Job Information
Colorado State University Engagement Climatologist in Fort Collins, Colorado
Posting Detail Information
Working TitleEngagement Climatologist
Position LocationFort Collins, CO
Work LocationPosition is fully in-office/in-person
Research Professional PositionYes
Posting Number202400600AP
Position TypeAdmin Professional/ Research Professional
Classification TitleResearch Associate III
Number of Vacancies
Work Hours/Week40
Proposed Annual Salary Range$70,000 to $80,000
Employee Benefits
Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, commitment todiversity, equity and inclusion (https://inclusiveexcellence.colostate.edu/about/) , and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.
Review our detailed benefits information here. (https://hr.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2021/01/benefits-summary-afap.pdf)
Explore the additional perks of working at CSU here.
For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, use our compensation calculator (https://hr.colostate.edu/total-compensation-calculator/) .
Lastly, click here for more information about why Fort Collins is consistently ranked in the top cities to live in (https://hr.colostate.edu/prospective-employees/our-community/) !
Desired Start Date
Position End Date (if temporary)
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on04/28/2024
Description of Work Unit
The Colorado Climate Center was established by the state in 1974, through the Colorado State University Agricultural Experiment Station, to provide information and expertise on Colorado’s complex climate. Through its threefold program of Climate Monitoring (data acquisition, analysis, and archiving), Climate Research and Climate Services, the Center is responding to many weather and climate related questions and challenges affecting the State today.
CSU Spur was established in Denver with the construction of 3 buildings, completed in 2023. It is part of the CSU System, with representation from the CSU Fort Collins campus (where the Colorado Climate Center is based). Spur is a public facing campus, open to visitors, with cutting edge research and education at its core. With its Denver location, it provides opportunities to engage with the surrounding neighborhoods and increases focus on Denver issues. The Spur Climate Hub, based at Spur, provides climate expertise, education, and innovation to visitors at Spur, the Denver area, and the state.
Position Summary
This position will advance the Colorado Climate Center’s scientific engagement and outreach activities, by integrating expertise on Colorado’s complex weather and climate with community engaged research activities. As a key member of the newly established CSU Spur Climate Hub, this position will link the activities of the Colorado Climate Center and other climate initiatives at CSU’s Fort Collins campus with the opportunities provided by the CSU Spur campus in Denver. In particular, this position will be expected to:
Analyze and interpret weather and climate data across Colorado, including diverse data sources such as station observations, gridded datasets, and climate model projections.
Initiate close collaborations with a diverse range of communities, from urban communities in the Denver Metro area to rural agricultural communities, to understand their needs for climate information and to seek resources that will lead to the co-creation of solutions to their climate-related challenges.
Share timely and accurate climate information and expertise with a wide range of audiences from scientists, academics and students to agribusiness leaders and other business practitioners, resource managers, public officials, policy makers, media and the general public.
Contribute to all aspects of the CCC’s threefold mission of climate monitoring, climate research, and climate services, with a spirit of collaboration and enthusiasm.
This position will be a key part of the new CSU Spur Climate Hub in Denver, and will report to the Director of the Colorado Climate Center, Professor Russ Schumacher.
Required Job Qualifications
M.S. in Atmospheric Science, Climatology, Geography, or a related field (or degree work completed and degree pending).
Minimum of 2 years experience working with weather, climate, and/or water resources data
Demonstrated experience in community engaged research, extension, and/or outreach activities that serve a diverse range of communities
Demonstrated ability in communicating technical content to diverse audiences, including the scientific community, stakeholders, the media, and the public.
Demonstrated experience with publishing in the peer-reviewed scientific literature
Preferred Job Qualifications
Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science or a related field
Demonstrated skills in analyzing large weather and climate datasets using scientific computing packages.
Demonstrated success in writing grant proposals to government agencies or other funding sources
Demonstrated experience with co-production of solutions to climate-related challenges
Demonstrated experience working with data from climate change projections, and their integration with socioeconomic and vulnerability assessments.
Demonstrated experience with an organization that provides climate services, such as NOAA ; state or regional climate offices; state or local government; for-profit or non-profit climate services providers; or similar organizations.
Diversity Statement
Reflecting departmental and institutional values, candidates are expected to have the ability to advance the Department’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Essential Duties
Job Duty CategoryCommunity engagement on weather and climate-related issues
Duty/Responsibility
Strengthen existing connections with stakeholders across Colorado, and establish new relationships that identify the needs for weather and climate information among Colorado’s diverse communities.
With the CSU continuum of engaged scholarship (https://engagement.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Continuum-of-Engaged-Scholarship-3-5-20.pdf) as a guide, advance the CCC’s activities from outreach toward engagement using best practices of community engaged research.
Percentage Of Time35%
Job Duty CategoryMonitor climate patterns, trends, anomalies, variability, and extremes in Colorado
Duty/Responsibility
The CCC is responsible for synthesizing a wide variety of data sources to monitor Colorado’s complex climate.
Contribute to climate monitoring by using existing tools, and developing new tools as needed, to visualize and communicate important parameters such as precipitation, temperature, snowpack, humidity, soil moisture, and high-impact weather events.
Contribute to regular CCC products such as monthly webinars, state climate summaries, and recommendations to the US Drought Monitor.
Percentage Of Time20%
Job Duty CategorySeek internal and external sources of funding for climate-related work, including community engaged research
Duty/Responsibility
Working with other CCC faculty and staff members, identify potential sources of funding for community engaged climate research, and other climate research projects.
Contribute to proposal-writing for these opportunities, to obtain funds for sustained activity that supports Colorado communities in their needs for climate information
Percentage Of Time20%
Job Duty CategoryWork with the Spur Climate Hub
Duty/Responsibility
This position will collaborate with colleagues within the Spur Climate Hub, located on the Spur campus.
This person will also be expected to establish relationships with other groups, based at Spur, and explore opportunities for future projects.
Percentage Of Time10%
Job Duty CategoryRepresent the CCC
Duty/Responsibility
The CCC regularly participates in a range of meetings across Colorado, especially for organizations that include professionals in agriculture and water management.
The position will be expected to give engaging presentations on a range of topics related to Colorado’s climate at these meetings, and to promote the CCC and its activities statewide.
The CCC also receives frequent requests from local, national, and international media; this position will be expected to respond with accurate and insightful information
Percentage Of Time10%
Job Duty CategoryDisseminate research findings and other scientific information
Duty/Responsibility
- Prepare presentations on Colorado climate for diverse audiences and contribute to the preparation of manuscripts for peer-reviewed publications.
Percentage Of Time5%
Application Details
Special Instructions to Applicants
CSU is committed to full inclusion of qualified individuals. If you are needing assistance or accommodations with the search process, please reach out to the listed search contact.
To apply, please upload a cover letter that addresses the required and preferred job qualifications, a resume, and the contact information for three professional references. References will not be contacted without prior notification to candidates.
Conditions of EmploymentPre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires)
Search ContactZenaida Herrera: Zenaida.Herrera@colostate.edu
EEO Statement
Colorado State University is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based on race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or pregnancy in its employment, programs, services and activities, and admissions, and, in certain circumstances, marriage to a co-worker. The University will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. Colorado State University is an equal opportunity and equal access institution and affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. TheOffice of Equal Opportunity (https://oeo.colostate.edu/) is located in 101 Student Services.
The Title IX Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity, 123 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-1715,titleix@colostate.edu.
The Section 504 and ADA Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836,oeo@colostate.edu.
The Coordinator for any other forms of misconduct prohibited by the University’s Policy on Discrimination and Harassment is the Vice President for Equity, Equal Opportunity and Title IX, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, Co. 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836,oeo@colostate.edu.
Any person may report sex discrimination under Title IX to theOffice of Civil Rights, Department of Education (https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/howto.html) .
Background Check Policy Statement
Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.
References Requested
References Requested
Minimum Requested3
Maximum Requested3
Supplemental Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
Applicant Documents
Required Documents
Cover Letter
Resume or CV
Optional Documents