Research Scientist/Engineer 3 - Climate Impacts Group at UW in Seattle, WA

Job description

Job Description The UW Climate Impacts Group has an outstanding opportunity for a Research Scientist 3 to join its growing team. About this Opportunity Reporting to a senior scientist, the Climate Impacts Group Research Scientist 3 will independently lead tasks within and support management of moderately sized applied climate resilience and water management projects. This position will play a critical role in advancing climate resilience for the Pacific Northwest and requires advanced analytical skills using spatial and quantitative analysis methods and mixed methods research approaches, as well as a highly collaborative mindset. This is a research position with no teaching requirements and no path to university tenure. This position is focused on applied research which may come at the expense of published research. This is a hybrid eligible position with expectations to work in person at the UW Seattle campus at least two days per week, with additional on-site requirements for meetings and events. Our current in-office days are Mondays and Wednesdays. A telework agreement is completed annually with your supervisor. Key Responsibilities Research [50%] Independently lead tasks and support management of moderately sized applied climate resilience and water management projects; Evaluate the benefits, tradeoffs, uncertainties, and implementation considerations of water management and/or climate adaptation strategies to support evidence-based planning and decision making; Apply spatial and quantitative analysis methods to analyze, integrate, and communicate complex social and environmental data using R, Python, GIS, or related tools; Apply mixed-methods research approaches to holistically evaluate complex environmental management and climate resilience challenges (e.g., semi-structured interviews, surveys, literature reviews, policy analysis, case studies, spatial analysis). Project Management [25%] Lead or co-lead project-specific research activities, such as literature reviews, contextual analyses, needs assessments, monitoring and evaluation strategies, and development of technical guidance, as part of larger projects; Develop and manage timelines and coordinate on assigned project tasks while contributing to broader project management activities; Co-design and facilitate workshops, interviews, advisory committee meetings, and other engagement activities with project partners; Supervise and mentor junior staff, interns, and/or graduate student workers; Contribute to maintaining high-quality project deliverables through effective coordination, documentation, and communication with internal and external collaborators. Partnerships and External Engagement [15%] Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with Pacific Northwest water managers and utilities, local government agencies, Tribes, non-profit organizations, and research collaborators to advance climate adaptation planning and implementation; Develop technical guidance, decision support resources, reports, visualizations, and presentations for practitioner, scientific, and public audiences; Represent the Climate Impacts Group through participation in project advisory groups, collaborative initiatives, and professional meetings; Respond to emerging partner needs and contribute to identifying opportunities for future applied research and decision-support resources. Grant Writing and Proposal Development [5%] Collaborate with Climate Impacts Group research scientists and principal investigators to support development of competitive proposals for externally funded research and applied projects; Contribute technical expertise to support proposal development efforts, including scoping and drafting relevant sections, coordination with project collaborators, and related activities; Help identify emerging research opportunities and cultivate relationships with external collaborators. Other duties as assigned in service of the Climate Impacts Group mission [5%] Support special p