Apply for Job Job ID371884 LocationTwin Cities Job FamilyAdministration-Community Rels Full/Part TimeFull-Time Regular/TemporaryRegular Job Code9341S1 Employee ClassAcad Prof and Admin Add to Favorite Jobs Email this Job About the Job Full-time, one year appointment Supervisor: Heidi Roop Salary Range: $89,500 - $114,000 depending on experience Apply By: Open until filled, application reviews will begin February 3rd, 2026. Priority applications considered by February 4th, 2026. This position is not eligible for H-1B or Green Card sponsorship. The University of Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership (MCAP) is seeking a full-time FloodWise Communities Program Specialist to join our team and work in collaboration with the Great Lakes NOAA CAP/RISA team (GLISA) to help build community resilience to current and emerging flood risks in Minnesota and the Great Lakes region. We are looking for a dedicated individual to join our team who possesses the expertise and experience to facilitate the research, engagement, and planning required to help communities across the region accelerate the implementation of flood risk reduction and resilience strategies. This position is also part of a new, national initiative called the Strengthening Human Infrastructure Project (SHIP), supported by the Aspen Global Change Institute. As part of SHIP, this role will involve active participation in a national network of climate leaders and experts to share learnings and collaborate and scale programs. By joining our team at the University of Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact toward building resilience and readiness for weather and climate risks in Minnesota and the Great Lakes region. We offer a collaborative and supportive work environment, opportunities for professional growth, and the chance to be at the forefront of community-centered climate adaptation and resilience efforts. We seek applicants with a proven record of experience, expertise, and capabilities to help communities across the state and region use resilience frameworks and approaches to understand, plan, and manage changing flood risks. You will lead efforts to identify and develop changing flood risk information, assess community needs and capabilities, strategically design, develop, deliver, and evaluate education and technical support processes to assist communities across Minnesota and the Great Lakes region in understanding climate risks and comparing, selecting, and implementing different resilience strategies. This will include serving as a trusted expert, advisor, and educator capable of collaborating closely with GLISA and MCAP staff to refine, develop, and deliver research-based technical assistance and educational training and resources, such as the FloodWise Communities program. The FloodWise Communities process guides practitioners through a municipal stormwater vulnerability assessment using a web-based tool with customized climate and socioeconomic information and a series of stepwise assessments. The assessment process focuses on identifying factors that may stress individual stormwater system components and the surrounding community due to impacts from weather and climate events, and guides communities to prioritize actions to adapt to these stressors. It was co-developed between GLISA and a cohort of Great Lakes cities starting in 2017 and has since been implemented in 75+ communities across the Great Lakes and U.S. Gulf coast. RESPONSIBILITIES Lead the strategic expansion, deployment, and evaluation of the FloodWise Communities Program in Minnesota and the Great Lakes region (35%) Work with community organizations, local governments, GLISA, and MCAP faculty to develop a strategic implementation and scaling plan for deploying the FloodWise Communities program across Minnesota and the Great Lakes region. Lead development of a community prioritization process to guide targeted recruitment and participationof rural, at-risk communities in Minnesota and Great Lakes geographies where the FloodWise Communities program has not yet been delivered. This process should include a range of criteria such as flood risk vulnerability, community characteristics, and resource and climate services access, and communities not yet served by state community climate resilience funding. Train a cohort of MCAP Extension educators and staff in Minnesota's Regional Development Organizations (RDOs) to be able to collaborate in delivering flood risk programming and resources on an ongoing basis with MCAP and GLISA. Work with trained Extension educators and RDO staff to complete the FloodWise Communities program with at least 5-10 communities informed by the prioritization process. Expand existing program evaluation strategies to track program outcomes and implementation actions, as well as learning and tailoring the support program participants need following participation. This will include identifying additional hazards or impact areas where communities need similar frameworks, tools, and resources to accelerate planning and preparedness. Design, test, and deploy decision support resources to support flood risk reduction in Minnesota and the Great Lakes region. (20%) Identify relevant, existing federal and other climate data and decision-support resources to enhance community flood risk reduction processes to include the identification of adaptation strategies and mitigation co-benefits, and implementation support for flood risk reduction strategies. Work with past FloodWise Community participants to assess needs and priorities, develop, and test new program content and at least two training modules to accelerate adaptation action and implementation. This content might include a menu of potential adaptation strategies and actions tailored to Great Lakes and/or rural community contexts, a climate action prioritization and evaluation protocol, or training elements that integrate multi-hazards and/or enable consideration of mitigation strategies and co-benefits. Co-develop with GLISA, MCAP, and the RDOs a community 'implementation' follow-up protocol to connect the FloodWise Communities participants with potential partner organizations that can help them transition their assessments and implementation priorities into action with funding or financing. Document and demonstrate the potential of a shared collaborative capacity model for climate service providers, and set the foundations for additional hazard, impact, and/or mitigation-focused programs. (20%) Lead the assessment, documentation, and evaluation of activities and attributes that effectively support collaboration and enrich collaborative capacity among MCAP, GLISA, and RDOs, and enhance knowledge exchange across SHIP coalition organizations to recruit, facilitate, and support communities in managing flood and other climate risks. Work with MCAP and GLISA leadership to develop a framework based on effective activities and attributes to guide expanding and adapting the FloodWise Communities approach to address other climate hazard/impact areas, such as air quality and extreme... For full info follow application link. The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds. The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu.
