VORTEX-SE Community Engagement Specialist

VORTEX-SE Community Engagement Specialist

The University of Southern Mississippi is currently accepting applications for the position of VORTEX-SE Community Engagement Specialist.

Location:

Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
703 East Beach Drive
Ocean Springs, Mississippi, 39564
United States

Division Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium

Position Type Staff

Employment Status Full Time

Grant Funded Yes

Salary Range 60,000.

Pay Grade

Generic Grade

Posting Close Date Open Until Filled

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without the need for visa sponsorship. The University will not sponsor applicants for work visas (e.g., H-1B).

The National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) Verification of the Originsof Rotation in Tornadoes EXperiment-Southeast (VORTEX-SE) program has embeddedsocial and behavioral science research into its program since its inception.

Since 2016 VORTEX-SE research has examined societal vulnerability to tornadorisk, communication of these risks, and the roles of the National Weather Service (NWS) and its partners in building local resilience to tornadoes.

VORTEX-SE has been iterative in its approach so that new findings and knowledgeare built into research going forward.
The Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium (MASGC) in collaboration with NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) have partnered to create amodel for a regional extension program that will integrate physical and socialscience research from the VORTEX-SE program to local application for a broadertarget audience. The goal of this regional effort is to support two-way dialogthat contributes to the understanding of on-the-ground needs of audiences thatare vulnerable to severe weather events and directly respond to those needswith accurate, trusted information delivered by extension specialists,researchers, and other experts.

The VORTEX-SE Community Engagement Specialist serves as a regional liaison between VORTEX-SE scientist sand the communities that rely on accurate and timely severe weatherinformation. This position facilitates the exchange of knowledge by translatingscientific research into practical outreach, education, and engagementactivities while also communicating community needs and priorities back toresearchers. The Specialist develops and delivers educational programs,outreach materials, workshops, and other engagement initiatives to supportinformed decision-making and strengthen community resilience across the Southeast.

This position works collaboratively with VORTEX-SE scientists, the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium (MASGC), and regional stakeholders and requires extensive travel throughout the Southeast. This is a grant-funded, limited-term appointmentcontingent upon continued funding.

• Work with the NSSL VORTEX Program Lead and VORTEX scientists to help synthesize and prioritize research results for transition and knowledge transfer to appropriate communities in the Southeast through the MASGC VORTEX-SE extension project.
• Develop and execute (through focus groups and workshops) extension programming grounded in VORTEX funded science and related research and the needs of target audiences and communities.
• Author 1-3 publications for non-technical audiences each year and participate in planning at least two workshops/trainings each year to share VORTEX research results within the geographic area (e.g. hosting science seminars and/or theme-based workshops).
• Contribute to other outreach activities supported by VORTEX such as social media, website(s), You Tube videos, newsletters, TV and radio segments, and other local, regional and national media reports where appropriate.
• Work with VORTEX Engagement Coordinator for regional consistency, coordination and synthesis of outreach products, conduct program evaluations and submission of annual reports.
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with emergency managers, local governments, building officials, extension professionals, community organizations, and other stakeholders…