RESILIENCE AND ADAPTATION SPECIALIST

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. 

Washington Sea Grant (WSG) has an outstanding opportunity for an individual that is excited to contribute to a team that values acceptance, inclusivity, and learning. As the Resilience and Adaptation Specialist, you will support local jurisdictions and communities in navigating complex coastal resilience issues through outreach, education, and research in Washington State.

The Resilience and Adaptation Specialist will provide expertise on reducing risk to sea level rise-related coastal hazards such as flooding and erosion and support communities in building foundational resilience and capacity to address those hazards. They will work with state agencies, tribes, local governments, and other stakeholders throughout the region to advance resilience to coastal hazards and climate change. Reporting to the Team Lead for Coastal Resilience, the position requires a professional who will assume responsibility for several ongoing projects and work with other UW, state, federal, tribal and private entities to initiate and lead programs that enhance the vitality and sustainability of coastal communities in the Puget Sound and Pacific coast regions.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Specific duties include

• Manage the Washington Coastal Hazards Resilience Network (CHRN) with equitable practices, taking into account the diversity of the Network.
• Support the development and use of USGS’ Coastal Storm Modeling System (CoSMoS), a system of accurate and credible flood exposure information readily accessible to jurisdictions for integration into planning and decision-making. Consider integration as it relates to the diverse communities potentially impacted by the planning and decision making processes.
• Assist Washington’s coastal communities in identifying, prioritizing, and securing funding for projects that enhance their resilience to sea level rise and interacting or related hazards, such as flooding and erosion.
• Provide education and training to build community capacity to proactively integrate risk reduction and hazards resilience.
• Leverage land use, hazard, and restoration planning to reduce the addition of new vulnerabilities, considering equitable practices and diversity in coastal communities.
• Conduct outreach across the state’s coastlines to connect Washingtonians to research, information, and practical tools for increasing resilience with emphasis in underserved communities that often face disproportionate impact from coastal hazards and climate change.
• Engage in research that supports coastal resilience and adaptation to sea level rise related hazards.

Other duties include

• Contribute to maintaining a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, by valuing diverse perspectives, enhancing cultural understanding, and supporting equal access to programming that facilitates sound, place-based decision-making based on relevant traditional and local knowledge.
• Participate in relevant Sea Grant, local, regional and national networks.
• Participate in the development of grant proposals to support related project implementation, research and extension efforts.
• Contribute to WSG program reporting and evaluations.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Master's degree or above in a field of study that demonstrates knowledge in planning for and adapting to climate change and sea level rise and their related impacts. Study areas could include, but are not limited to, Environmental Science, Coastal Management, Marine Affairs, Planning, Landscape Architecture, or Public Policy with an emphasis in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field.
• A minimum of three years of work experience in a related field which demonstrates applicable experience for the position. 

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Community/public engagement, outreach, and facilitation experience, including interpreting scientific research and technical reports in order to hold conversations with various partners and resource user groups.
• Written and verbal communication skills that demonstrate the ability to interpret technical information and explain it accurately in non-technical language.
• Ability to travel to other locations throughout the region to engage with community partners and visit project sites.

DESIRED:

• Work experience that demonstrates success in developing outreach partnerships and initiatives with academic, government, technical, tribal and nongovernmental organizations on coastal resilience issues.
• Work experience with public speaking, presentation and meeting facilitation.
• Commitment to principles of diversity, equity and inclusion shared by Washington Sea Grant and the UW College of the Environment.
• Ability to manage demanding workflow; initiate, manage and complete tasks with minimal supervision; work effectively with diverse constituencies in-person and remotely via email and phone; and maintain attention to detail and process.
• Understanding of coastal hazards and sea level rise issues related to Washington State.
• Experience with Microsoft Office and Google suite products. This position will use an Apple laptop.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Primary office location for the Resilience and Adaptation Specialist will be situated within western Washington with the specific location determined with input from the successful candidate. Work activities will occur at WSG offices, meeting facilities and other off site locations throughout Western Washington. Workload demand requires periodic evening and weekend hours and ability to travel to meeting locations across the region.

Application Process:
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process.  These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others.  Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.