Arctic Adaptation Manager (Alaska)

Mission:

Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell Climate) conducts science for solutions at the nexus of climate, people, and nature. We partner with leaders and communities for just meaningful impact to address the climate crisis. 

Woodwell Climate is a rapidly growing, top-ranked, independent non-profit climate research institute whose mission is to advance science-based climate policies through scientific research and outreach. Our world-leading research and impact helps individuals, organizations, corporations, communities, and nations understand the realities of climate change, recognize the impact on our planet, and embrace the urgent action needed to safeguard the future of life on Earth.

Summary:

Join the Arctic team’s Permafrost Pathways project as the Arctic Adaptation Manager to support climate change adaptation and resilience in Alaska Native communities. This is a highly collaborative team of Alaska-based project partners, including tribal partners, Arctic environmental researchers, policy experts, and communications specialists to integrate Indigenous Knowledge with environmental analyses to support adaptation decision making for select Alaska communities impacted by permafrost thaw, erosion, and flooding.  

Responsibilities, but not limited to: 

• Travel to Alaska Native partner communities to strengthen collaboration with tribal liaisons and decision makers, and to coordinate environmental monitoring and modeling work with tribal liaisons is required.

• Supervise the Arctic Adaptation Co-Production Lead and Arctic Adaptation Specialist. 

• Increase Alaska Native influence and elevate Indigenous voices on climate adaptation.  

• Assist in the coordination of Woodwell’s Alaska-based technical work in monitoring, mapping and modeling with partnering communities (currently ten) and tribal liaisons. Travel to partnering communities is required.

• Serve as a cultural liaison for Woodwell staff working with Alaska Native tribal partners  

• Update relevant stakeholders or team members on the project's progress

• Lead, supervise and oversee our Arctic Adaptation Knowledge Co-Production Lead and Arctic Adaptation Specialist employees

• Create detailed agenda and set goals for Arctic Adaptation team meetings

• Coach and support project team members with tasks you assign them

• Oversee coordination of Woodwell staff visits with partner communities, including on-site meetings, environmental monitoring, and travel 

• Partner with communities, liaisons, and Woodwell scientists, to develop a process for sharing and archiving data that ensures tribal data sovereignty.

• Ensure regular communication with tribal liaisons from 10 partner communities and coordinate with Woodwell project team to ensure timely delivery of data and monitoring/modeling results  

• Coordinate and collaborate with Woodwell technical experts and scientists, Alaska-based project partners, and community liaisons of Alaska Native tribal partners to:

  • Understand and communicate Woodwell’s monitoring, modeling, and mapping expertise as it relates to community adaptation needs.

  • Assess evolving environmental monitoring and modeling needs of Alaska Native partner communities to inform knowledge of current and future impacts of climate change.

  • Assist in the collection of environmental data in Alaska Native partner communities.

  • Present results in a manner that responds to community needs and supports community-led adaptation decision making.

• Coordinate with state and federal agencies and organizations in Alaska to support broader adaptation work and community of climate adaptation specialists.

• Lead adaptation-team meetings and partner meetings.  

• Attend, collaborate, and/or assist in the coordination of workshops and other events.

• Represent, as needed, the project team and participate in relevant meetings and working groups.

Must have the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge and experience working in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions and understanding of how climate change is impacting Arctic communities.

• Governance in Alaska and experience working with Alaska Native communities’ tribal and local governments.

• Willingness to gain understanding in Woodwell’s mapping and environmental technical expertise.  

• Proven successful track record of working with Alaska Native communities 

• Prior hands on project management and/or business analysis experience

• Successful track record of managing small teams

• Prior collaboration and co-production of knowledge with Arctic Indigenous scientists and knowledge-holders and Western scientists.

• Excellent communication skills (written, verbal and interpersonal).

• Ability to translate technical information into clear, engaging language for communities and general audiences

• Familiarity with environmental data collection processes and ownership

• Highly organized, attentive to detail, and results oriented

• Capacity to work independently, collaboratively, and creatively to find solutions to challenges

• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.

• Ability to work independently, delegation skills and accountability 

• Required travel (up to 30% of the year)  to Alaska partner communities, relevant conferences and Woodwell campus

Qualifications:

• 7+ years of professional relevant experience

• Bachelors degree 

• Master’s degree or equivalent relevant experience preferred

Physical Requirements:

In the office:

• Ability to tolerate sustained periods of walking, standing, sitting

• Ability to lift 25 pounds

• Ability to communicate

• Ability to kneel, bend, and carry items

• Ability to use phone and computers

• Repetitive movements

• Air, train, vehicle travel to attend meetings/event
  
  

In the field, the physical requirements of this role include:

• Air, train, vehicle travel to access field locations

• Driving a vehicle (e.g., ATV/4-wheeler and snow machine) to access field locations

• Walking, hiking, climbing to access field locations

• Standing and sitting for sustained periods

• Frequent bending, squatting, and kneeling

• Reaching overhead

• Use of manual and power tools including shovels, saws, drills, and hammers

• Ability to lift, carry, and push/pull up to 25lbs up to 10 times/day

Work Environment:

The functions of this role are conducted in:

• A variety of environments, both indoor and outdoor

Application review will begin on December 16, 2024   

Classification and Compensation: This is a full-time, salaried, exempt position, the annual salary range starting at $100,000 dependent on qualifications/experience. Woodwell offers a generous benefits package and work life balance.

Location:  Remote, Alaska based

Application Instructions: To apply, please send your cover letter addressing your experience and qualifications in relation to the responsibilities of this position and curriculum vitae as a single PDF to our career’s portal.

Please visit Woodwell's website to learn more about Woodwell’s work.

Located on a 10-acre campus near the village of Woods Hole, the Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell) is a private, non-profit research center. Woodwell is a leading source of climate science that drives the urgent action needed to solve climate change. Woodwell has 100+ staff members and is excited to welcome new employees to this work. 

Woodwell Climate is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, mental, or physical disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, familial status, veteran status, or genetic information. Woodwell is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for all individuals in employment practices, services, programs, and activities.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Woodwell

WE NEED ALL VOICES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate change is the greatest challenge of our lifetimes. Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell) understands that the climate crisis—from causes to consequences—is inextricably linked with persistent social injustice. Effectively addressing either requires addressing both. The climate crisis demands that we bring to bear all of the knowledge, expertise, innovation, and creativity that we can collectively muster, and those who have been marginalized and disproportionately impacted must be heard.

The work Woodwell Climate does—the questions we ask, the ways we seek answers, and the strategies we put forward—is stronger when shaped by a diversity of knowledge, perspectives, and experiences. We strive to welcome, respect, and amplify differing voices. We value individuals as they are, with all their differences in race, age, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, language, and mental and physical abilities.

Woodwell Climate acknowledges that our organization, and the scientific community more broadly, have a long way to go in living up to these ideals. We approach the work of improving our organization with the same ambition and commitment to systemic change that we bring to addressing climate change.

We will inevitably make mistakes, but we will continue to listen, learn, and do this critical work. We understand that this work requires an ongoing commitment from each and every one of us. We are actively engaged in building and sustaining an equitable and inclusive culture within our organization, and in fostering greater diversity in climate science.