How to Apply

Applications are welcomed and encouraged from all qualified individuals regardless of background and identity. To apply, please complete the application on the U-M Careers site. A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position. 

To be considered for the intermediate level position, please submit a 1-2 page research statement detailing your experience conducting independent research, with preference to relevant work (e.g., research in social sciences, environmental studies, user experience and/or engagement). Demonstrated skills in social science such as ethnographic research, user experience research, or qualitative data analysis (e.g., MAXQDA) should be mentioned in the research statement and/or cover letter, if applicable. 

Job Summary

We are seeking a Research Engagement Specialist to support the efforts of the Research Engagement Program at the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research (CIGLR). In this position, you will join a collaborative team of researcher-practitioners to identify and engage with stakeholders and rights holders in the design of socially useful Great Lakes research. Through social science research and engagement practice, you will facilitate two-way interactions between researchers and end-users to ensure research products are designed with real world applications in mind, and are ultimately useful and usable for the people who might interact with them. Your work will support efforts to bridge gaps between scientists and end-users and ensure knowledge and research outcomes translate effectively to decision-support and operational contexts. You will work with researchers and stakeholders in the Great Lakes region, including government agencies, and individuals or groups from marginalized or traditionally underrepresented communities/identities. Examples of research products collaboratively designed at CIGLR include the Experimental Lake Erie Hypoxia Forecast and the Lake Erie Harmful Algal Bloom Forecast. 

Research Engagement Specialist in the Research Engagement Program, are part of CIGLR's Engagement, Career training, Outreach and communications (ECO) program. Learn more about the CIGLR Research Engagement Program here (link). 

This position is open only to US Citizens or permanent residents due to federal security clearance required for access to NOAA GLERL facilities and resources.

Term Limited Appointment: This is a one-year term limited appointment, with an opportunity for extension based on funding and performance.

Mission Statement

The School for Environment and Sustainability (https://seas.umich.edu/) is a collaborative and interdisciplinary school. Our mission includes contributing to the protection of environmental resources and the achievement of a sustainable society. We accomplish this by generating and sharing knowledge, contributing to policy and engaging managers and stakeholders. The University of Michigan is a top-ranked public university with excellence in research and teaching.  Ann Arbor, home to the University of Michigan, is a town known for arts, culture, parks and restaurants. 

SEAS is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and equitable environment that respects diverse experiences, promotes generous listening and communications, and discourages and restoratively responds to acts of discrimination, harassment, or injustice. Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is deeply rooted in our values for a sustainable and just society.

Who We Are

Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research (CIGLR), is part of the University of Michigan's School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. CIGLR is a collaboration between the University of Michigan and NOAA that brings together experts from academia and government research labs to address pressing problems facing the Great Lakes region. 

Why Work at Michigan?

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:

• Generous time off
• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses

Responsibilities*

These responsibilities may vary depending on the level the candidate is hired into.

• Under guidance from the Research Engagement Program Lead, develop and implement research engagement strategies using social science research methods such as focus groups, interviews, and surveys. 
• Collect data related to stakeholder, rights holder and user's  needs, knowledge, perceptions, behaviors, and cultures. 
• Analyze qualitative and quantitative results to identify stakeholder information needs, generate recommendations for research product development, and evaluate research product usability. 
• Collaborate with researchers in the development of products (such as web pages, fact sheets, and science presentations) to effectively communicate research results to stakeholders and rights holders.
• Create analytical outputs to inform the interdisciplinary research teams we collaborate with of our engagement results. This might include stakeholder & rights holder inventories, reports, and recommendations for research design and product improvement. 
• Share the results of research co-design efforts with the broader technical and research community through public presentations, webinars, conferences, reports, and contributions to peer-reviewed publications in collaboration with the Research Engagement team and project research teams.
• Coordinate CIGLR's engagement activities with other NOAA groups and partner organizations in the Great Lakes through participation in events, working groups, and conferences.

Required Qualifications*

• Bachelor's degree in a field related to social sciences, environmental studies, or engagement. A master's degree is preferred.
• At least four (4) years of demonstrated experience in the following areas:
  • Professional or academic experience with social science methods for focus groups, interviews, and/or surveys including data analysis. 
  • Professional or academic experience organizing and facilitating engagement or user-experience activities (e.g., work in human-centered or collaborative project design, user experience research or design of science/technology projects).
• Strong communication skills, particularly in front of the public. Must be able to produce technical reports, as well as translate science to a lay audience.
• Ability to work independently on individual job responsibilities and goals, but to also work well as part of an interdisciplinary team.

Modes of Work

You will spend the majority of time at NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) in Ann Arbor. Our team offers flexible work styles, such as flexible hours and/or flexible workplace (with approved agreements in place), however this position is not eligible for fully remote work.

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Additional Information

This position can be filled at the Research Area Specialist Associate or Intermediate level depending on experience. Salary will be determined based on experience. 

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

Applications will be reviewed as received throughout the posting period and continue until the position is filled.

U-M EEO/AA Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.