Job Listings Title:
Extension Specialist, Climate Resilience

Post Date
2/25/2025

Expiration Date
3/20/2025

Details:

The Climate Resilience Specialist, Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy (NREE) serves as a regular, full-time, 12-month academic professional with primary responsibility for serving as a subject matter expert in weather and climate outreach issues largely focused on enhancing community and ecosystem resilience in a changing climate. This includes leading the development and use of relevant outreach programs and materials as well as disseminating information gained from university faculty, research, and general learning to Extension Educators and others throughout University of Illinois Extension and beyond. This is a statewide position providing programmatic leadership to bolster climate resilience through education and outreach programs within the NREE program area of University of Illinois Extension.

One full-time position is available.

Location: Urbana-Champaign Campus or negotiable Extension Unit location. In state hybrid remote work arrangements are available. There is flexibility for this position to be housed in an office in one of the 27 Extension Units throughout Illinois instead of on campus in Urbana, IL. See Extension website here for details on office locations.

This is a security-sensitive position.  Comprehensive background checks, including but not limited to a criminal conviction information check, a CANTS check, and a review of the Registered Sex Offender list, will be conducted.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Program/Instructional Development, Implementation and Evaluation

  • Assess the needs of communities and stakeholders across Illinois in a systematic and analytical manner to ensure effective allocation of resources and implementation.
  • Develop innovative programming and instructional materials that address relevant climate issues.
  • Collaborate with Extension faculty to translate research into climate outreach programming.
  • Provide opportunities to integrate campus-based research and teaching into Extension.
  • Identify and communicate new practices in community-based programming and train statewide Extension staff and other stakeholders and partners, as appropriate.
  • Initiate educational delivery systems, including digital educational instruction formats, within relevant subject area expertise.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness and impact of educational programs.
  • Improve program impact and share results across the 27 Extension units and other appropriate stakeholders in support of their reporting, program development and program marketing.

Organizational Leadership and Development

  • Lead and implement key statewide climate outreach projects.
  • Initiate and maintain relationships with key leaders and stakeholders across the state as well as other professionals working nationally in Extension climate programming.
  • Allocate resources for key projects and oversee grant deliverables.
  • Seek resources and funding to support climate programming.
  • Provide training and technical assistance for statewide staff on programmatic needs and decisions.
  • Participate on state and national task force and working groups.
  • Contribute to the overall vision of NREE programming and climate applied research and outreach, as appropriate.

Research and Development

  • Collect data that contribute to the research-based evidence of climate outreach programs.
  • Write scientific and/or outreach publications that advance the field and represent the work of climate outreach.
  • Pursue professional development opportunities to enhance competency in climate outreach programming.
  • Conduct literature reviews to stay abreast of the latest research related to current and emerging sustainable climate issues.

Other Information

  • Comply with all University of Illinois Extension Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity policies and guidelines in all aspects of Extension work; assist Unit staff with data collection for Affirmative Action, Gender, and Targeted reports.
  • Perform other duties that contribute to University of Illinois Extension programming, as assigned.
  • Local, regional, and statewide travel required; personal transportation required.

Additional Physical Demands
To perform the functions of this position, the employee will be required to perform work both within an office and outside in the communities that are served and must have the capability to travel from one location to the other in a timely fashion.  Employee is responsible for securing personal transportation.  A valid driver’s license is preferred.  Some work will be required during evenings and/or weekends.  When working, the employee may be exposed to a variety of environmental factors to include, but not limited to, hot or cold weather, exposure to noise and allergens, and uneven ground.  In performing the functions of this position, the employee may be subjected to various mental and physical demands as well to include, but not limited to, independently traveling to and performing work at different locations, ability to move, transfer and/or transport items that may occasionally weigh up to forty (40) pounds and frequently weigh up to twenty (20) pounds, and twisting, pushing and pulling movements. More detailed information regarding the functions of this position (including the physical, mental, and environmental requirements of the position) may be obtained from Human Resources for the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) by contacting hr@aces.illinois.edu. 

Administrative Relationship
The Extension Specialist is administratively responsible to the Assistant Dean and Program Leader, Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy.



Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

  • Master’s degree in climate science and policy, climate science and communication, climate and sustainability, meteorology, environmental science, natural resource planning, public policy and management, environmental studies or a related field from an accredited institution of higher education. Degrees in other related fields will be considered with work experience that demonstrates similar competencies. Candidates with a master’s degree in progress may be considered for interviews, but degree must be completed by hire date.

Experience:

  • At least 3 years of relevant experience with program planning, design and delivering community-based educational programs.
  • Experience of working with diverse audiences.
  • Informal and/or formal teaching experience.
  • Synchronous and asynchronous distance educational delivery skills and teaching experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

  • PhD in related field.

Experience:

  • Experience with land-grant University Extension system.
  • Experience working with climate resilience planning and sustainability outreach programming.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

  • Knowledge of best practices in developing community partnerships. Strong communication skills. Strong interpersonal skills and teamwork as well as the ability to work independently. Ability to work flexible hours and be self-directing. Ability to build and maintain diverse networks. Knowledge of best practices in implementing and communicating impact of community-based programs. Understanding of land-grant University Extension and demonstrated ability to work effectively with the Extension system.


Employer:
University of Illinois Extension
Contact:
Christina Chopra

Email:
cchopra@illinois.edu

Website:
https://go.illinois.edu/1029481