The Program Specialist II position operates in the Climate and Health Portfolio of the NOAA Climate Program Office (CPO) for the benefit of the program’s scientific community and its stakeholders. The Climate Program Office manages competitive research programs in which NOAA funds high-priority climate science, assessments, decision support research, outreach, education, and capacity-building activities designed to advance our understanding of Earth’s climate system, and to foster the application of this knowledge in risk management and adaptation efforts. CPO-supported research is conducted in regions across the United States, at national and international scales, and globally.
This position will focus on the extreme heat and health activities of the Climate and Health portfolio, working as a member of both the Extreme Heat Risk Initiative and the National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS).
This position will be located at the NOAA Climate Program Office in Silver Spring, MD.
Responsibilities:
NIHHIS Online Presence and Content Development
- Maintain and enhance the National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) portal and content. Co-design and co-develop new versions of the NIHHIS portal, as well as new features, content, and layouts, in collaboration with the Communication, Education, and Engagement Division (CEE), CPO webmaster, Climate.gov, and the Climate Resilience Toolkit.
- Prepare and distribute communications such as the Heat Beat newsletter
- Prepare and maintain other NIHHIS communication and engagement materials such as congressional briefing sheets, CPO “Hot Items” presentations, and posters.
Extreme Heat Risk Initiative Team Support
- Facilitate regular meetings, agendas, minutes, and action items.
- Sustain and grow engagement with stakeholders and awardees through email, webinars, and other mechanisms.
- Support program management activities such organizing peer review panels, reporting on outcomes, and planning new strategic initiatives.
NIHHIS Interagency Coordination
- Facilitate regular meetings of the NIHHIS Interagency Working Group.
- Coordinate interagency planning, project development, and delivery.
Meeting and Other Engagement Support
- Support planning of workshops, meetings, webinars, and other engagement and outreach activities, such as the bi-annual NIHHIS National Meeting.
- Coordinate with partner organizations and initiatives, particularly the Global Heat Health Information Network (GHHIN), the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), and the Group on Earth Observations (GEO).
- Support Climate and Health Program activities and other duties as assigned.
DECISION MAKING & PROBLEM-SOLVING
- Works under general supervision with program staff and internal and external stakeholders/programs to represent the organization on specific projects.
- Team-oriented, and able to collaborate with a wide range of partners and cultures.
- Professionalism and discretion – this position will work with privileged information such as applications for funding.
Eligibility
- A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and at least two years of experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience, working in communication and engagement activities. Must have an interest in climate and health, as well as in transdisciplinary science and working across the science/user interface.
- Familiarity with NOAA is required.
- A Master’s degree in environmental and/or health science, and two or more years of experience in science communications.
- Ability to work independently, requesting additional information when needed.
- Ability to manage multiple work responsibilities, dynamically prioritize as new projects and duties are introduced.
- Adept with web development platforms, Microsoft Office, Google, webinar technology, social media, and other communication and engagement platforms.
- Strong written and oral communication skills when conveying complex scientific ideas to a general audience.
- Familiarity with geospatial analysis and ability to develop light uses of geospatial data such as Esri Story Maps, preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to plan and organize meetings
The application deadline is 17th May 2021
