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Position Title:Research Administrator II - Water Resilience Collaborative

Job Group:Professional & Scientific

Required Minimum Qualifications:Bachelor’s degree and 3 years of related experience

Special Required QualificationsDrivers License

Preferred Qualifications:Bachelor’s degree in ecological engineering, natural resources, environmental science, water resources, or a related field.

Demonstrated experience working across interdisciplinary teams, such as NGOs, Extension, and community stakeholders, to support water and natural infrastructure initiatives.

Strong analytical skills with experience interpreting environmental data, spatial information, or modeling outputs to guide planning and implementation efforts.

Experience translating technical or scientific information into practical tools, guidance documents, or resources for communities and practitioners.

Experience providing technical support to partners by applying watershed planning frameworks and conducting alternatives analyses that inform and accelerate adoption of nature-based solutions.

Job Description:

The Water Resilience Collaborative (WRC) at Iowa State University seeks a collaborative, detail-oriented Research Administrator II to play a critical role in advancing research, partnership development, and resource creation that supports water resilience and natural infrastructure across Iowa and the broader Upper Mississippi River Basin.

The Research Administrator will play a central role in strengthening statewide and regional partnerships that support water resilience and natural infrastructure. This includes collaborating with agencies, NGOs, Extension specialists, community leaders, academics, and other stakeholders to build meaningful relationships. The role will also provide technical assistance to communities for watershed planning and alternatives analysis to support and accelerate adoption of nature-based solutions that enhance water security, ensuring partners have access to the best available science, tools, and decision support. The position will coordinate with regional advisory groups to guide discussions, develop collaborative strategies across the Upper Mississippi River Basin, and support strategic dialogues that identify gaps, priority needs, and emerging opportunities. Additionally, the role will help organize and co-lead workshops, meetings, and forums that advance natural infrastructure implementation and deepen engagement across partners and communities.

What You’ll Do

+ Identify and pursue funding opportunities by developing project goals, aligning priorities, contributing to grant proposals, and supporting reporting and budget management.

+ Provide planning support and technical guidance to project partners while connecting Extension professionals and local leaders with student-led research, applied design projects, and monitoring opportunities.

+ Track, evaluate, and document WRC activities and outcomes, preparing reports, briefs, newsletters, and digital content that communicate impact and enhance WRC’s visibility and branding.

+ Collaborate with faculty, Extension, and partners to develop tools and resources that translate research into practical application, including inventories of existing models and data products to identify gaps and integration opportunities.

+ Represent WRC on committees and facilitate student engagement in research, outreach, and project-based learning initiatives.

This is an exciting opportunity for you to help shape the future of a growing, high-impact initiative. As large-scale conservation and natural infrastructure practices accelerate across the region, you’ll step into a moment of expanding interest and curiosity among communities and partners. In this role, you will have the chance to leave a lasting fingerprint on the development of the WRC, helping define its long-term direction, influence how natural infrastructure is implemented at scale, and contribute to a statewide shift toward more resilient, climate-ready landscapes. You will be part of building something new, innovative, and deeply meaningful for Iowa and the Mississippi River Basin.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.

This is a term position that may have an opportunity for renewal.

Level Guidelines• Intermediate-level position with solid professional and/or technical skills working under general supervision to achieve goals• Applies broad, working knowledge of the principles of the field to moderately complex, difficult, and varied problems and issues• Exercises judgment within defined procedures and practices to determine appropriate action and resolve problems• Responds to a broad range of inquiries and requests• May provide training and/or direction to lower-level staff• May lead projects of moderate scope and complexity• Provides guidance to students

Appointment Type:Regular with Term Appointment (Fixed Term)

Proposed End Date or Length of Term:November 23, 2028

Number of Months Employed Per Year:12 Month Work Period

Time Type:Full time

Pay Grade:PS808

Application Instructions:To apply for this position, please click on “Apply” and complete the Employment Application. Please be prepared to enter or attach the following: 1) Resume/Curriculum Vitae 2) Letter of Application/Cover Letter If you have questions regarding this application process, please email [email protected] or call 515-294-4800 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485. Why Choose ISU? Iowa State Employees enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental; as well as: • Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans • Generous vacation, holiday and sick time and leave plans • Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa) • Life insurance and long-term disability • Flexible Spending Accounts • Various voluntary benefits and discounts • Employee Assistance Program • Wellbeing program • Iowa State offers WorkFlex options for some positions. WorkFlex offers flexibility on when, where, and how you do your work. For more information, please speak with the Hiring Manager.

Original Posting Date: November 17, 2025

Posting Close Date:November 30, 2025

Job Requisition Number:R18063

By focusing on the future and providing the best student experience possible, Iowa State University (http://www.iastate.edu/) attracts students and faculty who want to make a difference. With a comprehensive land-grant mission of education, research, extension and outreach, we produce scholars whose ideas change the world. And through Innovate at Iowa State, we provide innovative and entrepreneurial opportunities for students of all backgrounds. Located just 30 minutes north of Des Moines, the city of Ames was recently named one of the Top 10 cities in the U.S. for campus life and career opportunities.

Iowa State University is a welcoming community of students, faculty, and staff. Campus community members have a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and are committed to engaging with each other respectfully as outlined in the university's Principles of Community (https://www.iastate.edu/principles-community) . Iowa State recognizes that diverse intellectual and philosophical perspectives are vital to innovation, critical thinking skills, and a dynamic academic community that fosters the land-grant ideals of putting science, technology, and human creativity to work.

All offers of employment, oral and written, are contingent upon the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by federal and state law, ISU policies/procedures, and may include the completion of a background check and/or a consumer credit check.

Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612, email [email protected].

If you have questions about the application process please email [email protected] or call 515-294-4800 or Toll-Free at 1-877-477-7485. Iowa State University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should email [email protected] or call (515) 294-4800 or Toll-Free: (877) 477-7485. TTY users are welcome to use the Iowa Relay Service number by dialing 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2942.

General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources (https://www.hr.iastate.edu/careers/compensation) website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.