Director of Community Science, Academy of Natural Sciences

Posted by Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel on November 1, 2022

The Director of Community Science is responsible for the direction and strategic expansion of the department, which facilitates the creation and support of local community-based projects to provide hands-on, accessible activities and opportunities for learning, data collection, and exploration of the natural world. The Director of Community Science is a member of the Community Learning Division leadership team, working with the Vice President and the other program directors to establish and achieve CLD’s strategic vision. Additionally, The Director is responsible for the onboarding, training, and deployment of the Academy’s volunteers, and interns that work directly with community partners to plan, manage, and evaluate community engagement activities. In collaboration with the Community Learning Leadership team, The Director also conducts and publishes research on the key outcomes and findings of engagements, leads efforts to acquire local and national funding for its programs, and amplifies the work of community science as a signature activity the Academy.

Essential Functions

• Serve as the primary collaborator for CL with The Environmental Collaboratory (TEC) and community-based partners, local and regional government stakeholders to identify and address environmentally based challenges
• Work with TEC staff to develop partnerships with and serve as liaison with all external stakeholders throughout the region
• In collaboration with the Center for STEAM equity, conduct and publish research and significant outcome based on collaborative work of the department
• Lead in efforts to acquire local and national funding for the program
• Co-develop and manage community-informed research projects with The Patrick Center of Environmental Research and other Academy-related investigators
• Collaborate with The Academy’s division of Experience and Engagement to develop and execute public programming
• Work with the VP of the Community Learning Division, and the other directors to establish and achieve the Academy’s strategic vision
• Foster a culture of open communication and collaboration
• Create and oversee programs and projects that further the strategic goals of Community Science and CLD
• Manage the creation and spending of budgets, grants, endowments, and gifts
• Identify and pursue opportunities for earned and contributed revenue
• Identify, recruit, hire, train, supervise, and evaluate staff members, interns, Drexel co-ops, and volunteers
• Develops position documents, as well as summary and overview reports, to define and explain ongoing work
• Presents to work of the division at appropriate conferences, public programs an among key stakeholders

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