Climate Social Science Specialist

The Climate Social Science Specialist will be an advanced researcher operating with significant independence on topics of moderate complexity. We anticipate this individual working with a team of research and outreach staff to drive the development of project and program deliverables; to identify opportunities to leverage ongoing work into tools, reports, white papers, case studies, peer-reviewed publications, and other means of sharing lessons learned across communities of practice; and to provide methodological mentorship to earlier career staff.

There is significant ongoing equitable climate adaptation activity taking place at CIG, but not enough of that activity is captured and shared in a way that improves our team’s overall impact. The Climate Social Science Specialist will focus on identifying opportunities in CIG’s ongoing work to scale that work and increase impact. This position will assist CIG’s principal investigators on existing projects. This will include active participation in some projects, but also putting in additional effort beyond completing the projects themselves to ensure the work is available to share with peer communities or to decision makers. We anticipate this position initially working on projects that are part of the Northwest Climate Resilience Collaborative, which centers the resilience needs of frontline communities in a research and engagement program.

Social science methodological expertise and knowledge of climate resilience related literature is required for this position, as is a willingness to learn new methodologies and additional literatures as needed. Methodologies could include literature reviews and syntheses, document and discourse analysis, photovoice, surveys, interviews, document coding, Q methodology, etc.

This position may engage with several of the CIG’s and NCRC’s collaborators and community-based partners, which include community-based and nonprofit organizations, decision and policy makers, and resource managers. Therefore, the ideal candidate will have deep knowledge of and experience with equitable coproduction theory and practice.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Support climate resilience engagement and research (70%)

• Work with CIG and NCRC research leads to identify opportunities for and then to develop a range of outputs including community-oriented reports, issue briefs, case studies, white papers, online tools and resources, peer-reviewed publications, as well as unconventional, innovative or creative outputs;

• Engage in social science research on CIG and NCRC equitable climate adaptation efforts using a range of methodologies, potentially including literature reviews and syntheses, document and discourse analysis, surveys, interviews, Q method, or others;

• Apply and expand knowledge on equitable co-production methods and approaches to advance climate resilience with frontline communities;

• Support in the writing of grant proposals to secure funding for carrying out related community engagement and applied research and resilience projects.

• Support NCRC program evaluation, develop and implement evaluation tools and protocols, and synthesize evaluation findings.

• Develop science communication products (e.g., accessible reports, web content, annotated bibliographies, briefing papers, and fact sheets) for diverse audiences including state agencies and local governments.

• Mentor earlier career staff in social science research methodologies as needed to improve CIG and NCRC research efforts and overall impact.

Project Management, Engagement, and Communications (30%)

• Provide logistical and organizational support for workshops, meetings, and other external engagement activities.

• Provide project management support for projects focused on climate resilience planning and implementation.

• Represent CIG and conduct outreach on climate impacts and adaptation science for diverse audiences, including the production and delivery of presentations on climate impacts and adaptation practices relevant in the Northwest.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor’s degree in a social science field and four years of relevant experience, OR Equivalent combination of education/experience.

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

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Experience applying qualitative and/or quantitative social science research methods to real world issues to enhance knowledge generation and sharing.

• Proven ability to learn new social science research methods and new literatures as needed in support of research project and program needs.

• Experience developing outputs such as white papers, peer-reviewed publications, synthesis reports, and annotated bibliographies, or other innovative or creative outputs

• Experience communicating science findings and assessment to diverse academic and non-academic audiences, including community groups, nonprofits, resource managers, and local, state, and federal agencies, and policy makers.

• Strong oral and written communication skills, including synthesizing scientific literature and other sources of knowledge orally and in writing.

• Familiarity with climate science and climate change impacts.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Masters or Ph.D. in social science field

• Experience mentoring people in social science research methods.

• Familiarity with theory/practice of effective methods for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research;

• Familiarity with theory/practice of climate and environmental justice

• Track record of peer reviewed publications