Bird Cams Outreach Assistant (Part-time)

   

Join Our Team as the part-time Bird Cams Outreach Assistant for the Lab of Ornithology at Cornell University!

If you're eager to make an impact and be part of a dynamic team, then we invite you to explore this exciting opportunity with us!

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.

About The Department

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is dedicated to advancing the understanding and protection of the natural world and joins with people from all walks of life to make new scientific discoveries, share insights, and galvanize conservation action.

About The Opportunity

Working closely with the Bird Cams project leader and the communications specialist, the part-time Outreach Assistant engages the public in learning more about birds and nature through the Cornell Lab’s live Bird Cams, always using a professional, friendly manner with the highest standards for conveying accurate and helpful information.

In this role, you will have the following responsibilities:

• Serve as the content community manager for the Panama Fruit Feeder Cam, providing multimedia and interpretive updates to relevant social media and the explore.org website, as well as posting updates and highlights from other cams as needed.

• Reply to questions through email, telephone, postal mail, print publications, chat, websites, and social media.

• Develop and disseminate answers to frequently asked questions through websites and other channels.

• Provide expert customer service and answer complaints in a positive manner.

• Select, annotate, post, and archive video footage for use in outreach, mass media, and scientific research; track digital assets such as video footage to ensure that acquisition and update schedules are met. 

• Help develop and implement training programs for volunteer moderators.

• Serve as spokesperson to the media and assist in project participation, publicity, live streaming events, and fundraising.

This is a part-time 20 hour/week appointment from April 2024 - August 31, 2024, with possible extension and increase in hours depending on performance and funding. Typical work shift of 4 consecutive hours, Monday – Friday, but may be flexible.

What We Need

The successful candidate will have an Associate’s degree and 2-4 year relevant experience or equivalent combination of experience and education. Additional requirements include:

• Excellent communication skills, including written, verbal, and interpersonal skills; friendly and courteous manner.

• Knowledgeable of the natural history and behavior of birds.

• Ability to write and speak professionally and accurately, using simple, friendly language accessible to all.

• Resourceful, independent thinker willing to seek information from experts and the scientific literature. 

• Excellent customer service, positive attitude, and ability to cultivate support for the Lab. Positive and helpful when responding to people with complaints.

• Strong judgment about when to answer questions directly and when to seek answers from the Lab’s staff.

• Confidence in public speaking and in dealing with challenging and/or complex topics. Ability to discern the sensitivity of internal/external communications in a large public organization.

• Strong organizational skills. Ability to respond quickly and prioritize multiple tasks.

• Proficient in Word, Excel, video editing suite (e.g. Adobe Premiere)

• Experience incorporating the perspectives of multiple communities, including communities of color. 

• Passionate about working in an organization that values and promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, anti-racism, and wellbeing.

   

Preferably the successful candidate will also have the following;

• BA degree in Communications or Education with relevant experience or course work in biology, or BS degree in Biology with relevant experience in Public Relations, Communications, or Education.

• Prior experience as public information specialist or naturalist focused on bird-related topics highly desired.

• Prior work experience with a not-for-profit or PR organization is valuable.

• Proficiency with web content management and/or WordPress is an asset.

• Cultivation and remote administration of volunteers is highly useful.

• Knowledge and experience with Neotropical birds.

• Spanish language skills

This hybrid position is located in Ithaca, New York. You will typically be asked to perform this role on campus (at the Cornell Lab) three days a week, with the option of working remotely at a location in the United States the other two 2 days a week and on-campus 3 days a week. The specifics of this arrangement will be reviewed with you when you begin the position, and the University must approve the desired remote work location.

Compensation range for this position is $22.60 to $23.73 per hour.

Rewards and Benefits

Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, sustainability, and diversity initiatives.

Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: https://hr.cornell.edu/benefits-pay .

Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell: https://hr.cornell.edu/jobs/your-total-rewards .

No Visa Sponsorship is available for this position.

How to Apply:

You must submit both a Resume and Cover letter.  ​

When applying through our system, please attach your application materials (resume and cover letter). You can upload documents either by “dragging and dropping” them into the dropbox or by using the “upload” icon on the application page. For more detailed instructions on how to apply to a job at Cornell, visit How We Hire on the HR website. If you are an internal employee, please log in to Workday .

Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students, and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery, and engagement.

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University’s heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations.

   

Familiarize yourself with Cornell's COVID-19 workplace guidance as well as the university's COVID-19 services and information .

  

University Job Title:

Communications Assistant III

Job Family:

Communications/Marketing

Level:

C

Pay Rate Type:

Hourly

Pay Range:

$20.79 - $22.97

Remote Option Availability:

Hybrid Remote

Company:

Contract College

Contact Name:

Denise Smith

Job Titles and Pay Ranges:

Non-Union Positions

Noted pay ranges reflect the potential pay opportunity for each job profile. The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience

• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position

• Unique applicable skills

• Academic Discipline (faculty pay ranges reflects 9-month annual salary)

To learn more about Cornell’s non-union staff job titles and pay ranges, see Career Navigator .

Union Positions

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined in accordance with the rates in the respective collective bargaining agreement. To learn more about Cornell’s union wages, see Union Pay Rates .

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Most positions at Cornell will require you to apply online and submit both a resume/CV and cover letter.  You can upload documents either by “dragging and dropping” them into the dropbox or by using the “upload” icon on the application page. For more detailed instructions on how to apply to a job at Cornell, visit How We Hire on the HR website.

Employment Assistance:

For general questions about the position or the application process, please contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting or email [email protected] .

If you require an accommodation for a disability in order to complete an employment application or to participate in the recruiting process, you are encouraged to contact Cornell University's Office of Institutional Equity and Title IX at voice (607) 255-2242, or email at [email protected] .

Applicants that do not have internet access are encouraged to visit your local library, or local Department of Labor. You may also request an appointment to use a dedicated workstation in the Office of Talent Attraction and Recruitment, at the Ithaca campus, by emailing [email protected] .

Notice to Applicants:

Please read the required Notice to Applicants statement by clicking here . This notice contains important information about applying for a position at Cornell as well as some of your rights and responsibilities as an applicant.

EEO Statement:

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University’s heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, and we do not tolerate discrimination based on any protected characteristic, including race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex/gender, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law. 

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff to all identities and backgrounds. We encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.

2024-04-03