supply, seafood harvests, climate change, weather prediction, natural hazards, Earth resources and land use. Additional information about the department and its facilities can be found at: https://meas.sciences.ncsu.edu.

Opportunities exist for disciplinary and interdisciplinary interactions with a wide range of scientists at NC State. MEAS is one of six NC State departments with a presence at the NC State Center for Marine Sciences and Technology (CMAST), a coastal and marine science research facility located on Bogue Sound in Morehead City, NC (http://www.cmast.ncsu.edu), and MEAS faculty participate in the Center for Geospatial Analytics (http://geospatial.ncsu.edu). The North Carolina State Climate Office (https://climate.ncsu.edu/) and the Raleigh office of the National Weather Service reside on NC State’s campus. In addition, the Data Science Academy (DSA) at NC State seeks to create a nationally recognized hub of excellence in data science and analytics (https://datascienceacademy.ncsu.edu). Raleigh, North Carolina is a progressive and welcoming community with a wide range of potential collaborators at nearby academic and governmental institutions in the Research Triangle. Opportunities exist to draw on departmental and campus resources to develop strong teaching expertise using best practices.

Please visit our Sciences Strategic Plan and the College of Sciences Culture Charter to learn more about the College of Sciences.

NC State promotes an integrated approach to problem solving that transforms lives and provides leadership for social, economic, and technological development across North Carolina and around the world. NC State’s land grant mission of teaching, research and service is dedicated to the service of North Carolina and its people. Applicants are encouraged to review the institution’s mission, vision and strategic plan, and consider how their background, interest and experience would enable them to support the university.
Essential Job Duties
The Community Engagement Coordinator requires the skills and knowledge to effectively solicit and convey crucial guidance to the research process and its relevance to reducing environmental health disparities in practice. They will be required to encourage community engagement in projects related to machine learning assisted algal bloom prediction, extreme precipitation and flooding, cumulative risk exposures, and public health. This role entails crafting and executing dynamic engagement strategies that facilitate a two-way exchange of information, and serving as liaison with external partners and entities for two grant-funded initiatives. Strong candidates will have demonstrated capacity for facilitation, event and/or program planning, and group leadership related to community engagement with science and/or policy.

Key responsibilities include managing end-to-end participant recruitment for community-based research activities; promoting data democracy, open data best practices and the principles of Open Science; creating processes that ensure reliable and long-lasting community contact.

Required duties and skills:
The Community Engagement Coordinator will perform a variety of project activities, including research study coordination, participant recruitment, and community-engaged research focused on environmental health disparities. This includes the following essential job duties:

Staying up-to-date on the latest developments in environmental justice and community resilience policies and initiatives;
Facilitating training, workshops, and activities to promote mutual understanding and knowledge co-production;
Designing and executing engagement strategies within a variety of environmental thematic areas, ensuring the translation of complex scientific research into actionable insights for diverse audiences;
Fostering relationships with community leaders, policymakers, and the general public, using effective communication strategies to engage non-scientific partners across diverse, rural, and underserved communities;
Promoting data democracy, open data best practices, and the principles of Open Science and data democracy;
Traveling overnight for community engagement across North Carolina and South Carolina;
Preparing culturally relevant data summaries and reports for internal and external audiences as part of the data report back process;
Other Responsibilities
Qualifications
Minimum Education and Experience
Require post-baccalaureate credentials or a bachelor’s degree plus alternative or equivalent professional training and experience may be substituted for the advanced degree on an exceptional basis.
Other Required Qualifications
Ability to travel to community events, including occasional nights and weekends.
Ability to work from our Raleigh-based office during regular business hours most days.
Excellent English-language, verbal and written communication skills, and strong interpersonal skills.
Preferred Qualifications
Two years of experience or post-baccalaureate education in one of the following fields: environmental health policy, community organizing, facilitation, science education, or program management.
Prior experience implementing one or more community-engaged research frameworks (i.e. participatory science, community-based participatory research).
Ability to provide at least one reference who can detail your experience from a community perspective.
Spanish language proficiency.