Climate Change and Public Engagement Educator - Ithaca, NY

    

Position Summary:

The Climate Change and Public Engagement Educator will assist with a multi-year participatory research project focusing on climate change hazards and civic participation in the City of Ithaca. This position will be housed at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County under Supervision of the Energy and Climate Change Team Leader and Environment Issue Leader. This position will involve significant collaboration with civic and community partners, and research faculty and staff at Cornell University.

The position will assist in developing and delivering a participatory curriculum and data collection methods based on the principles of ‘popular education’ to co-generate knowledge of local climate change risks and hazards in the City of Ithaca. Equip residents to participate in civic pathways such as Participatory Budgeting. This position will lead in other areas of the project including scheduling and logistics for community-based workshops, development and maintenance of partnerships with other community-based organizations, collection of quantitative and qualitative data of participant experiences, delivery educational curriculum with and without partners, and drafting of technical and other materials including an article for journal submission.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree with 2 years of transferable relevant experience. A master’s degree in a relevant field may substitute for up to two years’ experience.
• Proficiency with word processing, presentation, email and database software.
• Strong interpersonal skills with proven ability to work effectively with advisory boards and committees, and community and funding partners.
• Ability to initiate, plan, organize, implement, teach, and evaluate informal educational programs.
• Ability to work effectively as a team member.
• Ability and commitment to working with diverse audiences while maintaining an inclusive work environment.
• Ability to communicate effectively through oral, written, and visual channels using traditional educational tools and methods.
• Ability to plan and organize personal work responsibilities according to priorities developed with the immediate supervisor.
• Ability to work with a high degree of integrity, sound professional judgment, and the ability to handle confidential and sensitive information.
• Ability to meet travel requirements associated with this position.
• Ability to meet acceptable background check standards, if required.
• Familiarity with social science research practices, including human subject interactions.
• Ability to work flexible hours, which may include evenings and/or weekends, as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in sociology, public administration environment and climate change, science or policy communication, or related discipline.
• Knowledge of or interest in local climate change issues; familiarity and/or experience with municipal budget processes and climate change projects
• Familiarity with qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis.
• Ability to effectively use print and electronic media to further program goals.
• Knowledge of community based social marketing or other behavior-change-focused outreach methods.
• Knowledge of and experience working with people who commonly face barriers to participation in civic pathways, such as older adults, low-income families, and people with disabilities.
• Experience developing and implementing educational programming.

Responsibilities/Essential Functions:

Program Responsibilities:

Program Development -10%

• Assist Team Leader with development of climate change education programming to meet identified project and research goals and grant requirements including:
  • Advance collective knowledge, multi-modal cooperation and cross-issue dialog through coordination of a research program advisory committee to assist with program development.
  • Assist Team Leader to bring people, information and resources together to encourage local exploration and development of innovative climate change pedagogy.

• Assist the Communications Coordinator with development of program materials.
• Consider the needs of diverse and priority audiences when assisting with program development.
• Assist Team Leader to incorporate evaluation results to improve programs.

Program Delivery- 55%

• Deliver educational programs with a focus on climate change risks and hazards and co-generation of resident experiences with climate change.
• Adapt educational lesson plans and materials to meet the needs of diverse audiences; adapt curriculum in partnership with community organizations specializing in areas including labor, housing, emergency response, grid reliability, and public health.
• Utilize a variety of educational methods which may include 1-1 consultations, teaching, facilitation of group experiences, partnerships with other organizations and educators, and use of media, newsletters, electronic technology, internet, and distance learning to promote and deliver programming.
• Create learning environments and facilitate groups working on climate change issues; provide technical assistance for participants to access local funding opportunities and/or participate in local civic pathways for directing public investment.
• Serve as subject matter resource to connect staff and clientele, including agencies, consumers, and other groups with relevant resources.
• Represent CCE-Tompkins on community groups and advisory boards as assigned.
• Design, deliver, and administer data collection methods including quantitative (surveys, such as Likert scale) and qualitative (i.e. interviews) to assess participant learning outcomes.
• Collect and analyze data with relevant partners to assess effectiveness of educational methods at preparing residents to access local opportunities.

Program Evaluation -10%

• Interpret evaluation data for reporting and program improvement purposes using standard, established policy, procedures and methods.
• Interact with program participants, the community, Cornell faculty, and staff to collect evaluation data for improving the workshop model, educational curriculum, and research design.
• Assist in recommending program changes to strengthen and improve programs based on program evaluation results.

Administrative Responsibilities:
 

Direction -5%

• Assist with identifying resources necessary to implement initiatives and projects.
• Assist with development of marketing strategies to reach target audiences and meet program objectives.
• Provide supervisor(s) with program related information to assist the budget development process.

Management -5%

• Assist in monitoring program to ensure that educational content conforms to policies and objectives of the association and is research based.
• Assist with the monitoring of program income and expenses to ensure that spending is within the program budget.
• Assist in obtaining resources necessary to implement initiatives and projects.
• Assist E+CC team leader in oversight of intern(s) as appropriate.

Coordination/Operation -10%

• Collect materials for grant and contract proposal submission.
• Provide information as requested to assist with preparation of reports, impact statements, and success stories on program progress and accomplishments for funders, advisory committees, Board, and others, as necessary.
• Oversee program logistics for 10-15 in-person workshops over a period of several months, including scheduling, space rental, translation and printing of materials, and addressing participation barriers including childcare and transportation.
• Draft materials, to include a technical memo and academic journal article to document and share findings with a broad audience.

Professional Improvement and other Duties as Assigned -5%

• In cooperation with the Supervisor, jointly develop and pursue a professional development plan to increase competencies relative to position accountabilities and to address changes in programming and association priorities.
• Participate in all required orientation, training, and/or in-service meetings and training courses, as scheduled/required.
• Pursue personal growth through expanding personal knowledge of the total organization and through updating techniques and technical skills relating to the position.
• Perform assignments and other duties as assigned by supervisor.
• Collaborate in activities that are supportive of Cornell Cooperative Extension, including but not limited to, attendance at staff meetings, timely reporting of expenses, working with other staff, general marketing of Cooperative Extension programs and other duties, as assigned.

Health and Safety: Applied to all duties and functions.

• Support the Association to maintain a safe working environment.
• Be familiar with and strive to follow any applicable federal, state, local regulations, Association health and safety policy/procedure/requirement and standard.
• Act proactively to prevent accidents/injuries and communicate hazards to supervisors when identified.

EEO/EPO and Policy: Applied to all duties and functions.

• Appreciate and embrace diversity in all interactions with clientele, staff, volunteers and the public.
• Assist the CCE system in reaching out to diverse audiences.
• Represent CCE Tompkins to the public, community leaders, colleagues, volunteers, members of Cornell University faculty and staff, government officials, and the public in a professional manner.
• Adheres to established CCE Tompkins policies, procedures, and Cornell Skills for Success.
• Contribute to the overall success of the organization by performing all assigned duties in a professional, timely, and accurate manner.
• At all times act in a professional Customer Service manner including but not limited to business-like demeanor, tactful communications, cooperative, helpful, positive, and receptive manner.

This is a full time, 40 hours per week, benefits eligible, non-exempt position. Compensation paid at the rate of $25.56 per hour, depending on experience Excellent benefits, based on eligibility, including:

• Vacation, Sick and Personal time
• Paid Holidays
• NYS Health Insurance Program (including Dental Insurance)
• NYS Retirement
• Long-term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Tax Deferred Annuity
• Voluntary Flexible Spending Accounts
• Voluntary Group Universal Life Insurance
• Voluntary Personal Accidental Insurance
• Voluntary Legal Plan Insurance
• Voluntary Long Term Care Insurance
• Voluntary Auto and Homeowner’s Insurance
• Voluntary Pet Insurance
• Voluntary New York’s College Savings Program
• Vision Access Program
• Employee Assistance Program

Please be sure to read the Notice to Applicants found on the Jobs with CCE page:

https://cals.cornell.edu/cornell-cooperative-extension/join-us/jobs

How To Apply:  Applicants (including current employees of other Cornell Cooperative Extension Associations other than Tompkins) must apply online through the APPLY button in this job posting. Current employees of the Cornell Cooperative Extension Association indicated in this job posting are considered internal applicants and must apply online through their Workday account which may be accessed here: http://workday.cornell.edu/

All applicants are requested to submit a cover letter, resume and indicate three individuals who may be contacted as a reference.  Please consider indicating in your application all information you feel would be helpful for selection committee members to know.  Once the application is submitted you will NOT be able to change your submission or add attachments. Be sure that you have followed all directions and requirements listed in the job posting. 

All applications must be received on-line by January 16, 2026. The position will be open until a suitable candidate is found.

Please consider indicating in your application all information you feel would be helpful for selection committee members to know.  Once the application is submitted you will NOT be able to change your submission or add attachments. Be sure that you have followed all directions and requirements listed in the job posting.

The Association may make reasonable accommodations to enable applicants to participate in the hiring process and employees to perform the essential functions of their job. If you require an accommodation so you may participate in the selection process you are encouraged to contact CCE Tompkins HR at tompkins-hr@cornell.edu. 

  

Job Title:

Association Subject Educator II

Level:

003

Pay Rate Type:

Hourly

Company:

Contract College

Contact Name:

Sherrhonda Daniels

Cornell Cooperative Extension is a collaboration among Cornell University, the United States Department of Agriculture, the State of New York, and the residents of New York State. Per NYS Law, county and regional extension service associations are subordinate government agencies. This employment opportunity is with the entities listed and not with Cornell University.

Notice to Applicants: Please read the required Notice to Applicants statement. This notice contains important information about applying for a position at Cornell Cooperative Extension as well as some of your rights and responsibilities as an applicant.