Program Specialist II – US CLIVAR Project Office

Located at the above address in Washington, DC, the Project Office manages US CLIVAR, a national research program investigating the variability and predictability of the global climate system on seasonal, interannual, decadal and centennial timescales, with a particular emphasis on the role of the ocean and its interaction with other parts of the Earth system.

Organizationally, the US CLIVAR Project Office is operated within the UCAR Community Programs (UCP), which is headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. UCP offers a suite of innovative resources, tools, and services for the atmospheric and Earth science community.

What You Will Do:

The Program Specialist II will work collaboratively with the US Climate Variability and Predictability (CLIVAR) Project Office Director to:

• Assist the US CLIVAR science community in planning and implementing coordinated research efforts to achieve program goals;
• Develop and deliver useful communication and outreach materials providing timely information on US CLIVAR science advances, programmatic directions, and new opportunities to a diverse set of audiences;
• Provide organizational support to enable work of US CLIVAR science planning and implementation bodies and to facilitate interagency dialogue.

The Project Office is responsible for providing day-to-day operational scientific and technical support to advance US CLIVAR goals, as guided by the US CLIVAR Science Steering Committee (SSC) and the Inter-Agency Group (IAG) of program managers. The Program is organized and implemented by a volunteer force of scientists who participate as members of the SSC, its implementation panels, working groups, science teams, and workshop organizing committees.

Four US federal agencies (National Aeronautics and Space Administration—NASA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration—NOAA, National Science Foundation—NSF, and US Department of Energy—DOE) provide funding through multi-year cooperative agreements and grants with the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) to host the Project Office in Washington DC.

Responsibilities:

Communications Management

• Updates and implements an annual communications plan—Charts progress in prior year communication activities; identifies topics and targets for communication products in the coming year; periodically surveys the science community for feedback and recommendations for product improvement.
• Manages production and distribution of US CLIVAR reports—Compiles, edits, formats layout, publishes, and promotes biannual Summit and Science Team reports, and other Working Group, workshop, and special US CLIVAR reports.
• Manages production and distribution of the online US CLIVAR quarterly science publication Variations — Solicits contributing science articles from the research community; writes program summary articles; compiles contributions, edits, and formats layout for final review, and arranges publication and distribution to community.
• Develops and issues the monthly US CLIVAR electronic news-gram—Identifies relevant and timely content including community developments, upcoming meetings, and opportunities of interest to the research community; edits and formats each edition; ensures timely distribution to US CLIVAR subscribers.
• Manages content for the US CLIVAR website—generates and posts information on the US CLIVAR website, ensuring it is clearly presented and regularly updated to engage and inform diverse audiences on science foci, research advances, program organization, publications, events, and opportunities.
• Manages the US CLIVAR webinar series—works with community to identify science and programmatic topics; invites and confirms presenters; schedules, advertises, and facilitates the webinars; tracks participation and solicits feedback; maintains website accessible recordings of past webinars.
• Leads social media strategy—generates posts, develops strategy to engage a broader audience, tracks metrics, stays abreast of current social media platforms and adapts to new opportunities for communication.
• Develops and maintains materials for presentations on US CLIVAR science and programs for audiences ranging from scientists, funding agency officials, other research and assessment programs, the media, and the general public.
• Recommends and implements improvements for communication vehicles and identifies new avenues for promoting and communicating US CLIVAR science, program activities, and opportunities.

Organizational Support of Program Planning and Implementation

• Engages, with the Director, the US CLIVAR SSC in achieving program goals and strategies, evaluates annual progress, and identifies and coordinates new research thrusts.
• Keeps apprised of scientific and programmatic developments nationally and internationally to benefit planning, implementation, and communication efforts.
• Enables meetings of planning and implementation bodies—Schedules, arranges logistics, contributes to and confirms agenda, disseminates information materials, and drafts discussion summaries in support of teleconferences and meetings of the US CLIVAR Interagency Group, Scientific Steering Committee, Panels, Science Teams, Working Groups, and other organizing bodies.
• Engages scientific leadership in planning, organizing, publicizing, arranging logistics, staffing, and communicating results of US CLIVAR-sponsored science meetings, workshops, and conferences.
• Engages the US CLIVAR participating agencies to identify and announce relevant funding opportunities and to collate an updated inventory of CLIVAR-related agency activities and publications.
• Selects and supervises interns to assist in program support activities.
• Identifies and promotes opportunities for early career scientists and students, including participation in US CLIVAR activities.
• Maintains and updates US CLIVAR group elists and shared drives to facilitate ongoing communication within the groups.
• Manages the Project Office hardware, software, and supplies procurement.

What You Need:

Education and Years of Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in oceanography, meteorology, or earth system science plus
• Two years of work experience related to the job duties of the position

– OR –

• An equivalent combination of education and experience (such as a Master’s degree and one year of experience)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Working knowledge of the principles, concepts, and research approaches addressing variability and predictability of the climate system and its impacts
• Skill in identifying program opportunities and challenges and devising plans for bridging gaps
• Skill in organizing meetings and summarizing discussion and outcomes
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to prepare technical and administrative reports and to give scientifically technical presentations
• Skill in acquiring and synthesizing scientific and programmatic information from a wide range of sources to inform and promote the program for technical and non-technical audiences
• Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to handle multiple and diverse tasks with short turnaround and tasks that require long-term planning and sustained implementation
• Skill in use of administrative computer software, especially in support of document layout and publication and website content management
• Skill in assessing and meeting constituent needs within the context of evolving science and budget priorities
• Ability to communicate and interact with a diverse group of scientists, federal agency managers, and national/international science organizations
• Ability to build partnerships and develop a network of contacts and resources
• Ability to work under pressure, to meet deadlines, and to effectively engage others to do so
• Ability to handle confidential/sensitive information in a manner consistent with UCAR policy, acting with integrity and exhibiting behavior that merits public trust and confidence
• Ability and willingness to travel, as needed

Desired Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Experience in physical climate research
• Background in climate science directly relevant to the US CLIVAR Program
• Interest in the science/user interface
• Skill in using software applications, including database management, web site and publication design, and Microsoft Office product suite