Arctic Science Assessment Lead

AMERICAN GEOPHYSICAL UNION•Washington, DC

2d•$75,000 - $125,000•Remote

About The Position

The Arctic Science Assessment Lead is a full-time, term-limited position funded through a one-year grant award. Employment is expected to continue for up to twelve (12) months from the date of hire and is contingent upon the availability of grant funding. While there may be opportunities for extension should additional funding become available, continuation of employment beyond the initial term is not guaranteed. The American Geophysical Union (AGU) supports a global community of more than half a million professionals and advocates in the Earth and space sciences. Through broad and inclusive partnerships, AGU aims to advance discovery and solution science that accelerates knowledge and creates solutions that are ethical, unbiased, and respectful of communities and their values. Our programs include serving as a scholarly publisher, convening virtual and in-person events, and providing career support. We live our values in everything we do, such as our net-zero energy renovated building in Washington, D.C., and our Ethics and Equity Center, which fosters a diverse and inclusive geoscience community to ensure responsible conduct. This is an exciting time to work at AGU. Every day we approach our work with a sense of purpose, and we look for others who share that passion and desire for a career with impact. As the Arctic Science Assessment Lead you will have a unique opportunity to help steward the future of one of the world's most respected climate assessments during a pivotal moment in its history. This fellow will play a central leadership role in ensuring the successful completion, publication, and public release of the 2026 Arctic Report Card while helping chart a sustainable path for future editions. Embedded within AGU's Science Assessment Initiative, the fellow will serve as a coordinating editor and strategic partner, working closely with lead editors, scientific contributors, and stakeholders across the Arctic research community. The role combines scientific coordination, program leadership, stakeholder engagement, and long-term planning. Beyond delivering ARC2026, this fellowship provides a rare opportunity to support and steward the reinvention of a critical scientific product. The fellow will help design the governance, partnerships, engagement strategies, and operating model needed to ensure the Arctic Report Card remains an authoritative, resilient, and impactful source of climate intelligence for years to come.

Requirements

Master’s degree required in a relevant field, including but not limited to: environmental science, climate science, science communication, public policy, nonprofit management, organizational communications, or a closely related discipline.
Demonstrated experience in community engagement, volunteer management, scientific outreach, or a closely related function, preferably within a scientific, academic, nonprofit, or policy-adjacent organizational context.
Experience working with scientific communities, including demonstrated ability to communicate credibly with researchers, academics, and subject matter experts across disciplines.
Experience designing and managing stakeholder engagement processes, including convening events, facilitated input sessions, or public comment processes.
Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage effectively with scientists, policymakers, community organizations, and other stakeholder groups across professional and cultural contexts.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to draft professional correspondence, community communications, and stakeholder-facing materials at a high level of quality.
Demonstrated organizational and project management ability, with the capacity to manage multiple concurrent workstreams, track complex pipelines, and meet deadlines consistently.
Comfort with ambiguity and the ability to build functional systems in absence of established infrastructure — this role requires both strategic thinking and hands-on execution.
Collaborative working style, with the ability to function effectively as part of a small, highly interdependent team while also working independently on self-directed tasks.
Genuine interest in and commitment to SAI’s mission, with sufficient familiarity with arctic science, climate science, and the science-policy interface to engage credibly with the scientific community.
Proficiency with standard productivity and collaboration tools (e.g., Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, project management platforms).
Experience with database or CRM platforms is specifically required.
Proven ability to manage time to ensure all tasks are completed by deadline.
Demonstrated attention to detail.
Ability to communicate effectively and appropriately, responding in a timely manner; speak and write clearly, concisely and with impact.
Capability to exercise discretion on confidential matters.

Nice To Haves

Expertise in the cryosphere or cryosphere research is desirable.
Doctoral degree in a relevant scientific or policy field is an asset but is not required.
Familiarity with scientific conference culture, particularly within the Earth and climate sciences community is a significant asset.
Experience with science communication or public engagement in a scientific context is an asset.

Responsibilities

Serve as the coordinating editor for the successful completion, publication, and public release of the ARC2026.
Coordinate collaboration among participants, including lead editors, authors, reviewers, AGU staff, and external partners to ensure effective communication, alignment, and timely delivery of all assessment products.
Support editors in managing contributions from a large and diverse network of scientific authors and contributors, including tracking deliverables, timelines, dependencies, and key milestones.
Coordinate the peer review process in collaboration with external partners and support adherence to established scientific, editorial, and quality assurance standards.
Document assessment development procedures, maintain transparency of processes, and support the integrity and reproducibility of the assessment.
Coordinate publication, production, and dissemination activities in partnership with communications, publishing, and technical support teams.
Lead the planning and execution of the ARC2026 public launch, including stakeholder engagement activities, events, communications campaigns, and amplification strategies.
Build and maintain productive relationships with Arctic researchers, Indigenous knowledge holders, policymakers, resource managers, partner organizations, and other key stakeholders.
Lead development of a planning effort in early 2027 to develop a model for future ongoing production of the ARC with AGU support, including vetting new processes, governance approaches, systems of support, partnerships, and any other element needed to be considered.
Support the integration of the Arctic Report Card within AGU's broader science assessment portfolio and help establish sustainable assessment infrastructure for future editions.
Identify opportunities to strengthen assessment processes, broaden participation, increase accessibility, and enhance the utility of assessment outputs for decision-makers and public audiences.
Provide strategic leadership during a critical transition period and help establish a durable, nongovernmental model for producing authoritative Arctic climate assessments in the future.
Prepare briefings, reports, presentations, and other materials to support project oversight, stakeholder engagement, and organizational decision-making.
Monitor project risks, identify emerging challenges, and develop mitigation strategies to ensure successful delivery of project objectives.
Performs other duties as required or assigned, which are reasonably within the scope of the duties in this job classification.