Cornell University, Climate Jobs Institute

Extension Associate
Climate Jobs Associate

Based in Buffalo, NY

 

ILR School is pleased to announce the Climate Jobs Institute has a current open position for an Extension Associate- Climate Jobs Associate

The position of Extension Associate – Climate Jobs Associate is within the Climate Jobs Institute of the Extension/Outreach Division of the School of Industrial and Labor Relations. The position is responsible for extension programming and administration within one or more thematic areas. The Extension Associate is responsible for developing and delivering programs and services that are closely aligned with the strategic mission and core values of the ILR School, and for monitoring quality, impact, and outcomes of education, training, technical assistance, consulting and research activities of the program. The Extension Associate will participate with other academic staff in setting thematic area goals and will annually set individual programmatic and budgetary goals. This position reports to the Executive Director, Climate Jobs Institute.

Extension Associate is a non-tenure track, academic term position for up to a two-year term, with an initial term ending June 30, 2026. The term will automatically renew for the second year through June 30, 2027, contingent upon available funding. Reappointment for additional terms is possible based on successful performance, available work and continued funding, as well as recommendations by the appropriate Executive Director and Senior Associate Dean for Outreach and Sponsored Research.

More information about the ILR School can be obtained at our web site, http://www.ilr.cornell.edu and the Climate Jobs Institute at https://www.ilr.cornell.edu/climate-jobs-institute.

The Climate Jobs Institute is based in New York, NY, within the Cornell University ILR School located at 570 Lexington Ave. Position is located at ILR Outreach office in Buffalo, NY at 1300 Elmwood Avenue, Buckham Hall B234.

Our Team:
The Climate Jobs Institute at Cornell University’s ILR School is guiding New York’s and the nation’s transition to a strong, equitable, and resilient clean energy economy that tackles the climate crisis, creates high-quality union jobs, which cultivates and develops inclusive and equitable working relationships.

Through cutting-edge policy research, deep relationships with on-the-ground partners, and innovative training and education programs, the Institute provides the information that policymakers, the labor and environmental movements, industry leaders and others need to navigate this historic transition to a zero-carbon economy.

The Climate Jobs Institute serves as the academic and educational partner to the Climate Jobs National Resource Center, providing research, policy and educational support to coalitions of unions in numerous U.S. states.

Project Related Emphasis:
This position will use research, policy, training and education skills to guide New York’s and the nation’s transition to a strong, equitable and resilient clean energy economy that tackles the climate crisis, creates high-quality union jobs, and builds a clean energy workforce centering frontline communities.

Through deep relationships with labor unions and labor allies, Climate Jobs Institute (CJI) studies the labor and employment impacts of the clean energy transition; designs pro-worker, pro-union climate policy; and delivers innovative training and educational programming to unions, policymakers, the environmental movement, industry leaders and others.

Specifically, the Extension Associate will:

• Build strong, trusting relationships with labor unions, especially building trades and energy unions, environmental organizations, elected leaders, and other allies.
• Lead policy and technical research and analysis to design jobs-centered, pro-union and equitable climate policy.
• Plan, organize and implement educational convenings, trips, trainings and workshops based on CJI’s research, policy and expertise and the needs of partner organizations.
• Become subject matter experts in the labor and employment impacts of a range of clean energy technologies, including solar, wind, geothermal, hydrogen, building upgrades, low-carbon transportation and more.
• Join a team of talented, hardworking and mission-driven individuals who value CJI’s partnerships with unions and labor allies, high-impact work, and building a positive, supportive, joyful and equitable team culture.

Strategic Focus and Alignment – Climate Jobs Institute
ILR Strategic Focus and Alignment

•  Align work efforts of the program with the strategic goals and values of the ILR School.
• Stay informed and well versed about a broad range of best practice and/or advances in knowledge in the designated thematic area including policy and globalization impacts.
• Identify key client/stakeholder groups to be served, and tie program/service content to the needs and interests and long-term goals of those groups.
• Develop and maintain a network of relationships to build understanding of the major forces shaping the needs, positions and actions of key client/stakeholder groups.
• Maintain knowledge and skill in an academic field related to the workplace through teaching, training, consulting, program development and/or applied research activities.
• Write articles for scholarly peer-reviewed publications, trade and practitioner/advocacy journals.

Financial Management

• Contribute to and ensure the financial integrity and viability of the thematic program area.
• Proactively seek new clients and new external sources of funding for outreach and research activities.
• Contribute to collaborative grant writing as appropriate.
• Recommend to Director shifts in programming in response to changes in the economy, unanticipated financial challenges and/or opportunities to maintain a competitive thematic area edge of excellence.

Team Building and Commitment to Inclusion, Belonging and Wellbeing

• May be responsible for supervision of students as assigned.
• Contribute to and role model teamwork in the ILR School and stimulate the members of the thematic group to work together effectively in pursuit of shared goals.
• Identify approaches to keeping the ILR Outreach vision, mission, and values in the forefront of our practice and ensure that all thematic area team members feel valued, appreciated and effective.
• Demonstrate a commitment to model and support a culture of inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing and continually seek to understand how your role, behaviors, and actions impact the success of this culture.
• Actively participate in annual goal setting and professional development discussions and performance reviews with thematic area.
• Actively participate in all meetings of the thematic area academic staff and unit team meetings as scheduled, as well as scheduled Outreach and ILR meetings.
• Model academic excellence by staying personally informed about a broad range of best practice and/or advances in knowledge in a field related to the world of work.

Overall Effective Program Management

• Provide recommendations to Director regarding staffing needs.
• Work cooperatively and collaboratively with Director and administrative support leaders to assess and improve administrative infrastructure.
• Meet regularly with Director to provide an update on projects’ timeliness in relationship to planned execution, relevant new opportunities and/or possible collaborations, etc.
• Contribute to annual reports and highlights on behalf of the thematic program area by preparing a summary of activities.
• Completion of any university required compliance trainings.
• Other duties and projects assigned by the Director.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s or other advanced degree in related subject matter expertise (industrial and labor relations, social science, labor economics, employment or labor law, workforce development) with relevant expertise related to labor unions, inequality and equity issues, and climate change.
• Candidate should have at least 2 to 5 years of experience working with the labor movement or on climate change with an emphasis on worker, labor or social justice issues.
• Experience and desire to work in a fast-paced, action-oriented research setting.
• Strong skills in written communication, report writing, quantitative, qualitative, geospatial analysis, and policy research and analysis.
• Comfort and flexibility with working on several research projects simultaneously and supervising research assistants.
• Model and support a culture of inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing and continually seek to understand how your role, behaviors, and actions impact the success of this culture.
• Ability to work independently and collectively within a team, strong interpersonal communications skills, and a commitment to cultivating a positive, supportive, hardworking and equitable team culture.

Preferred Qualifications:

• At least five years of experience in the labor movement or climate justice work, with a strong focus on advancing worker rights, fair labor practices, or broader social justice efforts.
• Experience working with two or more of the following functions: worker/union organizing, political organizing, policy/legislation, collective bargaining, collective representation, and leadership development.
• Experience with union pre-apprentice and apprentice training programs and the ability to model and support a culture of inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing and continually seek to understand how your role, behaviors, and actions impact the success of this culture.
• Experience with multiple unions and worker organizations. Experience with federated labor bodies, including the national AFL-CIO, State AFL-CIO and/or Central Labor Council/Area Labor Federations.
• Experience partnering with union leaders and staff, legislators and staff, and the environmental and climate movements.
• Experience organizing high-level educational programs including international trips, large conferences, multi-day retreats, and strategic planning efforts.
• Ability to conduct qualitative interviews with labor, industry and governmental officials.
• Ability to manage complex projects with large teams.

ILR School Outreach appreciates employees by providing the opportunity for a 3:2 campus-to-home hybrid schedule.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Salary $75,000 to $89,000 commensurate with experience, qualifications, and location

Cornell appreciates employees with great rewards & benefits:
Cornell provides great benefits that include educational benefits, access to a plethora of wellness programs, employee discounts with local and national retail brands, health care options to choose from, generous paid leave provisions and superior retirement contributions.
Cornell has also been nationally recognized as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, sustainability, and diversity initiatives. For more information click here.

To Apply:
Interested parties should submit a vita and letter of application describing qualifications and research agenda, teaching/training experience, and diverse community experiences.

Application materials should be submitted through Academic Jobs Online: https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30061

This is an academic, full-time, non-tenure track benefits eligible term opportunity may be located in New York, NY, within the Cornell University ILR School located at 570 Lexington Ave, or based in ILR Outreach office in Buffalo, NY at 1300 Elmwood Avenue, Buckham Hall B234, or on-campus Ithaca, or other remote locations in New York State.