Associate/Assistant Extension Educator in Land Use Planning and Climate Resilience

INTRODUCTION

The Department of Extension within the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (CAHNR) is seeing applicants for an Assistant/Associate Extension Educator in Land Use Planning and Climate Resilience. We seek an individual whose professional skills and abilities can be applied to (1) the training and support of professional and volunteer local land use decision-makers and (2) providing support to communities in climate resiliency planning. This position will be a core faculty member in the award-winning Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR), be a part of the CLEAR Land & Climate Program Team, and contribute to the Center’s mission of supporting communities in balancing growth and natural resource protection. The ideal candidate will have expertise in translational outreach programming in the areas of local land use planning, land use commissioner roles and responsibilities, and climate resiliency at the community level. The candidate will lead CLEAR’s Land Use Academy training program for land use commissioners, contribute to the Climate Corps life transformative education (LTE) program for undergraduates, and contribute to Adapt CT, a partnership of CLEAR and CT Sea Grant. The position will be based in the Department of Extension. There are also opportunities to collaborate with municipalities, state and federal government agencies, the CT Bar Association, the CT Chapter of the American Planning Association, the CT Association of Inland Wetland Commissioners, and across UConn through the Connecticut Sea Grant and the Connecticut Institute of Water Resources.

The Department of Extension in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources works collaboratively with partners in all 169 municipalities across Connecticut, throughout the northeast region, and beyond. It is a non-tenuring unit with 35 faculty and 30 program and administrative staff. Additional grant-specific program personnel assist to solve problems and enhance the well-being of our state citizens where they live, work, and learn. Work carried out by the Department constitutes the majority of the UConn Extension System. Faculty and staff conduct activities through eight county/community-based offices and may be co-located with additional community/agency-based working partners when applicable.

The College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (CAHNR) has developed and implemented a Strategic Vision to guide the development and focus of our teaching, research, and Extension programs in the years 2020-2025. All faculty and technical staff are expected to contribute in some way to the implementation of CAHNR’s five strategic priorities (https://cahnr.uconn.edu/visionandvalues):  

Ensuring a vibrant agricultural industry and sustainable food supply  

  • Enhancing health and well-being locally, nationally, and globally.
  • Dismantling structural racism and fostering environments that advance racial equity, inclusion, and belonging by advocating for antiracist policies, practices, and norms.  
  • Fostering sustainable landscapes across urban-rural interfaces. 
  • Advancing resilience and adaptation in a changing climate. 

The University and CAHNR prioritize scholarship in areas that impact quality of life, including human, animal, plant, and environmental health and sustainability. We encourage and provide support for cross-disciplinary, collaborative scholarship across the College, University, nation, and globe. UConn is committed to Life Transforming Education for students and Extension audiences. UConn is recognized as one of the most sustainable and environmentally friendly campuses by the Sierra Club. 

Founded in 1881, UConn is a Land Grant and Sea Grant institution and member of the Space Grant Consortium. It is the state’s flagship institution of higher education and includes a main campus in Storrs, CT, four regional campuses throughout the state, and 13 Schools and Colleges, including a Law School in Hartford, and Medical and Dental Schools at the UConn Health campus in Farmington. The University has approximately 10,000 faculty and staff and 32,000 students, including nearly 24,000 undergraduates and over 8,000 graduate and professional students. UConn is a Carnegie Foundation R1 (highest research activity) institution, among the top 25 public universities in the nation. Through research, teaching, service, and outreach, UConn embraces diversity and cultivates leadership, integrity, and engaged citizenship in its students, faculty, staff, and alumni. UConn promotes the health and well-being of citizens by enhancing the social, economic, cultural, and natural environments of the state and beyond. The University serves as a beacon of academic and research excellence as well as a center for innovation and social service to communities. UConn is a leader in many scholarly, research, and innovation areas. Today, the path forward includes exciting opportunities and notable challenges. Record numbers of undergraduate applications and support for student success have enabled the University to become extraordinarily selective.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Land Use Academy - The successful applicant will provide leadership to CLEAR’s long-standing Land Use Academy program, which has been the primary provider of basic and advanced land use commissioner training in CT for over 2 decades. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing and implementing innovative, effective, and engaging approaches to expand both the topics and accessibility of this training to address new state-mandated training requirements. The incumbent will also build, maintain, and expand collaborations with land use stakeholders, including, but not limited to, the CT Office of Policy and Management, Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM), Connecticut Council of Small Towns (COST), councils of government (COGs), CT Bar Association, CT Chapter of the American Planning Association, CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), and others.
  • Adapt CT - The successful applicant will develop and deliver impactful extension programs and provide co-leadership to Adapt CT, a collaboration between CLEAR and CT Sea Grant that facilitates the exchange of information on local climate adaptation and resiliency between municipalities, researchers, and other professionals; provides tools and technical assistance to communities; and has the option to help teach and engage undergraduate students in community climate resiliency efforts through the award-winning Climate Corps program.
  • The successful applicant will be expected to seek external funding to enhance extension programs. Activities will also include building collaborative, interdisciplinary networks between UConn CLEAR, other extension educators, and academic faculty. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

  • An earned Master’s degree in land use planning, environmental management, environmental sciences, or related discipline and three years of on the ground experience in local land use planning for hire at the Assistant Extension Educator level.
  • An earned Master's degree in land use planning, environmental management, environmental sciences, or related discipline and five or more years of experience on the ground experience in local land use planning for consideration at the Associate Extension Educator level.
  • Understanding and awareness of the local impacts of climate change and potential adaptation solutions.
  • Experience obtaining and managing competitive grants.
  • Demonstrated superior oral and written communication and interpersonal skills.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

  • Active AICP Certification.
  • Knowledge and understanding of Geographic Information Systems(GIS)/geospatial technologies.
  • Local land use planning experience in Connecticut.
  • Demonstrated expertise in outreach activities and program planning.
  • Expertise and experience in dealing with the local impacts of climate change, preferably in New England and including impacts on vulnerable populations.
  • A history of funding from state and/or federal agencies.
  • A record of publishing extension and peer-reviewed research.
  • A record of commitment to promoting and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion through academic, extension, and/or research activities.

APPOINTMENT TERMS 

This is a full-time, 11-month renewable, non-tenure track faculty position. This position is located at the Middlesex County Extension Center in Haddam, CT. Partial funding (80%) is provided, while the remaining 20% will be grant supported. In the first two years, 20% support will be provided by a USDA-Smith Lever grant awarded to UConn. After the first two years, this position will continue as an 80% hard-funded position and the incumbent will be expected to obtain self-secured grant funding to support the remaining 20%, which could include any sources identified by the Educator. This position is subject to annual renewal based on performance and on the successful candidate’s ability to secure grant funding. Information on benefits can be found at: https://hr.uconn.edu/benefits-beyond-pay/.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check.

TO APPLY 

Please apply online to Academic Jobs Online (Insert Link) and submit the following application materials:

  • Cover letter summarizing how your qualifications and experience meet the position requirements (maximum two pages).
  • Curriculum vitae.
  • Statement on justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (maximum one page).
  • Names and contact information for at least three references including emails.

Review of applications will begin on March 27, 2023, and continue until a successful candidate is selected. Inquiries should be sent by email to the search committee chair, CLEAR Interim Director David Dickson, at david.dickson@uconn.edu

At the University of Connecticut, our commitment to excellence is complemented by our commitment to building a culturally diverse community.

This position will be filled subject the budgetary approval.

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp.

 

The University of Connecticut is committed to building and supporting a multicultural and diverse community of students, faculty and staff. The diversity of students, faculty and staff continues to increase, as does the number of honors students, valedictorians and salutatorians who consistently make UConn their top choice. More than 100 research centers and institutes serve the University’s teaching, research, diversity, and outreach missions, leading to UConn’s ranking as one of the nation’s top research universities. UConn’s faculty and staff are the critical link to fostering and expanding our vibrant, multicultural and diverse University community. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer, UConn encourages applications from women, veterans, people with disabilities and members of traditionally underrepresented populations.

 

 


Application Materials Required:

Submit the following items online at this website to complete your application:

  • Cover letter
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Statement on Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
  • Three or more references (no actual letters, just names and email addresses )

And anything else requested in the position description.


Further Info:

http://www.extension.uconn.edu/

 

UConn Extension
University of Connecticut,
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
1376 Storrs Road, Unit 4036
Storrs, Connecticut 06269-4036