Outreach and Engagement Specialist

Description of Work:

For over 30 years, the High Plains Regional Climate Center (HPRCC) has been providing the public with access to the most up-to-date climate data and information available. We provide a variety of resources, including near real-time and historical climate data, national and regional climate data maps, agricultural climate products, and regional climate summaries.

As an Outreach and Engagement Specialist, you will:

• Analyze, interpret, and retrieve climate data to produce educational materials for the public on the HPRCC website, including informational material on HPRCC products, product updates, and instructional guides.
• Work independently to produce summaries or recaps of notable weather and climate events within the High Plains region.
• Use MS Office programs, Adobe InDesign, and ArcGIS products to create educational materials and custom maps based on user and stakeholder needs.
• Serve as the point of contact for outreach and engagement activities, coordinating and leading in-person and virtual public presentations, meetings, workshops, conferences, and joint outreach events.
• Assist HPRCC staff with ongoing projects and daily activities, including QA/QC of climate databases, feedback on product and tool development, and external work requests.
• Track and evaluate the success of the education and outreach programs.

In the UNL system, this position is categorized as a Field Training Specialist.

About Us

At the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, we're proud to be consistently recognized by Forbes as a top employer and recently earned the Lincoln Family Friendly Workplace certification. We are known for our welcoming, supportive environment, commitment to professional growth, and outstanding benefits. UNL isn't just a workplace; it's a place to build your career and make a meaningful impact in Nebraska.

When you join our team as a full-time, regular staff member, you'll enjoy:

• Generous paid time off including vacation, sick leave, parental leave, and holidays
• Comprehensive insurance options including medical, dental, vision, and life coverage
• Employee and dependent scholarship programs to pursue higher education
• Retirement plans with university match

Learn more about working at UNL: https://go.unl.edu/aboutus

*The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its programs, activities, or employment. See* https://go.unl.edu/nondiscrimination

Minimum Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree with relevant course work in weather and climate science, plus one year of experience working with weather and climate data and information, including analysis and interpretation.
• Demonstrated ability in outreach and engagement activities.
• Effective written and oral communication skills, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks.
• Experience with MS Office programs.
• Valid driver's license with ability to meet university driver eligibility requirements.

Preferred Qualifications:

The following qualifications are preferred, but not required:

• Master's degree
• Experience coordinating projects, events, or outreach activities.
• Knowledge of the climate in the High Plains; meteorology/climatology; and understanding of regional climatology.
• Experience with Adobe InDesign and ArcGIS products.