VISITING EXTENSION OUTREACH ASSOCIATE, RENEWABLE ENERGY – 1023666

VISITING EXTENSION OUTREACH ASSOCIATE, RENEWABLE ENERGY – 1023666

University of Illinois Extension

College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES)

WE TRANSFORM LIVES.

Everything we do is designed to improve the quality of life of the people in the state of Illinois, across the nation, and around the world. We discover, develop, translate, and disseminate knowledge to address societal concerns and train the next generation of experts and leaders in a way that empowers them to expand the boundaries of science to higher levels of understanding and influence.

Be a part of our story. Through learning partnerships that extend knowledge and change lives, University of Illinois Extension provides educational programs aimed at making life better, healthier, safer, and more profitable for individuals and their communities. Illinois Extension has operated continuously for more than 100 years connecting the citizens of Illinois to their land-grant university by providing educational programming around the state. University of Illinois Extension is based in the College of ACES and works with all colleges and units of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The Visiting Extension Outreach Associate, Renewable Energy serves as a full time, 12-month academic professional with primary responsibilities the development, delivery, and evaluation of educational programs supporting the mission of the University of Illinois Extension. The incumbent will participate in the Great Lakes Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center and as part of the Energy Education Council, Natural Resources, Environment and Energy and Community and Economic Development programmatic teams within Extension.

The Outreach Associate is expected to concentrate programmatically on community-level planning and public management to assist the renewable energy transition in Illinois with the goal of helping Illinois communities secure state, federal, and private infrastructure funding to implement local renewable energy projects. 

One full-time position is available.

Location: Urbana-Champaign Campus

(Hybrid work is available but onsite work is required.)

The University of Illinois is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability or veteran status. For more information, visit http://go.illinois.edu/EEO.

This is a security-sensitive position.  Comprehensive background checks, including but not limited to a criminal conviction information check, a CANTS check, and a review of the Registered Sex Offender list, will be conducted.

Specific responsibilities of the Visiting Extension Outreach Associate are as follows:

Program Planning, Delivery and Evaluation

• Provide Extension and statewide leadership on topics related to the renewable energy transition that could include community planning, financing, ordinances and zoning, or public policy.
• Deliver high impact programming on energy transition opportunities, planning steps, and implementation best practices.
• Assess local needs for municipal-level renewable energy planning, funding, and management.
• Develop innovative curricula and programs to assist communities in strategic visioning to address the energy transition and successfully compete for state and federal energy transition funding.
• Support informal, adult renewable energy education.
• Develop contemporary approaches to communicate with local governments, community-based organizations, and state and federal agencies about renewable energy topics.
• Participate in the Great Lakes Thriving Community Technical Assistance Network and programming.
• Evaluate the impact of program initiatives in a planned and statistically relevant fashion.
• Evaluation plans should focus not only on short-term impacts but also on long-term changes in clientele practices.

Scholarship

• Establish professional relationships and participate in campus-based partnerships related to the renewable energy transition.
• Share principles of evidence-based best practices with peers at relevant meetings, conferences, and webinars.

Organizational Leadership and Development

• Serve as an effective team member and volunteer for Extension roles as appropriate.
• Compete for internal and external resources to enhance funding as appropriate.
• Assist with and support state and regional Extension programs.
• Accept statewide and regional responsibilities as requested by the Program Leader.
• Continually seek professional development opportunities.

Organizational Requirements 

• Comply with all reporting deadlines and requirements.

Other Information

• To perform the functions of this position, the employee will be required to perform work both within an office and outside in the communities that are served and must have the capability to travel from one location to the other in a timely fashion.  Employee is responsible for securing personal transportation.  A valid driver’s license is preferred.  Some work will be required during evenings and/or weekends.      When working, the employee may be exposed to a variety of environmental factors to include, but not limited to, hot or cold weather, exposure to noise and allergens, and uneven ground.  In performing the functions of this position, the employee may be subjected to various mental and physical demands as well to include, but not limited to, independently traveling to and performing work at different locations, ability to move, transfer and/or transport items that may occasionally weigh up to forty (40) pounds and frequently weigh up to twenty (20) pounds, and twisting, pushing and pulling movements. More detailed information regarding the functions of this position (including the physical, mental, and environmental requirements of the position) may be obtained from Human Resources for the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) by contacting hr@aces.illinois.edu.

Administrative Relationship

The Visiting Extension Outreach Associate, Renewable Energy, is administratively and programmatically responsible to the Assistant Dean, Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy. 

Qualifications

Required: 

• Bachelor’s degree in planning, energy and sustainability, natural resource economics, public policy and management or related field. Degrees in other related fields will be considered with work experience that demonstrates similar competencies. Candidates with a bachelor’s degree in progress may be considered for interviews, but degree must be completed by hire date.
• Experience or familiarity with the renewable energy transition.
• Interest in working with diverse cultural groups.

Preferred: 

• Master’s degree in planning, energy and sustainability, natural resource economics, public policy and management or related field.
• Previous experience in renewable energy financing, planning, ordinance development, facility management, or related topics.
• Informal and formal outreach experience.
• Experience working with coal transition communities.
• Familiarity with state and federal energy polices and incentives.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Strong written and oral communication skills. Understanding of rural community issues and populations. Ability to organize, manage, and conduct educational activities for adult audiences. Ability to build and maintain diverse audiences. Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work within a team environment.

Additional Information

Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position. The position is a temporary, full-time, benefits-eligible, non-tenured academic professional position. This position may become non-visiting at a later time dependent upon funding and/or programmatic needs. The expected start date is as soon as possible after the closing date. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity. The salary range for this position starts at $65,000. Generous vacation and sick leave.  State Universities Retirement System.  Group health, dental, vision and life insurance

Application Procedure

To apply, go to https://go.illinois.edu/1023666. Please upload a resume, cover letter, and the names and contact information for three professional references. Resume dates submitted must be in month/year format and employment history, at a minimum, should include all work dating back to the completion of your undergraduate degree. Positions that were less than full-time/100% must be noted as being part-time. Transcripts may be requested at a later date. To receive full consideration, all requested application materials must be submitted via the online system by April 29, 2024.

The University of Illinois conducts criminal background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer. Convictions are not a bar to employment. As a qualifying federal contractor, the University of Illinois System uses E-Verify to verify employment eligibility. The University of Illinois System requires candidates selected for hire to disclose any documented finding of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment and to authorize inquiries to current and former employers regarding findings of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment. For more information, visit Policy on Consideration of Sexual Misconduct in Prior Employment. The University of Illinois must also comply with applicable federal export control laws and regulations and, as such, reserves the right to employ restricted party screening procedures for applicants.

For further information about this specific position, please contact Christina Edgington at chrisedg@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.