"Alerted.org

Req #: 244203

Department: EARTH & SPACE SCIENCES

Job Location Detail: This is a hybrid position based on the Seattle campus, with the option to telework up to two days a week

Posting Date: 07/10/2025

Closing Info:

Closes On 07/25/2025

Salary: $7,917 - $9,167 per month

Shift: First Shift

Notes:

As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here. (https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/02/benefits-professional-staff-librarians-academic-contract-covered-exempt-20250130-a11y.pdf)

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills, and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits, and natural beauty.

The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (pnsn.org) seeks a motivated and energetic team member to lead its External Engagement Team. PNSN’s core mission is to monitor the Pacific Northwest (PNW) region for earthquakes and other hazardous events and provide timely, accurate, and authoritative earthquake information to local, state, and federal officials and to the public. Based in the Earth and Space Sciences Department at the University of Washington, PNSN operates the Washington and Oregon portion of the Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS), including the ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning System, in cooperation with the United States Geological Survey and the University of Oregon. PNSN is the premier source of vetted information about earthquake and volcano hazards in the Pacific Northwest, and we envision that the person who fills this position will take a leading role in the communication of and preparation for seismic events in our region.

Please note that this position is contingent upon funding availability at the time of the offer. We appreciate your understanding and encourage interested candidates to apply.

With a full-time staff of 23 at UW, PNSN is a stimulating workplace embedded in a top-ranked academic program on the striking Seattle campus. We seek a well-organized professional to lead our External Engagement program. Our ideal candidate has experience communicating complex scientific or engineering topics to a lay audience. In addition, they can plan and execute a long-term strategic plan that includes pursuing strategic partnerships, communicating with seismic station hosts, managing science communications on our website and social media, interacting with UW’s government relations and development offices, as well as other communicators and the College of the Environment Dean’s office, and being an advocate and spokesperson for earthquake awareness throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Since this position will supervise at least two other staff members, experience in supervision is highly desirable. We expect a leadership style that respects individual strengths and differences to bring the best out of people. PNSN prides itself for having excellent retention of staff.

After initial review of the applicants, the panel may request examples of prior work and/or ask in-depth questions regarding specific hypothetical situations you may encounter in this position.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

30%:

• Lead strategic planning and prioritization related to all external engagement goals which includes acting as an integral partner of the state of Washington's earthquake safety program and engaging in cooperative planning of major long-range efforts with the federal government via the USGS-led ShakeAlert earthquake early warning program.

• Manage and direct the work of others, including regular staff members and student employees in the External Engagement Team.

• Develop and carry out education, outreach, and advocacy strategy and planning on behalf of PNSN in consultation with the Director and Network Manager.

25%:

• Act as a spokesperson for and outward-facing representative of, the PNSN in multiple ways, including acting as:

o a liaison to legislatures and other branches and agencies of government at all levels;

o a liaison for cooperative interaction with the leadership of multiple state agencies (e.g., EMD in Washington’s Military Dept., DNR), federal agencies (USGS, FEMA), equivalent agencies in Oregon and British Columbia, and the press.

o a liaison to allied regional and national scientific organizations; coordinator of and participant in media interviews as needed;

o a PNSN representative on interagency committees on earthquake safety and other relevant topics as needed.

25%:

• Managing the outreach programs and formal communication of PNSN’s $5 million dollar/year operation.

• Serving as social and traditional media coordinator as well as web content manager.

• Acting as interface between the scientific and technical activities of PNSN and the public.

20%

• Promoting the use of our scientific products including earthquake early warning.

The person who fills this position would work closely with the PNSN Director and Network Manager as a member of leadership, supervise two or more staff members, and coordinate the activities of our External Engagement Team, including managing undergraduate and/or graduate student assistants.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in a natural science or a communications-related specialty, or equivalent experience

• Minimum of 4-5 years of demonstrated experience in science-related communications and outreach

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.** **ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Demonstrated organizational and leadership skills

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in science communication related to natural hazards and their impacts, including as a public information specialist for a scientific organization

• Experience at the interface between technical and research fields and public policy

• Master’s level or higher education in a branch of the geosciences or in policy related to geohazards

• Experience leading a small team and/or supervising staff members

**Application Process:** The application process 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 access 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.

University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.