Community Engagement Educator

Cornell University•Ithaca, NY

12d

About The Position

The Community Engagement Educator trains and supports community members and groups throughout the Southern Tier region, especially people from historically marginalized communities, to participate in community-level clean energy and climate awareness, mitigation, and adaptation efforts. The role uses conversations, training, coordination, and ongoing support to help participants take actions suited to their interests and capacity, such as sharing experiences, becoming resources for clean energy actions, connecting with relevant community groups, and providing feedback on energy programs or policy. The educator regularly engages people already connected to Smart Energy Choices and Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) to understand local energy and climate concerns, interests, and capacities. This information informs team strategy and systems for supporting community-based action. The position requires independent judgment, adaptability, and a commitment to learning from experience and improving programming. It works under the Southern Tier Regional Clean Energy Hub Director and is part of the CCETC Energy & Climate Change Team. The educator implements programs, supervises volunteers and interns and possibly one educator, attends relevant meetings, and builds working relationships with other CCETC staff. This is a full-time, 40-hour-per-week, benefits-eligible, non-exempt position. The hiring pay rate begins at $23.00 per hour and is commensurate with experience. The posting remains open until a suitable candidate is identified.

Requirements

Master’s degree with experience relevant to the position, or a bachelor’s degree plus two years of transferable relevant experience as a substitute.
Ability to communicate proficiently in spoken and written English and to read English.
Ability and willingness to build relationships and collaborate with community partners.
Ability and willingness to work with diverse audiences in varied settings with empathy and cultural sensitivity.
Ability to recognize and build on the capacity and strengths of others.
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.
Integrity, accuracy, organization, sound professional judgment, and ability to handle confidential and 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 position-related travel requirements.
Ability to meet acceptable background-check standards.
Ability to work flexible hours, which may include evenings and/or weekends.
Ability to transport program participants and/or program materials and resources when necessary.

Nice To Haves

Experience establishing relationships with and working alongside 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 personal 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, with a focus on historically marginalized groups and low-income households.
Maintain conversations with Southern Tier residents to learn about relevant energy- and climate-related issues and opportunities for constructive action.
Build collaborative relationships with community partners and structure program delivery around the needs and constraints of participating organizations.
Help structure programs for diverse participants and support program changes based on evaluations and changing local or statewide priorities.
Develop Cornell linkages for program guidance.
Deliver training to diverse audiences using existing program materials and educational frameworks, including Smart Energy Choices and Cornell materials such as Cornell Climate Stewards.
Support and accompany groups formed through training, helping them increase their projects’ impact, reflect on experience, plan next steps, share stories, and connect with relevant regional organizations.
Represent CCE professionally with the public, participants, community leaders, government officials, Cornell, and other land-grant universities in programming-related functions.
Train volunteers to deliver clean energy programming using the PowerHouse.
Maintain group and individual communications with people interested in community engagement and connect them with relevant initiatives and opportunities.
Collaborate with community partners and Cornell on program implementation.
Collect evaluation data from participants, collaborators, volunteers, staff, and other stakeholders; assist with analysis, interpretation, recommendations, and communication of findings; and implement evaluations as designed.
Plan educational program delivery with team members and community partners and help identify community and fiscal resources.
Assist with the annual Outreach & Equitable Engagement plan, updates to the Regional Assessment and Barriers Analysis, and staff development planning.
Assist with program budget administration, including expense tracking and purchasing support, and monitor educational content for compliance with policies, objectives, and research-based standards.
Supervise and guide staff and volunteers through coaching, support, and feedback; recruit, train, oversee, and support volunteers; and assist with volunteer and intern recruitment and training.
Write program success stories for marketing and reporting.
Organize and coordinate educational activities and events, maintain professional relationships with other agencies and organizations, and coordinate volunteer enrollment and reporting.
Coordinate volunteer projects, track participation, maintain records and data, complete program and funder reports, protect participant confidentiality, and submit accurate expense and mileage reports on time.
Transport program participants or program materials and resources when necessary.
Assist with annual reports documenting program impacts, including projects, workshops, volunteer participation, and reporting materials.
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 work environment, follow applicable health and safety requirements, and report hazards.
Embrace diversity, support outreach to diverse audiences, follow Association policies and procedures, and complete assigned duties professionally, promptly, and accurately.