Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology & Science
About the Department
The Coastal Resilience and Sustainability Initiative, established under the Provost’s office, aims to provide practical solutions to the challenges of climate change in eastern North Carolina and around the world. Beyond disaster response, this initiative is focused on envisioning a different future, one where rural and agricultural economies, coastal plain communities, and natural systems are more resilient in the face of ongoing change. NC State has internationally recognized expertise in the natural sciences, social sciences, engineering and technology, and a long and vibrant history of sustained engagement with communities, businesses, and policy-makers at all levels. Working together, our University has an unprecedented opportunity to develop a clearer understanding of the forces that are reshaping our state, and to create the solutions to address them. Activities will include workshops, seminars, communication, grant-writing, partnership development, engagement across multiple sectors, and support for diverse teams that bring together different voices, perspectives, strengths, and values, all with a singular focus on developing solutions that work.
The KIETS Climate Leadership Program will provide opportunities for NC State faculty and students to focus on solutions that can mitigate or reverse the negative effects of climate change through technical, managerial, political or economic approaches that, if adopted, offer a promise of impactful progress that will help humanity deal with this existential threat. This initiative will be supported by a Climate Leadership KIETS Senior Faculty Fellow that will reside at KIETS for a one- or two-year appointment. Faculty mentors will be offered the opportunity to apply for appointment as Climate Leadership Fellows. Their students will attend a leadership training program and will participate in internships as Climate Leadership Scholars. This program will help empower, educate and inspire young people to embark on careers and become innovative leaders in mitigating climate change. Activities will include a Climate Change Leadership Academy for the Scholars, an annual Climate Leadership Symposium, partnership development, communication, and engagement across multiple sectors.
Addressing pressing societal needs is a core land-grant responsibility, and this is particularly apparent in thinking about climate change, coastal resilience and the need for adaptability and new sustainable approaches. These two new programs together will advance NC State University as an emerging leader on climate adaptation and resilience, perhaps the most critical issue of our time.
We seek an innovative and creative Program Manager to help develop and support these two efforts. Working with university leadership, faculty, staff and students, the program manager will help build these programs into true exemplars in this rapidly growing arena.
Essential Job Duties
• Supporting the Coordinator of the Coastal Resilience and Sustainability Initiative, the Climate Leadership KIETS Senior Faculty Fellow, and the KIETS leadership on this initiative.
• Managing the development and maintenance of websites for both initiatives and keeping them current. This might include helping to support directories and other inquiry-based uses of the respective program websites.
• Gathering, analyzing, and organizing information in an accessible manner that supports networking, program development, and inquiries about expertise and opportunities. These opportunities might include, but are not limited to requests for proposals for funding, compilation of similar programs at other institutions and their best practices, internship opportunities, and experts in the various disciplines related to the work.
• Partnership development, including reaching out to and developing relationships with communities, businesses, nonprofit organizations, government agencies and others who might engage in the activities of both efforts. Partners might be internship sponsors, collaborators on engaged research and/or sponsors of events and other activities of either program.
• Communications management, including both social media and preparation of other publicly shared releases and information. Coordinate updates and disseminate information about both programs on campus and more broadly in the community, and facilitate or make presentations as needed to help promote the programs.
• Organize efficient and impactful operations of both groups, including meetings of the Coastal Resilience and Sustainability Leadership Team and the Climate Leaders Steering Committee, and other gatherings and events.
• Administrative and logistics management, including organizing the annual Climate Leadership Symposium, the Climate Scholars Leadership Academy, Coastal Resilience and Sustainability workshops and seminars, and the various meetings of the groups working under the umbrella of these two efforts.
Other Responsibilities
Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Experience/Education
Bachelor’s degree and one year of experience related to the area of assignment; or equivalent combination of training and experience.
All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.
Other Required Qualifications
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• An understanding, appreciation and enthusiasm for climate and sustainability related issues and inclusion of diverse perspectives.
• The ability to network and build relationships with a variety of organizations and constituencies.
• Self-motivated and disciplined, able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Demonstrated analytical and strategic thinking capabilities.
• Experience with web site maintenance, including associated data bases.
• Creative, professional, and entrepreneurial spirit.
• Organized and efficient task management.