NEON Engagement Coordinator - CO

Battelle delivers when others can’t. We conduct research and development, manage national laboratories, design and manufacture products and deliver critical services for our clients—whether they are a multi-national corporation, a small start-up or a government agency.

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.

Company Overview

Battelle manages and operates the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) program, which is solely funded by the National Science Foundation. A 30 year project dedicated to understanding how changes in climate, land use and invasive species impact ecology, the observatory’s scientists and engineers are collecting a comprehensive range of ecological data on a continental scale across 20 eco-climatic domains representing US ecosystems. Our teams use cutting-edge technology, including an airborne observation platform that captures images of regional landscapes and vegetation; mobile, relocatable, and fixed data collection sites with automated ground sensors to monitor soil and atmosphere; and trained field crews who observe and sample populations of diverse organisms and collect soil and water data. Once structures are completed, a leading-edge cyberinfrastructure will calibrate, store and publish this information. The Observatory includes more than 500 personnel and is the first of its kind designed to detect and enable forecasting of ecological change at continental scales.

Job Summary

We are currently seeking a NEON Engagement Coordinator. This hybrid position is based in Boulder, CO.

The Engagement Coordinator is a key member of the NEON Engagement team, responsible for developing and maintaining the Observatory's education, engagement, and outreach efforts in collaboration with NEON headquarters and field staff at Domain offices. The Engagement Coordinator will coordinate NEON's Domain Outreach Liaison Program, supporting a team of 18 designated field ecologists in identifying, planning, executing, and reporting on external engagement activities across the country. As part of this effort, the Engagement Coordinator will work closely with the Engagement Lead and external evaluators to track progress and metrics on activities aligned with NEON's Strategic Interaction Plan.

The Engagement Coordinator will use and maintain NEON's customer relationship management (CRM) database (i.e., Salesforce) to plan, document, monitor, and report on engagement-related activities. Additionally, the Engagement Coordinator will contribute to broader outreach efforts, including collaborating with the NEON Communications Specialist and Graphic Designer to develop and update engagement materials, tools, and training resources that promote strategic and impactful engagement. Other responsibilities include coordinating NEON's presence at conferences and scientific meetings; supporting staff in representing NEON at such events; and coordinating with key internal stakeholders on annual planning and implementation of community engagement with priority audiences. Applicants should have demonstrated experience building and maintaining relationships with a nationally distributed network of staff and partner organizations.

To learn more about the NEON Project, visit: https://www.neonscience.org/

Responsibilities

• Manage NEON's Domain Outreach Liaison Program, including:
• Ensuring each Domain develops and executes annual plans aligned with NEON's Strategic Interaction Plan and priorities
• Leading and maintaining annual training content for Domain Outreach Liaisons
• Coordinating regular meetings to monitor Outreach Liaison needs and progress on implementing 200 outreach activities annually across the United States
• Fulfilling materials requests by printing and shipping resources to Domain offices
• Identifying impactful activities, success stories, or case studies to highlight more widely and contributing to reporting requirements
• Supporting leadership on budget tracking for Domain Outreach activities
• Coordinate with NEON's science and engineering staff (engineering, observation science, instrumentation science, airborne observations platform/hangar, NEON Biorepository, and NEON Research Support Services) on engagement planning to increase awareness of and promote the use of NEON data, samples, and infrastructure in advancing scientific research and workforce development
• Utilize and maintain the organizational CRM database (i.e., Salesforce) to document, monitor, and report on community interactions and partnerships, including providing training and best-practice guidance to staff to ensure high-quality data entry and recommending system modifications to maximize functionality
• Contribute to evaluation activities to gather feedback and improve upon future engagement and outreach efforts aligned with the NEON Strategic Interaction Plan, including establishing and reporting on performance metrics on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis; developing and analyzing surveys or other feedback tools; and acting upon lessons learned
• Work closely with the Engagement Lead and NEON Communications Specialist to coordinate NEON's presence at national scientific conferences (e.g., AGU, ESA), including staffing exhibit booths, coordinating field trips to local NEON field sites, and supporting presentation awards or accolades
• Assist the NEON Data Skills team in planning and conducting data skills workshops and training for a variety of end users
• Provide news items and updates related to NEON engagement and outreach efforts on internal platforms and in team meetings
• Provide ad-hoc support to the NEON Communications Specialist in executing external communication strategies to increase visibility of NEON
• Assist with coordination of headquarters site tours as requested
• Support and consult with NEON staff and program leadership to develop, maintain, and track productive relationships with a broad spectrum of environmental science communities, including universities, research institutions, professional scientific societies, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and industry partners
• Assist the Engagement Lead and contribute to other engagement activities as needed
  
  

Key Qualifications

• High School Diploma with 2-4 years of experience participating in or coordinating the design, implementation, and evaluation of outreach and engagement efforts; or equivalent education and years of experience.
• Good oral and written communications skills and ability to prioritize and organize work, including experience in conducting meetings, note taking, and communicating with large audiences.
• Self-initiative and ability to work independently as well as part of a team.
• Requires a working knowledge of commonly used PC applications, including tools such as MS Teams and/or Zoom, and MS Office.
• Ability and willingness to travel as needed (less than 10% time).
• Applicants must have authorization to work in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of any employment Visa at this time.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate degree [TM1.1]with demonstrated experience planning, designing, and conducting engaging and effective outreach or engagement plans and activities with target audiences
• Experience with Salesforce as a CRM tool
• Experience working successfully with a geographically dispersed team
• Experience preparing technical and administrative reports
• Effective problem-solving skills and ability to work on multiple projects at a time and act on changing priorities
• Familiarity with or willingness to learn to work with monitoring and evaluation tools (e.g, survey tools, data dashboards)
• Familiarity with or willingness to learn introductory/basic coding in R and/or Python
• Familiarity with or willingness to learn content management systems to update basic website content (e.g., Drupal)
  
  

Salary Range & Compensation

• Battelle is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The salary range for this role is $58,000 to $68,000 per year, in addition to our comprehensive benefits package. A candidate’s salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to education, relevant work experience, skills, and certifications. Salary ranges may vary based on geographic location and market conditions.
  
  

Benefits: Live an Extraordinary Life

We care about your well-being, not just on the job. Battelle offers comprehensive and competitive benefits to help you live your best life.

• Take time to recharge: You get paid time off to support work-life balance and keep motivated.
• Prioritize wellness: Stay healthy with medical, dental, and vision coverage with wellness incentives and benefits plus a variety of optional supplemental benefits.
• Better together: Coverage for partners, gender-affirming care and health support, and family formation support.
• Build your financial future: Build financial stability with an industry-leading 401(k) retirement savings plan. For most employees, we put in 5 percent whether you contribute or not, and match your contributions on top of that.
• Advance your education: Tuition assistance is available to pursue higher education.
  
  

A Work Environment Where You Succeed

For brilliant minds in science, technology, engineering and business operations, Battelle is the place to do the greatest good by solving humanity’s most pressing challenges and creating a safer, healthier and more secure world.

You will have the opportunity to thrive in a culture that inspires you to:

• Apply your talent to challenging and meaningful projects
• Receive select funding to pursue ideas in scientific and technological discovery
• Partner with world-class experts in a collaborative environment
• Nurture and develop the next generation of scientific leaders
• Give back to and improve our communities
  
  

Vaccinations & Safety Protocols

Battelle may require employees, based on job duties, work location, and/or its clients’ requirements to follow certain safety protocols and to be vaccinated against a variety of viruses, bacteria, and diseases as a condition of employment and continued employment and to provide documentation that they are fully vaccinated. If applicable, Battelle will provide reasonable accommodations based on a qualified disability or medical condition through the Americans with Disabilities Act or the Rehabilitation Act or for a sincerely held religious belief under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (and related state laws).

Battelle is an equal opportunity employer. We provide employment and opportunities for advancement, compensation, training, and growth according to individual merit, without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, age, genetic information, disability, veteran-status veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable Federal, state, or local law. Our goal is for each staff member to have the opportunity to grow to the limits of their abilities and to achieve personal and organizational objectives. We will support positive programs for equal treatment of all staff and full utilization of all qualified employees at all levels within Battelle.

The above statements are intended to describe the nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, activities and skills required of staff members. No statement herein is intended to imply any authorities to commit Battelle unless special written permission is granted by Battelle's Legal Department.

For more information about our other openings, please visit www.battelle.org/careers