Association Subject Educator II

Cornell Cooperative Extension•Ithaca, MI

18d

About The Position

The Community Engagement Educator works collaboratively to train and support community members and groups throughout the Southern Tier region, especially people from historically marginalized communities. The role helps participants take community-level actions that increase clean energy and climate awareness, strengthen community connections, and contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation. Through conversation, training, coordination, and encouragement, the educator supports people in sharing their experiences, serving as resources for clean energy actions, connecting with community-based initiatives, and participating in opportunities to provide feedback on energy programs or policy. The educator regularly speaks with community members connected to Smart Energy Choices and Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) to understand local energy- and climate-related issues, interests, and capacity. This information informs team strategy and systems for supporting community-based action toward a peaceful and just clean energy future. The position calls for independent judgment, adaptability, and a commitment to learning from experience and improving programs. Working under the Southern Tier Regional Clean Energy Hub Director, the educator implements programs, supervises volunteers and interns and possibly one educator, and attends relevant meetings. The educator also serves on the CCETC Energy & Climate Change Team and develops working relationships with other CCETC staff. This is a full-time, 40-hour-per-week, benefits-eligible, non-exempt hourly position. Hiring pay begins at $23.00 per hour and is commensurate with experience.

Requirements

Master’s degree with experience relevant to the position, or a bachelor’s degree plus two years of transferable relevant experience.
Proficient English speaking, reading, and writing skills.
Ability and willingness to build relationships and collaborate with community partners.
Ability and willingness to work empathetically and with cultural sensitivity with diverse audiences in diverse settings.
Ability to recognize and build on others’ strengths and help them develop capacity.
Strong organizational skills.
Experience using computer software for documents and spreadsheets, as well as email.
Ability to communicate effectively, clearly, and tactfully verbally, in writing, and electronically.
Ability to work with integrity, accuracy, organization, sound professional judgment, and discretion with confidential or sensitive information.
Ability to organize, manage, and prioritize multiple tasks, deadlines, requirements, and priorities, and complete work on time.
Ability to work creatively amid ambiguity and adapt to changing circumstances.
Ability to reflect on experience, derive insights, and refine programs through action and reflection.
Ability to recruit, train, oversee, and support diverse volunteers.
Valid New York State driver’s license and ability and willingness to meet travel requirements.
Ability to meet acceptable background-check standards.
Ability to work flexible hours, which may include evenings and/or weekends, as appropriate.

Nice To Haves

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 as a volunteer or overseeing volunteers.
Demonstrated ability to plan and organize work responsibilities according to priorities developed with an immediate supervisor.
Energy-related job experience.
Familiarity with the community where the work will take place and ability to use program resources within the community.

Responsibilities

Develop strategies for engaging residents along a continuum of engagement, emphasizing historically marginalized groups and low-income households.
Engage Southern Tier residents in conversations about locally relevant energy and climate issues and opportunities for constructive action.
Build collaborative relationships with community partners and help structure training and program delivery around participating organizations’ needs and constraints.
Help adapt programs for diverse participants and support program changes based on evaluation findings and changing local or statewide priorities.
Assist with Cornell linkages for program-development guidance.
Deliver training using existing program materials and educational frameworks, including materials from Smart Energy Choices and Cornell programs such as Cornell Climate Stewards.
Support groups emerging from training by helping them share their stories, reflect on project experiences, plan next steps, and connect with relevant organizations and initiatives.
Represent CCE professionally with the public, program participants, community leaders, government officials, Cornell, and other land-grant universities in program-related functions.
Train volunteers to deliver clean energy programming using the PowerHouse.
Maintain communication with people interested in taking steps along the engagement continuum and connect them with relevant opportunities and initiatives.
Collaborate with community partners and Cornell on program implementation.
Collect evaluation data from participants, collaborators, volunteers, Association staff, and other stakeholders; assist with analysis, interpretation, recommendations, and communicating findings; and implement program evaluations as designed.
Plan educational program delivery with team members and community partners; help identify community and fiscal resources; and assist with outreach planning, regional assessments, barrier analysis, and staff-development planning.
Assist with program budget administration, including expense tracking and purchasing support, and help monitor program content and needs.
Supervise and guide staff and volunteers through coaching, support, and feedback; support volunteer and intern recruitment and training; and write program success stories.
Organize and coordinate educational activities and events, maintain professional relationships, coordinate volunteer enrollment and reporting, and facilitate volunteer projects aligned with program priorities.
Track program participation; maintain records and data; prepare program, grant, contract, and annual impact reports; submit accurate expense and mileage reports; and protect confidential participant information.
Purchase program materials with supervisor approval and transport participants or program materials when necessary.
Develop and pursue a professional-development plan with the supervisor or Executive Director, support Cornell Cooperative Extension activities, and perform other assigned duties.
Support a safe working environment, follow applicable regulations and Association health and safety procedures, prevent accidents and injuries, and communicate hazards.
Embrace diversity, support outreach to diverse audiences, follow Association policies and Cornell Cooperative Extension Skills for Success, and perform assigned work professionally, accurately, and on time.