Extension Associate - Project FeederWatch - Lab of Ornithology

Project Feeder Watch Leader

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: an understanding of the world's complex, interlocking systems; access to nutritious food and a healthy environment as a fundamental human right;

and 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.

Duties of the Project Feeder Watch Leader position:

• Provide outreach and research direction for Project Feeder Watch, a research and education project involving more than 30,000 participatory scientists annually in the US and Canada. Manage all aspects of project delivery in the U.S., collaborate with our partners at Birds Canada, and direct the broad goals of the project.
• Interface with the Center's tech team to maintain high-quality web and mobile platforms for engaging the public in scientific research.
• Pursue and implement external funding (e.g., National Science Foundation grants) to advance novel research studies and approaches for engaging the public in scientific research.
• Initiate and guide ecological and/or social science research using Project Feeder Watch data. Mentor research students and work with Lab and external scientists to ensure analysis and publication of project results in scientific literature.
• Maintain the Open Access repository of Project Feeder Watch data and analytical code to assist the global research community in successfully accessing and analyzing this unique data resource.
• Serve as the Lab's primary voice in communicating science related to backyard birds and participatory science to national and international media.
• Provide leadership within the Engagement Center as we continue to support individuals in their learning and participation journeys.
• Supervise and inspire the team of staff and students working on Feeder Watch.

Anticipated Division of Time:

Public outreach and science communication. Engage > 30,000 people annually in scientific research. Effectively communicate the science generated through Feeder Watch and the Center for Engagement in Science and Nature to project participants, the public, and social and traditional media outlets. Write/edit the project's annual report, Winter Bird Highlights. Promote the project and results from research stemming from the project by conducting interviews with the press (newspaper, radio, television) and writing articles for newspapers, magazines, websites, etc.

Give public lectures as needed. (30%)

Project development. Grow and diversify the Feeder Watch revenue stream. Maintain revenue from the Feeder Watch participant base in excess of $500,000 annually. Contribute to fundraising proposals intended to further project development. Collaborate with the Lab's Advancement team to garner corporate sponsor ships and increase fundraising to support continued program growth that is aligned with the research and educational goals of Feeder Watch and the Engagement Center.

Develop and implement strategies for recruiting new project participants. Initiate, cultivate, and maintain partnerships with international non-profit organizations and collaborators (e.g., Birds Canada) and other potential partner organizations to increase project participation and further project goals. Coordinate with the Center's tech team and set priorities for tech development, in collaboration with Center leadership. (20%)

Project management. Oversee day to day operations of project implementation. Contribute to and carry out institutional programmatic vision of project goals and implementation strategies. Manage project budget and assist Engagement Center leadership in the annual budget and forecasting processes. Manage and supervise Project Assistants…