University of Illinois Extension Seeks Visiting Great Lakes Education Associate
Posted on August 19, 2022
Position Title:
Visiting Great Lakes Education Associate
Position Summary:
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant is looking to hire a Visiting Great Lakes Education Associate to help train teachers and other educators so that they can confidently share Great Lakes science with their students. This position involves meeting project objectives through planning, implementation and evaluation.
The Visiting Great Lakes Education Associate serves as a full time, 12 month academic professional with primary responsibility for managing, enhancing, and evaluating environmental education
programming that supports Great Lakes literacy and the mission of Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) and University of Illinois Extension.
One full time position is available.
programming that supports Great Lakes literacy and the mission of Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) and University of Illinois Extension.
One full time position is available.
Location: Illini Center – 200 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606
Duties and Responsibilities
Program Management, Enhancement, and Evaluation
• Administer IISG’s Limno Loan, The Incredible Shrinking Cup, and Students Ask Scientists programs, connecting K-12 educators and their students to aquatic science.
• Ensure program objectives are met through project planning, implementation, and evaluation.
• Conduct educational workshops to introduce IISG programs and resources to K-12 educators.
• Prepare data summaries and visualizations to demonstrate program impacts.
• Manage a mini-grant program for educators including program promotion and solicitation, application review, and award notification.
• Work with internal and external creative staff, such as graphic designers, videographers, and web developers, on development of new and modification of existing resources to enhance programming.
• Coach Great Lakes scientists on effective communication of their research to a lay audience, including 5-12th grade students.
• Collaborate with Center for Great Lakes Literacy members basin-wide on program development and delivery.
• Work with internal, regional, and state partners in the Cooperative Science and Monitoring Initiative to identify and fulfilling needs for conveying new research findings to resource managers and the general public.
• Develop and/or enhance web-based resources and an educator listserv.
• Assist the ELWD coordinator on other projects, as needed
• Administer IISG’s Limno Loan, The Incredible Shrinking Cup, and Students Ask Scientists programs, connecting K-12 educators and their students to aquatic science.
• Ensure program objectives are met through project planning, implementation, and evaluation.
• Conduct educational workshops to introduce IISG programs and resources to K-12 educators.
• Prepare data summaries and visualizations to demonstrate program impacts.
• Manage a mini-grant program for educators including program promotion and solicitation, application review, and award notification.
• Work with internal and external creative staff, such as graphic designers, videographers, and web developers, on development of new and modification of existing resources to enhance programming.
• Coach Great Lakes scientists on effective communication of their research to a lay audience, including 5-12th grade students.
• Collaborate with Center for Great Lakes Literacy members basin-wide on program development and delivery.
• Work with internal, regional, and state partners in the Cooperative Science and Monitoring Initiative to identify and fulfilling needs for conveying new research findings to resource managers and the general public.
• Develop and/or enhance web-based resources and an educator listserv.
• Assist the ELWD coordinator on other projects, as needed
Scholarship
• Maintain active membership within a professional society(s) to keep abreast of changes within the discipline. Seek professional development opportunities to enhance competency in subject matter areas.
• Develop and maintain professional collaborations.
• Use research and evaluation findings to create innovative materials and enhance existing Great Lakes education offerings.
• Share principles of evidence-based, best-practices with peers.
• Maintain active membership within a professional society(s) to keep abreast of changes within the discipline. Seek professional development opportunities to enhance competency in subject matter areas.
• Develop and maintain professional collaborations.
• Use research and evaluation findings to create innovative materials and enhance existing Great Lakes education offerings.
• Share principles of evidence-based, best-practices with peers.
Organizational Requirements
• Comply with all University of Illinois Extension Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity policies and guidelines in all aspects of Extension work.
• Comply with all reporting deadlines and requirements (e.g., plans-of-work, quarterly and annual reporting, etc.).
• Perform other duties within scope of position that contribute to the mission of University of Illinois Extension programming, as assigned.
• Local, statewide, and interstate travel 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, lifting and moving items that may occasionally weigh up to forty (40) pounds and frequently weigh up to twenty (20) pounds, and twisting, pushing and pulling
movements.
Minimum Qualifications
Education:
• B.S. required in Natural Resources, Environmental Sciences, Education, or other related field. Candidates with a Master’s degree in progress may be considered for interviews, but degree must be
completed by hire date.
Experience:
• Experience in environmental education, working with educators and/or students in formal or nonformal settings.
• Experience in environmental education, working with educators and/or students in formal or nonformal settings.
Preferred Qualifications
Education:
• M.S. in Natural Resources, Environmental Sciences, Education, or other related field.
Experience:
- Relevant experience conducting natural resources extension or outreach, including making technical information accessible to a lay audience in written and oral formats, and planning and presenting at workshops for diverse audiences
- Experience with Word Press, ArcGIS StoryMaps, and Mail Chimp.
- Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Knowledge of and interest in water quality and ecosystem health.
- Ability to work independently yet serve as part of a team.
- Ability to prioritize a varied workload, successfully manage timelines, and provide regular reports of activities and achievements.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including presentation skills. Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Ability to work irregular hours, including weekends, and participate in overnight travel, when needed.
- Knowledge of the Great Lakes ecosystem is preferred.
Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position. This position is a temporary, full-time, benefits-eligible, non-tenure academic professional position. The position may become non-visiting
at a later time dependent upon funding and/or programmatic needs. The expected start date is as soon as possible after the closing date. Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications.
Generous vacation and sick leave. State Universities Retirement System. Group health, dental, vision and life insurance.
Application Procedures & Deadline Information
For full job description and to apply please visit here.
Applications must be received by August 31, 2022. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Resume dates submitted must be in month/year format
and employment history, at a minimum, should include all work dating back to the completion of your undergraduate degree. Positions that were less than full-time/100% must be noted as being part-time. Transcripts may be requested at a later date. Applications not submitted through this website will not be considered.
For further information about this specific position, please contact Search Chair, Pat Charlebois at charlebo@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.