Science Coordinator

The Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Research Institute partners with faculty and staff to provide research administration at all stages of externally funded projects by promoting research and creative activity, encouraging collaborations, responsible stewardship of funds, and award compliance.

Position Overview:

The IUP, in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), is looking for a motivated individual to coordinate and facilitate science partnerships in the eastern deciduous forests landscape. The selected individual for the Science Coordinator role will work on an interdisciplinary team to identify and address critical science needs related to the delivery of NRCS technical and financial assistance within the priority region, including science needs of the Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW) partnership. The salary for this position is $48,000 – $50,000/yr + benefits.

Primary Duties:

Work with NRCS staff, IUP-RI staff, and others to:

• Collect and summarize the scientific literature relevant to NRCS and partner forestry and wildlife conservation programs and practices.
• Synthesize and disseminate existing scientific knowledge to the widest audience possible, including local NRCS offices and the larger conservation partnership groups. Particular attention will be paid to any “lessons learned” that can be immediately incorporated into the NRCS and partner efforts.
• Organize a meeting(s) with conservation partners to facilitate the communication of scientific knowledge across landscape partnerships.
• Create a collaborative approach for higher level identification and prioritization of current and future science needs within the landscape.
• Identify and expedite funding for an initial suite of projects to address critical science needs.
• Develop a partnership approach for facilitating outcome evaluation and reporting that can be implemented during the planning stage of individual conservation actions.
• Improve planning for on-going and emerging challenges and conservation opportunities, including climate smart agriculture and Farm Bill funding cycles.
• Create a communication framework that can be coordinated across the entire partnership including regional, state, and local NRCS staff.
• Explore ways to extend this model to other priority geographies of WLFW and NRCS activity.

Position Requirements:

• Willingness and ability to organize/facilitate/travel to/attend in-person meetings in the northeastern US is required.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects, produce effective results, and meet deadlines is required.
• Proven ability to be self-motivated, responsible, and solve problems is required. Applicant must be able to develop and manage their own daily work schedule to achieve results and work independently, while communicating regularly and effectively with the team.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Forestry or related field is required.
• A strong understanding of forest stand improvement practices and wildlife conservation in eastern deciduous forests is required.
• Professional skills, knowledge, and experience to assess, devise, and apply strategies for forest management to meet desired forestry and wildlife habitat objectives is strongly desired.
• Experience working with private landowners as well as public agencies (NRCS, USFWS, state forestry and wildlife agencies, etc.) is strongly desired.
• Knowledge of NRCS landowner cost-share programs such as EQIP is desired.

Note: Though this position is largely home office based, candidates should plan to be located in the eastern US. Candidates requesting remote work status must have existing reliable internet and telephone service at the proposed remote work site. The Science Coordinator will be an IUP-RI employee and represents IUP-RI in its work. The position will be supervised by the IUP-RI project manager.

To Apply

Please click "Apply" below to email a single PDF document containing 1) cover letter, 2) resume or CV, and 3) names and contact information for 3 references to Dr. Jeff Larkin at Researchinstitute-2@iup.edu. If you have any questions or require further information, please contact Jeff by email (larkin@iup.edu).

The IUP Research Institute does not discriminate in employment based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), disability, age, citizenship status, genetic information, GED rather than high school diploma, use of service animal and relationship or association with a disabled person.