USDA-FS Climate Hubs Communications

Zintellect offers a remote fellowship with the USDA Forest Service focused on climate mitigation outreach and education. The project aims to enhance awareness of agricultural practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve soil carbon. Participants will collaborate with various teams to develop communications strategies, identify key messages, and report on project outcomes. The role supports the USDA's mission to sustain forests and grasslands for future generations.
• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

USDA Forest Service Office/Lab and Location: A fellowship opportunity is available with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service (FS) within the Forest Service Washington Office (WO). This opportunity is remote.

At the heart of the USDA Forest Service's mission is their purpose. Everything they do is intended to help sustain forests and grasslands for present and future generations. Why? Because their stewardship work supports nature in sustaining life. This is the purpose that drives the agency’s mission and motivates their work across the agency. It’s been there from the agency’s very beginning, and it still drives them. To advance the mission and serve their purpose, the USDA Forest Service balances the short and long-term needs of people and nature by: working in collaboration with communities and our partners; providing access to resources and experiences that promote economic, ecological, and social vitality; connecting people to the land and one another; and delivering world-class science, technology and land management.

The USDA Climate Hubs are cross-agency program to develop and deliver science in support of reducing climate risks for farmers, ranchers, forest managers, and rural communities. The Hub network includes 10 Regional Hubs and an International Hub that are led by the Agricultural Research Service, Forest Service, and Foreign Agricultural Service with support from the Natural Resource Conservation Service and other USDA agencies.

Research Project: This project is designed to increase the level of climate mitigation outreach and education for Natural Resource Conservation Service staff and partners by supporting the awareness and implementation of agriculture and agroforestry practices. The expected outcomes include reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved soil carbon, and increased carbon sequestration on working lands. The project will include three phases: Phase 1 will address immediate needs with State- and Territorial-level Climate Mitigation Conversations; Phase 2 will address near term needs for relevant climate mitigation decision support tools and information; and Phase 3 will address ongoing needs to evaluate practices, reduce uncertainty, and increase the connection of scientific knowledge to the implementation of climate mitigation practices.

Regional staff will implement all aspects of the project while a national team, including the participant and a national coordinator, will capture accomplishments and key outcomes in metrics and stories, and develop communications to share these with agency leaders and the public.

The participant will have an opportunity to engage in developing communications for a USDA Climate Hub project, Climate change mitigation outreach and education, which is national in scope. The participant can collaborate on identifying key messages, identifying audiences, and shaping communications with a team that includes a Project Coordinator, The Climate Hubs National Office, Regional Hub Directors, and his/her mentor to prepare reporting and communications which raise awareness of climate change mitigation strategies, challenges, and solutions in the USDA workforce and with partners.

Learning Objectives:
• The participant will have an opportunity to develop science communications for a range of audiences, from agency leaders to the general public.
• The participant will have an opportunity to engage with regional and national leaders in the USDA Climate Hub Network, gain an understanding of communication needs, and plan and develop communications products that address leadership needs.
• The participant will learn what the goals and accomplishments are of the USDA Climate Hub Network, and participate in gathering and synthesizing the national impact of regional accomplishments to include in communication products.

Mentor: The mentor for this opportunity is William Gould (william.a.gould@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: February 2025. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.

Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for 8 months but may be extended upon recommendation of USDA Forest Service and is contingent on the availability of funds.

Level of Participation: The appointment is full time.

Participant Stipend: The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. The anticipated monthly stipend is $8,000 per month with health benefits.

Citizenship Requirements: This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens only.

ORISE Information: This program, administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and USDA Forest Service. Participants do not become employees of USDA, USDA Forest Service, DOE or the program administrator, and there are no employment-related benefits. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. Health insurance can be obtained through ORISE.

Questions: Please visit our Program Website. After reading, if you have additional questions about the application process please email ORISE.USFS.WO@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.