"Director of the State Climate Office of North Carolina"

Director of the State Climate Office of North Carolina

Company: North Carolina State University

Job Location:

Category: Extension and Outreach

Type: Full-Time

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Location: Raleigh, NC

Essential Job Duties:

NC State University is seeking a visionary and service-driven leader to build on a legacy of scientific excellence and public impact to lead the State Climate Office of North Carolina. As Director, you will lead the Office in delivering trusted climate science and services in North Carolina, fostering cross-sector partnerships, working with communities, and providing vital tools that inform decisions across agriculture, emergency management, natural resources, public health, and beyond. This position also serves as the state climatologist of North Carolina.

The State Climate Office of North Carolina (NCSCO), one of the nation's largest and most active state climate offices, serves all 100 counties through its integrated mission of research, extension, and monitoring. With a strong record of collaboration with state and federal agencies, the NCSCO provides authoritative climate data, analysis, and decision support to advance understanding of risk and resilience-building statewide. The office has been recognized for its leadership during extreme events such as Hurricane Helene, for the development of innovative tools, including the Fire Weather Intelligence Portal, and for its support of educational and outreach efforts.

This position offers the opportunity to sustain and grow a respected UNC System Public Service Center that has played a pivotal role in supporting data-driven decision-making and building weather and climate resilience across the state. The successful candidate will expand on efforts such as the development of real-time data platforms, user-driven applied research, impact assessments, and communicating to various audiences about North Carolina's complex environment. A proven track record of applying weather and climate science to real-world challenges, securing collaborative partnerships including external funding, and delivering impactful outreach will be essential.

Primary responsibilities include:

Strategic Leadership & Staff Mentorship (20%)

• Secure and steward extramural funding from state, federal, and private sources to sustain and expand the Office's mission and operations
• Provide strategic leadership and mentorship to SCO staff and students in advancing research, extension, and educational initiatives of statewide significance

Mesonet Operations & Data Stewardship (10%)

• Oversee the operation, enhancement, and long-term vision for the North Carolina Environmental Climate Observation Network (Mesonet), ensuring high-quality data collection, public accessibility, and permanent archiving

Climate Services & Public Communication (15%)

• Serve as a trusted voice on North Carolina's weather and climate, effectively communicating complex science to varied audiences, from policymakers and technical experts to the general public

Applied Research & Scientific Oversight (15%)

• Guide the delivery of climate information services, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and relevance to stakeholders across the state.
• Guide and oversee applied research initiatives, both internally, on campus, and across the UNC system, ensuring scientific rigor, reproducibility, and applicability

Fiscal & Administrative Oversight (10%)

• Oversee fiscal management and reporting, ensuring responsible budgeting and compliance with state and federal requirements, by working closely with the College Research Office and Department Business Officer

Innovation & Program Development (10%)

• Develop new ideas for outreach, service, research, extension, and engagement for the Center

Stakeholder Engagement & Outreach (20%)

• Represent the Office as a spokesperson in the media, providing credible, timely, and accessible insights on weather and climate issues of statewide and national relevance
• Advise and support local, state, and county agencies, providing authoritative expertise, data access, and research insights to inform policy, planning, and resilience efforts

Other Work/Responsibilities:

• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Experience/Education:

• PhD in atmospheric sciences or related field or M.S. with 10+ years experience.

Required Qualifications:

• Ability to communicate weather and climate information and present ideas to different audiences
• Commitment to maintaining the strengths of the SCO and develop new opportunities for funding and support
• Experience supervising staff
• Experience managing budgets and financial records

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in working with and supervising staff involved in public outreach and service
• Ability to navigate discussions about complex topics in a respectful and collaborative manner
• Experience in applying climate data on a regional basis, especially in North Carolina or the Southeast
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Demonstrable record of securing extramural funding
• Publication record in professional journals

Required License or Certification: N/A

If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu.

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