Outreach Specialist

University of Wisconsin Madison
$58,450 ANNUAL (12 months)
paid time off
United States, Wisconsin, Madison
21 North Park Street (Show on map)
Jan 08, 2025
Job Summary: At the Wisconsin Energy Institute (WEI), we envision a world powered by sustainable and reliable energy that is affordable and accessible to everyone. As the home of collaborative energy research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, we connect and empower researchers to help solve one of the world's greatest challenges: developing sustainable alternatives to meet society's ever-growing need for power, fuels, and chemicals. WEI is home to the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC), whose mission is to create biofuels and bioproducts that are economically viable and environmentally sustainable. WEI is looking for an Outreach Specialist to expand and deepen our community engagement work. As an Outreach Specialist, you will assist in the coordination of informal science education programs of many types including facilitating hands-on workshops for visiting school and community groups. This position will also develop new field trip topics to share the evolving research at WEI and GLBRC. The Outreach Specialist will build relationships with collaborators, help coordinate large outreach events, develop creative ways to share science with learners of all ages, and support students' and scientists' participation in outreach efforts. This position will offer a unique opportunity for professional growth, empowering the successful candidate to continuously learn and apply new skills in a dynamic and creative work environment. This position will require a limited amount of state travel and occasional evening and weekend work. This position will report to the Outreach Program Manager and work closely with the WEI communications staff as well as student outreach interns and collaborators on and off campus. We are looking for someone who is passionate about climate solutions, committed to collaboration, and excited to share science with young people. If that describes you, we'd love to see your application. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote and foster a culture that welcomes everyone and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. UW-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world. Responsibilities: Delivers and assists with planning outreach program activities, strengthens partnerships, ensures adherence to policy, and assists with program administration to promote stable and productive relationships between the university and local community. Strives to expand and ensure access to programs, facilities, and educational services to diverse audiences. May assist with tracking and managing the outreach program budget. 25% Identifies, promotes, and maintains external partnerships to support the outreach program 20% Schedules and secures resources and communicates logistics in support of an outreach program 20% Delivers outreach program content and materials to community members 15% Researches, develops, and facilitates outreach program content and materials 10% Develops and evaluates curriculum and programs and provides recommendations for improvement 5% Leads the implementation of programs, policies, and procedures through oversight of day-to-day activities for program staff and student and community volunteers 5% Participates in collaborative activities to promote and foster a culture that welcomes, celebrates, and supports everyone Tasks: Build capacity for the WEI?s expanding K-12 field trip program, facilitate workshops, develop assessment methods, and support the development of new field trip topics Support the WI KidWind Program, assist with sponsorships and program coordination Expand reach to Wisconsin K-12 schools by supporting programming on and off campus Support the coordination and execution of large outreach events such as Science Expeditions, Family Gardening Day, etc. Transition educational resources to online accessible documents Coordinate a "WEI Energy Impact Fellows" program to encourage WEI/GLBRC grad students and postdocs to engage in broader impacts (outreach, communications, entrepreneurship, policy, etc.) Institutional Statement on Diversity: Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals. The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world. For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion Education: Preferred Bachelor's Degree Focus in STEM, education or communications preferred Qualifications: Required: - Experience in science outreach or education - Experience working with youth The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following preferred: - Enthusiasm for and ability to effectively communicate scientific concepts to diverse audiences in engaging and creative ways - Excellent collaboration skills including the ability to work as a member of a dynamic team and to interact with youth, educators, scientists and the general public - Excellent time management and organizational skills: strong self-motivation and the ability to handle multiple projects in a deadline-driven, detail-oriented environment - Experience working with classroom-sized groups of K-12 students - Demonstrated success in promoting and fostering a culture that welcomes, celebrates, and supports everyone - Commitment to the goals and missions of the Wisconsin Energy Institute, UW-Madison, and informal science education - Curiosity and a passion for science, learning, and sharing renewable energy solutions - Ability to obtain authorized driver approval and occasionally travel to outreach events at locations across Wisconsin - Ability to set up, take down and/or transport materials as needed Work Type: Full or Part Time: 60% - 100% This position will require that the majority of the work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely 1 day/week after a training and an evaluation period. Appointment Type, Duration: Ongoing/Renewable Salary: Minimum $58,450 ANNUAL (12 months) Depending on Qualifications Salary is negotiable and will be based on experience and skills. The employee in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits and more! Additional Information: The successful applicant will be responsible for ensuring eligibility for employment in the United States on or before the effective date of the appointment. University sponsorship is not available for this position. How to Apply: To apply for this position, please click on the "Apply Now" button. You will be required to upload a resume and cover letter as a part of the application process. Please ensure that your resume and cover letter outline how you meet the minimum and preferred qualifications. If selected as a finalist, you will be asked to supply three references, which include a current supervisor. References will not be collected and contacted until a finalist has been selected. Don't meet every single preferred qualification mentioned? If you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply. You may be the candidate we are looking for! Contact: Heather Heimbecker hheimbecker@wisc.edu 608-890-2286 Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information. Official Title: Outreach Specialist(OE009) Department(s): A34-OVCR/WI ENERGY INSTITUTE Employment Class: Academic Staff-Renewable Job Number: 309897-AS The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence through diversity and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, click here If you need to request an accommodation because of a disability, you can find information about how to make a request at the following website: https://employeedisabilities.wisc.edu/disability-accommodation-information-for-applicants/ Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require you and your references to answer questions regarding sexual violence and sexual harassment. The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7). The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.