Associate Director for Actionable Science

~ The National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC) is a unique resource for the scholarly, management, and policy communities. SESYNC brings together diverse groups in new, interdisciplinary collaborations to identify solutions to society’s most challenging and complex environmental problems. Our researchers are encouraged to co-develop research questions with those who apply scholarly knowledge, resulting in scholarship that can inform decision makers. ~

In 2011, the University of Maryland was awarded a $27.5M grant by the National Science Foundation to establish SESYNC, located in Annapolis, MD.  The University of Maryland has recently been awarded an additional $28.2M to continue funding the Center. SESYNC is led by a diverse group of scientists from the University System of Maryland and regional, national, and international partnering institutions.

SESYNC engages participants from a large and highly interdisciplinary community of scientists, representatives from governmental and non-governmental organizations, and the private sector to undertake synthesis research on complex environmental issues. SESYNC uses a service-based approach to foster interdisciplinary interactions that lead to technical outputs and knowledge relevant to decision makers at many levels. Given the scale of work, SESYNC’s leadership seeks two staff members to join the scientific support team at the Center in Annapolis, MD.

Position Overview

Reporting to the Director of Social Science and Policy, the Associate Director for Actionable Science will provide support for interdisciplinary synthesis research teams conducting long-term (2-year) projects, workshop participants, and individual visitors.

Responsibilities

• He/she will work with SESYNC participants across the lifespan of their projects and be responsible for helping them with both scientific aspects and identification of potential decision contexts for the problems being addressed.
• She/he will: provide direct feedback and advice regarding opportunities to develop actionable products and outcomes from the research conducted; help link participating researchers to existing and new networks of decision makers as appropriate; and help identify relevant strategies to engage individuals from government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector in SESYNC’s research teams and other activities.
• As research products emerge he/she will work closely with researchers to determine how scientific products may be conveyed into ongoing or new decision-making contexts.
• The Associate Director for Actionable Science is expected to maintain and expand an extensive network of contacts in the policy arena to learn about key science needs across the spectrum of socio-environmental problems.
• The incumbent will also write and edit materials for a variety of venues, participate in the review of projects and the overall evaluation of Center programs, and routinely brief the rest of the SESYNC leadership on researchers’ progress.

Minimum Qualifications

• MS or MA with a background in environmental decision-making and policy and a minimum of 2 years’ experience in a position focused on bridging scientific knowledge to audiences outside the research community.
• A background in environment-related social or natural science and the ability to understand complex scientific problems and approaches needed to address them.
• Experience serving groups of researchers as a liaison, sounding board, and connection to other disciplines and audiences.
• An existing network of relationships in environmental agencies, NGOs, and business groups – and willingness to expand those networks.
• Strong organization skills and the ability to initiate and manage a portfolio of multiple and diverse projects.
• A professional demeanor, exceptional written and oral communication skills, and desire to actively engage with a wide variety of individuals both at the Center and in wide ranging policy and decision-making networks.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver timely outcomes as a member of a support team (and independently).
• The successful applicant should be able to work in a dynamic environment and have the flexibility to adapt to the changing needs of research teams.

Preferences:

• Ph.D. in a relevant discipline.
• Experience working outside of academia and/or a research environment.
• Experience with group facilitation and experience in program evaluation.
• Examples of specific written (print and/or web based) products developed to translate complex scientific outcomes for non-peer audiences.