Community Engagement Educator

Cornell University · Ithaca · $23/hr (stated in the posting)

Position Summary:

The Community Engagement Educator works collaboratively to train and support hundreds of interested community members and groups throughout the Southern Tier region—especially those from historically marginalized communities—to take steps beyond the household level that increase clean energy and climate awareness, strengthen community connections, and contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation. Through conversations, training, coordination and encouragement, the staff person will help these eager community members engage in ways that are relevant to their interest and capacity—including sharing their experience and stories with others, becoming resources for clean energy actions, connecting to groups that are engaged in relevant community-based action, and participating in spaces where feedback is solicited for energy programs or policy, etc. 

The Community Engagement Educator will continually engage in conversation with community members that are already connected to Smart Energy Choices and CCE work to learn about energy- and climate-related issues and areas that are relevant to their communities and understand better their interests and capacities. The information will be used to shape team strategy and set up systems to help hundreds of people across the Southern Tier region take steps along a continuum of community-based actions that further a peaceful and just clean energy future.

The position requires a high degree of independent judgment, adaptability, and an ability to learn from experience and enhance programming. This person works under the Southern Tier Regional Clean Energy Hub Director to implement programs, supervise volunteers and interns and possibly one educator, and attend meetings as relevant to the position. This person also serves as a member of the CCETC Energy & Climate Change Team and develops working relationships with other staff working at CCETC.

Required Qualifications:

Master’s Degree with experience relevant to the position. Bachelor’s Degree plus 2 years transferrable relevant experience may substitute. 
Ability to clearly communicate (speak, read and write proficiently) in English.
Ability and willingness to build relationships with community partners and work collaborative with them
Ability and willingness to work with diverse audiences in diverse settings with empathy and cultural sensitivity.
Ability to see capacity in others, build on strengths, and help people develop this capacity
High level of organizational skills.
Experience with computer software for written documents and spreadsheets, as well as e-mail.
Ability to communicate effectively, clearly, and tactfully through verbal, written, and electronic methods.
Ability and willingness to work with a high degree of integrity, accuracy, organization, sound professional judgment, and the ability to handle confidential, sensitive information.
Ability to organize, manage, and prioritize multiple tasks, deadlines, requirements, and priorities to complete work in a timely manner and within established deadlines.
Ability to work creatively in an environment with a degree of ambiguity, and adapt to changing circumstances
Ability to reflect on experience, derive insights, and refine program based on a process of action-reflection
Ability to recruit, train, oversee, and support diverse volunteers.
Valid NYS Driver’s License and the ability and willingness to meet travel requirements associated with this position
Ability to meet acceptable background check standards.
Ability to work flexible hours which may include evenings and/or weekends, as appropriate.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience establishing and working with community stakeholders, especially those with limited income.
Experience developing relationships, and working with organizations in the Southern Tier region
Experience working as a volunteer or overseeing volunteers
Demonstrated ability to plan and organize personal work responsibilities according to priorities developed with immediate supervisor.
Energy-related job experience.
Familiarity with the community in which the work will take place and ability to utilize program resources within the community.

RESPONSIBILITIES/ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Program Responsibilities:

Program Development – 15%

Under the direction and programmatic oversight of the supervisor, develop strategy for engaging residents along a continuum of engagement, with a focus on historically marginalized groups and low-income households
Continually engage residents throughout the Southern Tier region in conversations to learn about and stay abreast of energy- and climate-related issues that are relevant to their communities, and where they might want to take constructive action.
With support of supervisor, build collaborative relationships with community partners who wish to offer training to their staff, volunteers or program participants, and work closely with them to structure program delivery around the needs and constraints of all organizations involved
Assist in structuring programs to meet the needs of diverse program participants.
Assist supervisor in making programmatic changes based on program evaluation outcomes; meet changing local and/or statewide priorities or needs.
Assist supervisor to develop Cornell linkages for program development guidance.

Program Delivery – 45%

Utilize existing program materials and educational framework for delivering training programs to diverse audiences. This may be in coordination with other team members and/or community partners, and may include training materials developed by Smart Energy Choices staff as well as those developed by Cornell, such as Cornell Climate Stewards.
Provide support and accompaniment to groups that come out of training programs offered to help enhance the impact and effectiveness of their projects and grow over time. This could be support with sharing their story through team communications channels or social media, reflecting on their group project’s experience to gather insights and plan next steps, or connecting them with organizations and groups in the region that are involved in pro-social and pro-environmental actions.
Represent CCE before the public, participants, community leaders, government officials, Cornell or other land grant universities in a professional manner in functions related to programming.
Train volunteers to deliver clean energy programming using the PowerHouse.
Maintain group and individual communication with a growing list of people who are interested in taking steps along the continuum of engagement, providing opportunities for engagement, and connections to the kind of initiatives they have expressed interest in
Collaborate with key community partners and Cornell as relevant to program implementation

Program Evaluation – 10%

Interact with program participants and collaborators, volunteers, Association staff, and other key stakeholders to collect evaluation data for improving programs.
Assist Supervisor with analyzing and interpreting evaluation data for reporting and program improvement purposes using standard, established policy, procedure and methods.
Assist with recommending program changes to strengthen and improve programs.
Communicate evaluation results and findings.
Implement program evaluation as designed.

Administrative Responsibilities:

Direction – 10%

Plan the delivery of educational programs in coordination with other team members, and community partners.
Assist in identifying community and fiscal resources for program continuance and enhancement.
Assist Supervisor with development of annual Outreach & Equitable Engagement plan, and periodic updates to Regional Assessment and Barriers Analysis
Assist Supervisor in identifying staff development/training needs and planning staff development strategies.

Management – 5%

Assist Supervisor by performing administrative tasks in guiding the implementation of the program budget (e.g., track expenses, and provide support for purchasing).
Assist in monitoring programs to ensure that educational content conforms to policies and objectives of the Association and is research based; assist in identifying and recommending program needs.
Supervise and provide guidance to staff and volunteers, including coaching, supporting, and providing feedback to enable educators to achieve program objectives and meet the needs of constituents.
Serve as Smart Energy Choices team resource person for volunteer and intern recruitment and training, including connecting residents to other training programs and volunteer opportunities (e.g. Window Dressers, Trees Up Tompkins, etc.).
Recruit, train, oversee and support program volunteers to ensure program needs are met, and they follow established policies and procedures including recruitment, orientation, training, evaluation and management, when relevant.
Write success stories for use in marketing and reporting of the program.

Coordination/Operation – 10%

Organize and coordinate activities related to educational programming and events.
Effectively maintain existing professional relationships with other agencies, organizations and businesses that promote effective communication and facilitate continued programming efforts.
Coordinate volunteer enrollment and reporting process and work with the team to ensure all volunteer files, paperwork, and communication has been completed in accordance with established policies and procedures.
Organize, coordinate, and facilitate the work of volunteers in implementing projects related to established program priorities.
Track program participation.
With the approval of the Supervisor, purchase materials relevant to the functioning of the program in keeping with needs and Association policies.
Maintain records, perform data management and complete program reports as required by the Association in accordance with established policies and procedures as well as in compliance with grant/contract requirements, including ensuring confidentiality of participant data.
Submit accurate program related expenses and mileage reports in a timely manner as required.
Complete necessary written documentation as required by program and funder, and prepare reports to share with supervisor, and others.
Transport program participants and/or program materials and resources in performing position responsibilities, as necessary.
Assist supervisor to prepare annual reports to document program impacts including projects implemented, workshops held, volunteer numbers and hours, written and oral reports and slide shows of results tracking info as required for reporting to CCE, campus and funders.

Professional Improvement – 5%

In cooperation with Supervisor and/or Executive Director, jointly develop and pursue a professional development plan as a means to increase competencies relative to position accountabilities and to address changes and Association priorities.
Collaborate in activities that are in general support of Cornell Cooperative Extension and perform other duties as assigned.

Health and Safety – Applied to all duties and functions

Support the Association to maintain a safe working environment.
Be familiar with and strive to follow any applicable federal, state, local regulations, Association health and safety policy/procedure/requirement and standard.
Act proactively to prevent accidents/injuries and communicate hazards to supervisors when identified.

EEO/EPO and Policy – Applied to all duties and functions

Appreciate and embrace diversity in all interactions with clientele, staff, volunteers and the public.
Assist the Cornell Cooperative Extension system in reaching out to diverse audiences.
Aware of, and adheres to, established Cornell Cooperative Extension Association of Tompkins County policies, procedures and Cornell Cooperative Extension Skills for Success.
Contribute to the overall success of the organization by performing all assigned duties in a professional, timely and accurate manner.

This is a full time, 40 hours per week, benefits eligible, Non-exempt position. Hiring Pay rate begins at $23.00 and is commensurate on experience Excellent benefits Including:

Vacation, Sick and Personal time
Paid Holidays
NYS Health Insurance Program (Including Dental Insurance)
NYS Retirement
Long-term Disability Insurance
Voluntary Tax Deferred Annuity
Voluntary Flexible Spending Accounts
Voluntary Group Universal Life Insurance
Voluntary Personal Accidental Insurance
Voluntary Legal Plan Insurance
Voluntary Long Term Care Insurance
Voluntary Auto and Homeowner's Insurance
Voluntary Pet Insurance
Voluntary New York's College Savings Program
Vision Access Program
Employee Assistance Program

Please be sure to read the Notice to Applicants found on the Jobs with CCE page:

https://cals.cornell.edu/cornell-cooperative-extension/join-us/jobs

How To Apply:

Applicants (including current employees of other Cornell Cooperative Extension Associations other than Tompkins) must apply online through the APPLY button in this job posting. Current employees of the Cornell Cooperative Extension Association indicated in this job posting are considered internal applicants and must apply online through their Workday account which may be accessed here: http://workday.cornell.edu/

All applicants are requested to submit a cover letter, resume and indicate three individuals who may be contacted as a reference. Please consider indicating in your application all information you feel would be helpful for selection committee members to know. Once the application is submitted you will NOT be able to change your submission or add attachments. Be sure that you have followed all directions and requirements listed in the job posting.

This posting will remain open until a suitable candidate is identified.

Please consider indicating in your application all information you feel would be helpful for selection committee members to know. Once the application is submitted you will NOT be able to change your submission or add attachments. Be sure that you have followed all directions and requirements listed in the job posting.

The Association may make reasonable accommodations to enable applicants to participate in the hiring process and employees to perform the essential functions of their job. If you require an accommodation so you may participate in the selection process you are encouraged to contact CCE Tompkins HR at tompkins-hr@cornell.edu.

Job Title:

Association Subject Educator II

Level:

003

Pay Rate Type:

Hourly

Company:

Contract College

Contact Name:

Sherrhonda Daniels

Cornell Cooperative Extension is a collaboration among Cornell University, the United States Department of Agriculture, the State of New York, and the residents of New York State. Per NYS Law, county and regional extension service associations are subordinate government agencies. This employment opportunity is with the entities listed and not with Cornell University.

Notice to Applicants: Please read the required Notice to Applicants statement. This notice contains important information about applying for a position at Cornell Cooperative Extension as well as some of your rights and responsibilities as an applicant.

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