Tribal Climate Adaptation Specialist

The University of Washington Climate Impacts Group (CIG) supports the development of climate resilience by advancing understanding of climate risks & enabling science-based action to manage those risks.

Since 1995, the Climate Impacts Group has linked cutting edge scientific research with innovative approaches to community engagement to produce exceptional research products, develop strong relationships among resource managers, planners, and policy makers in the region and build regional capacity for addressing climatic variability and change. The Climate Impacts Group is a member organization of EarthLab.

EarthLab is a visionary institute that pushes boundaries to address our most pressing environmental challenges, with a focus on climate and its intersection with social justice. EarthLab does this by connecting faculty, students and researchers at the University of Washington to community collaborators in businesses, non-profits, public agencies, Tribal nations and others to co-produce actionable research that generates solutions and strategies for local and global impact. EarthLab’s vision, an equitable, just and sustainable world where people and planet thrive, supports one of the University’s biggest goals. As a Carnegie-classified Community Engagement University, the UW aspires to be the #1 university in the world as measured by impact. EarthLab is inspired by and committed to this challenge.

The University of Washington is located in the greater Seattle metropolitan area, with a dynamic, multicultural community of 3.7 million people and a range of ecosystems from mountains to ocean. The UW serves a diverse population of 80,000 students, faculty and staff, including 25% first-generation college students, over 25% Pell Grant students, and faculty from over 70 countries. The UW is a recipient of a National Science Foundation ADVANCE Institutional Transformation Award to increase the advancement of women faculty in science, engineering, and math (see http://advance.washington.edu/).

POSITION OVERVIEW

The University of Washington Climate Impacts Group (CIG) is hiring a Tribal Climate Adaptation Specialist to expand CIG’s efforts to support Tribal resilience efforts in the Northwest. This position will work within the Northwest Climate Resilience Collaborative (NCRC) as a member of its Tribal Coastal Resilience Portfolio team. The Tribal Coastal Resilience Portfolio supports the climate readiness of coastal Tribes in Washington and Oregon by centering coastal Tribal priorities and participation in climate adaptation; providing information to Tribes and non-tribal partners for advancing coastal resilience; and enhancing capacity for addressing the climate risks and needs of coastal Tribes.

Candidates for this role will:

• Demonstrate experience using climate information to inform climate adaptation and resilience efforts
• Show familiarity with best practices around Tribal outreach and engagement
• Have experience managing grant program and supporting partners throughout the grant lifecycle
• Be passionate about our organizational mission and co-production model

This position will play a leading role in delivering technical support and coordinating a new grants program to advance the climate adaptation efforts of Northwest coastal Tribes. This position will require knowledge of climate impacts and adaptation, experience using climate information to inform climate adaptation and resilience efforts, and familiarity with best practices around Tribal outreach and engagement.

This position will support coastal Tribes at any stage in the climate adaptation process, including vulnerability assessment and adaptation planning, project implementation, monitoring and evaluation. This may include connecting Tribal partners with technical information, data, expertise and other resources and experts; identifying potential funding sources and supporting proposal preparation; providing training and capacity building opportunities; or other tasks as needed to be responsive to Tribal needs.

This position will also work with Tribal partners to codesign and implement a new grants program. This will involve Tribal outreach and communication to raise awareness of the program and gather input on program design; preparation and dissemination of grant opportunities; and providing support to Tribal partners with proposal preparation, submission, administration and reporting.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Grant Program Management [40%)

• Work collaboratively with the Tribal Coastal Resilience portfolio team, the project’s Tribal Advisory Group, and Tribal partners to support co-design of a new, small-grants program serving the resilience needs of Northwest coastal Tribes.
• Support Tribal partners throughout the grant life-cycle, which may include calls for proposals, proposal preparation and submission, grant administration, and reporting.
• Lead evaluation of the grants program, including design and implementation of metrics of success.
  Provide outreach to Tribal partners to share opportunities for informing and participating in the grants program.

Climate Adaptation Outreach and Technical Support [40%]

• Connect Tribal partners with technical information, data, resources and expertise to support their climate adaptation needs.
• Provide climate adaptation training and capacity building opportunities for Tribal partners.
• Provide outreach to Tribal partners to share opportunities for informing and participating in technical support opportunities.

Project Coordination [20%]

• As a key member of the NCRC Tribal Coastal Resilience project team, participate in team meetings and provide operational support to the team as needed (e.g., contribute to reporting).
• Provide outreach to Tribal partners to share and gather input on project activities via presentations, workshops, attending Tribal conferences, etc.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree in climate science, natural resource management or a related field;
• Two (2) or more years of experience in climate science, natural resource management, Tribal relations, or related fields.

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

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Demonstrated experience or training in conducting research, assessment, engagement, or technical support related to climate change impacts and/or adaptation;
• Demonstrated cultural competence, leading with curiosity and humility to facilitate relationships across different perspectives, values, knowledge specializations, and geographies;
• A commitment to enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion within the CIG and NCRC teams and programs.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in climate science, natural resource management or a related field;
• Four (4) or more years of experience
• Experience working with Tribal governments, organizations and communities.
• Knowledge of treaties, Tribal sovereignty and self-determination.
• Demonstrated understanding of best practices for Tribal engagement.
• Familiarity with the state of knowledge of climate impacts in the Pacific Northwest, and with adaptation efforts underway by Tribal governments as well as public and private sector organizations.

COMPENSATION

• $6158 – $7,037 per month salary range + UW Benefits