Social Science Researcher Hourly/Non-Permanent

Profile

Union Position:

Yes

Shift:

First Shift

The University of Washington (UW)

is proud to be one of the nation’s premier educational and research institutions. Our people are the most important asset in our pursuit of achieving excellence in education, research, and community service. Our staff not only enjoys outstanding benefits and professional growth opportunities, but also an environment noted for diversity, community involvement, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits, and natural beauty.

At the University of Washington, diversity is integral to excellence. We value and honor diverse experiences and perspectives, strive to create welcoming and respectful learning environments, and promote access, opportunity and justice for all.

The School of Environmental and Forest Sciences is seeking a Non-Permanent

Social Science Researcher in Governance and Social Change in Floodplain Management.

This position will contribute social science research to a new, innovative initiative led by Floodplains by Design to assess the social, political, and institutional changes needed to collaboratively manage Washington’s river basins for multiple community benefits.

Integrated floodplain management involves collaborating across agencies, Tribes, sectors, and stakeholders to protect and restore habitat, control floods, and manage working lands toward improving overall ecosystem health and human well-being. Floodplains by Design (FbD) is a nationally-recognized public-private partnership among the Washington Department of Ecology, the Bonneville Environment Foundation, American Rivers, and The Nature Conservancy, whose goal is to advance integrated floodplain management across Washington State. FbD recognizes that to achieve its integrated goals certain social, political, and institutional norms and structures must shift to align relationships, policies, and funding in ways that support multiple benefits. We have named this shift “changing the paradigm” of floodplain management.

The successful candidate will join a team working to develop a framework and process for advancing “paradigm change” (also known as “adaptive governance”) in support of integrated floodplain management in Washington. This project team will collaborate with a diverse group of individuals operating at various scales and organizations, and representing a range of values and perspectives. The project team and collaborators will focus on fostering collaboration across voices and perspectives, incorporating climate science, and promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in the process and outcomes of ecosystem management. This position is funded by the Puget Sound Partnership (PSP) and is designed to serve mutual social science needs of FbD and PSP.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Social Science Researcher will conduct a literature review on adaptive governance; select and test indicators of social, political, and institutional change; organize workshops; and, in general, assist with understanding and encouraging paradigm change in floodplain management. They will work closely with Dr. Sara Breslow and report to Dr. Phil Levin.

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

• Co-developing an adaptive management framework and process that focuses on the social, cultural, political, and institutional change necessary to achieve integrated floodplain management at scale

• Conducting a literature review of adaptive governance and related candidate indicators

• Evaluating, selecting, and testing indicators of adaptive governance, integration, and social change

• Convening a series of meetings and workshops

• Writing, reporting, and presenting; communicating using various tools and methods with a wide variety of audiences

• Project management

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in a social science field such as public policy, political science, anthropology, sociology, or geography; and two years’ experience as a Research Technologist, or equivalent; OR an advanced degree in an appropriate scientific field. Professional level experience may be substituted, year-for-year, for the formal academic degree.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Excellent writing and communication skills

• Experience independently designing, managing, and implementing a research project

• Experience working with a large volume of different types of information, including familiarity with analyzing qualitative and quantitative data

• Experience selecting, evaluating, and testing indicators

• Evidence of successfully collaborating in a multidisciplinary team

• Experience organizing collaborative group work and discussions

• Experience working in the environmental management field or directly applying research to real-world environmental management needs

• Experience in or strong interest in learning about integrated floodplain management in Washington State

DURATION

Starts September 2022; 12 months full-time or can extend to up to 18 months if part-time.

LOCATION

Work will be hybrid (mostly remote) and based in the Seattle, Washington area.

SALARY RANGE:

$20.53-$27.54/hour

For questions, please contact Sara Breslow

at sarajo@uw.edu

Application Process:

The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter, and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your My Jobs page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law

Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, the University of Washington will honor your experiences, perspectives and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming.

The University of Washington is a leader in environmental stewardship & sustainability

, and committed to becoming climate neutral.

The University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu

COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENT

Governor Inslee's Proclamation 21-14.2

requires employees of higher education and healthcare institutions to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 unless a medical or religious exemption is approved. Being fully vaccinated means that an individual is at least two weeks past their final dose of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine regimen. As a condition of employment, newly hired employees will be required to provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccination. View the Final candidate guide to COVID-19 vaccination requirement webpage

for information about the medical or religious exemption process for final candidates.

Company info

University of Washington, Bothell
Website : http://www.bothell.washington.edu/