Extension Associate

Academic Job Posting

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Extension Associate

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is a pioneer of purpose-driven science and Cornell University’s second largest college. We work across disciplines to tackle the challenges of our time through world-renowned research, education, and outreach. The questions we probe and the answers we seek focus on three overlapping concerns: We believe that achieving next-generation scientific breakthroughs requires an understanding of the world’s complex, interlocking systems. We believe that access to nutritious food and a healthy environment is a fundamental human right. We believe that ensuring a prosperous global future depends on the ability to support local people and communities everywhere. By working in and across multiple scientific areas, CALS can address challenges and opportunities of the greatest relevance, here in New York, across the nation, and around the world. 

About Us: The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is the world’s leading resource for conservation, research, education, and citizen science focused on birds. The Lab is a vibrant unit within Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Staff at the Lab publish research, teach courses, advise students and postdocs, collect and disseminate world-famous digital resources on biodiversity, and engage with partner organizations and citizens around the world to conduct scientific research and facilitate conservation actions. 

The Cornell Lab is an inclusive community and we recognize that a diverse workforce creates more innovative and impactful work to address global challenges. We are committed to fostering a healthy workplace that values diverse perspectives and backgrounds as well as supporting growth and advancement opportunities. The Lab welcomes staff who are still learning in their careers and who are motivated to take on new challenges.

This position will join the Lab’s Center for Engagement in Science and Nature, one of six programmatic centers within the Lab. The Center for Engagement in Science and Nature (CESN) activates and supports people worldwide to connect with birds and nature, participate in science, and promote the wellbeing of humans and natural systems. Recognizing that one of our significant strengths is the collective power of the people we engage; the Lab formed a new multidisciplinary unit aimed at being a world leader in inspiring people to contribute to science and become advocates for life on earth. Our model for change is to bring curiosity to scale through education and participatory science so that together we can gain insight into how natural systems work and address global conservation challenges. 

Position Function

The Extension Associate serves as the thought leader and team leader for Youth and Community Engagement for the Lab both nationally and in international settings, with key responsibilities in strategic planning, partnership development, implementation, and evaluation of impact. The Extension Associate position requires pedagogical expertise as well as expertise in conceiving, producing, and implementing innovative strategies for engaging youth and communities in conservation action, participatory science, and nature connection. 

• Prioritizes youth audiences by developing and delivering innovative professional development opportunities for educators as well as using expertise in youth-focused pedagogy to develop materials that align with best practices and educational standards (e.g., NGSS)
• Co-develops conservation strategies with grassroots communities that combine environmental education with conservation action using expertise in participatory science and/or community-based participatory research
• Identifies and develops equitable and durable partnerships and networks aimed at scaling efforts to strengthen ecological literacy and restore biodiversity
• Manages a team, oversees a six-figure yearly budget, develops proposals and donor pitches to fund the work, and maintains an evaluation program that help to evolve the work in alignment with the Lab’s strategic plan
• Leads initiatives and collaborates across the Lab to continually make programming and resources more accessible to educators, youth, and grassroots communities, with an emphasis on supporting those underserved by the Lab and underrepresented in science and conservation
• Publishes extension materials and articles that support innovation in the field of STEM learning, science identity, environmental education, participatory science, community science, and/or environmental justice
• Mentors undergraduates and extension staff

The Extension Associate must be able to foster and maintain excellent working relationships with coworkers, collaborators and students from very diverse cultural and educational backgrounds. This requires approaching all matters with an open mind, sense of curiosity, service-minded attitude, and diplomacy. The Center for Engagement in Science and Nature actively builds our inclusive community, and we welcome anyone who has an interest without consideration of age, sex, gender/gender identity, ethnicity, race, skin color, religion, physical or mental ability, sexual orientation, nationality, or background, among others. We recognize that diverse, inclusive communities create more innovative and impactful work to address global challenges and benefit humanity and nature. We will work purposefully to amplify underrepresented and marginalized voices and the communities we aspire to serve. Applicants are invited to include how their experiences, perspectives, and aspirations can contribute to diversity and inclusion in support of the Lab of Ornithology’s values: https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/cornell-lab-of-ornithology-values/.

Anticipated Division of Time

Engagement strategies and programming for youth and communities (25%) 

Apply pedagogical and community-building expertise to lead a team creating innovative learning experiences and supporting grassroots efforts related to nature, participatory science, and conservation action. Develop engagement strategies that provide flexible scaling opportunities depending on the audience and context. Outline the scope and learning objectives of these experiences, develop approachable and compelling means of engagement, including online, in person, and train-the-trainer methodologies. Lead initiatives across the Lab and Cornell to support youth and community engagement in science, nature, and conservation. Applying deep knowledge, conceive and create innovative materials and programs that draws students into in-depth learning about key concepts and techniques in engagement. Serve as an educational expert for the Lab and represent the Cornell Lab of Ornithology by presenting at conferences, bird and nature festivals, and community events, as well as publishing extension materials that forward the fields of environmental education, participatory science, and/or environmental justice. Provide subject matter expertise as needed on environmental education and propose new educational internal or external projects for consideration. Identify needs and gaps in existing instructional materials and coordinate communication with stakeholder audiences.

Program management and evaluation (25%)

Manage programmatic activities based on goals and objectives aligned with the Lab’s strategic plan. Lead a team of educators, community engagement specialists, student employees, educators-in-residence, and volunteers. Hire, train, and mentor staff and provide opportunities for staff development. Hold annual performance reviews and clearly communicate expectations of staff, including each team member’s role in creating inclusive work environments and programming. Develop and manage project budget. Identify and track metrics that creatively capture the full range of participation, community-building, and educational value of programming. Apply project management skills to support the team in achieving agreed-upon goals. Collaborate with social scientists and educational researchers on formative and summative research involving youth and community engagement. 

Partnership and network development (25%) 

Build and curate a network of youth and community partnerships in alignment with the Lab’s strategic priority to work in service to partners, starting from a foundation of 30,000 educators and hundreds of grassroots community partners. Apply skills in trust building and cultural humility to build equitable partnerships. Travel as appropriate to learn about varying community and educational contexts to ensure that the Lab’s efforts to support youth and communities are accessible and beneficial. Strategically use grants to support youth and community work based on local priorities. Convene networks when appropriate to weave together and scale engagement efforts. 

Funding and development (15%)

Use expertise in pedagogy and fundraising to lead, and sometimes co-develop or partner on, funding proposals to further the Lab’s global extension efforts. Collaborate with development and marketing staff to garner donor interest, corporate sponsorships, and increase interest in professional development services to support continued program growth. Lead and sometimes collaborate on research and evaluation efforts that will result in the generation of publications, posters, and conference presentations, or technical reports. Leverage collaborations with outside institutions to facilitate external funding sources. Recommend new approaches and designs for engagement initiatives and secure new grant funding. Initiate or participate in grant writing, foundation requests, donor requests, and other sources of support.

Other Duties (10%)

Maintain and build upon expertise in educational theory and practice, community engagement and/or environmental justice. Serve the Lab as a thought leader in youth and community engagement. Occasionally serve on administrative committees (e.g., hiring committees). Establish and maintain a safe, productive, and respectful working environment that fosters a culture of inclusiveness, teamwork, and high-quality engagement results. Attend and actively engage in relevant meetings within the Center for Engagement in Science & Nature (e.g., all-Center meetings, research group meetings).

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in education, communication, natural resources, sociology or related field and at least 5 years of experience in education (formal or non-formal) or community-based environmental justice work.
• Track record in translating complex scientific topics into accessible educational experiences for youth and educators.
• Demonstrated ability to build trust with partners, adapt to new cultural contexts, and deliver positive impacts for underserved and/or historically excluded populations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage a project, supervise staff, and raise funds.
• Proven history of working successfully in a team-based environment and of building and maintaining effective working relations with a wide range of constituents.
• Must demonstrate exemplary communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills and exercise a high degree of professionalism and cultural sensitivity.
• Show initiative and readily determine priorities and procedures with very general supervision.
• Ability to write and speak publicly in English and Spanish.
• Willingness and ability to travel nationally and internationally as necessary, maintaining a valid driver’s license and passport.
• Must have experience in public speaking and developing curricula.
• Experience and interest in formal and/or informal educational outreach.
• Demonstrated abilities to organize and oversee complex projects, complete tasks in a timely and effective manner, and negotiate partnerships with advisors, clients, and stakeholders.
• Experience writing grant proposals, publication of papers, and documentation.
• Attention to detail as well as excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional ability to collaborate and lead a team while creating a high quality and respectful work environment.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Ph.D. preferred, as is experience developing and delivering professional development opportunities for educators and/or working in a K-12 education context including alignment with educational standards (e.g., including NGSS), experience with community-based education, and/or conservation projects, advanced training in or lived experience with DEI/DEIB principles and practices, understanding of environmental justice frameworks and practices, involvement in participatory science, community science, and/or community-based participatory research.
• A strong history of impact and productivity in past outreach and training efforts preferred.

Appointment

This position is a three-year initial term, renewable dependent on performance and availability of funding. 

Supervision

Reports to Mya Thompson, Co-director of the Center for Engagement in Science and Nature.

Supervision Exercised

Supervise a team of 4-5 educators and community engagement specialists.

Salary, rewards, and benefits:

CALS hiring range for this title is $76,000 – $80,000.

Must be able to work in person at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology with the flexibility to work on a hybrid schedule including opportunities to work on-site and from home. 

Benefits provided by Cornell include a broad range of comprehensive health care options, generous paid leave provisions: 3 weeks of vacation, 13 holidays (including end of year winter break), paid family leave, and superior retirement contributions. Additionally, Cornell provides access to professional development initiatives, wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands.