Specialist, State Climate Services

Western Kentucky University is hiring a State Climate Services Associate to enhance climate services in Kentucky. The role involves engaging with stakeholders, developing online climate tools, and creating climate products. Candidates should have a background in atmospheric sciences or related fields and proficiency in programming languages. This in-person position is funded for two years with potential renewal, offering benefits like health insurance and paid time off.
About the position

The Kentucky Climate Center (KCC), part of Western Kentucky University (WKU), is seeking a State Climate Services Associate (CSA) to enhance its mission of providing climate services and data to stakeholders across Kentucky. This position is funded by a grant from NOAA and aims to identify and address the climate service needs of various sectors within the state, including agriculture, conservation, emergency management, energy, public health, and transportation. The CSA will be responsible for engaging with stakeholders to understand their needs for climate data and products, and will work collaboratively with the KCC team to develop new online climate tools and services that respond to these needs. This role presents a unique opportunity to create and showcase a portfolio of climate products that will be utilized statewide. The CSA will focus on organizing and developing online tools that facilitate access to and visualization of climate data, reanalysis outputs, and forecast products. The position requires a strong background in atmospheric sciences, meteorology, geography, statistics, or a related field, along with proficiency in computing languages such as Python, JavaScript, ArcGIS, or MySQL. The successful candidate will be comfortable manipulating large datasets and possess strong analytical and statistical skills. This is an in-person position, and the funding for the role is guaranteed for two years, with the possibility of renewal based on future grant funding availability.

Responsibilities
• Engage with stakeholders to identify their needs for climate data and products.
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• Organize and develop online tools for accessing and visualizing climate data, reanalysis output, and forecast products.
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• Develop new, value-added climate products and services tailored for stakeholder applications.

Requirements
• Bachelor's degree in meteorology, atmospheric science, environmental science, computer science, engineering, or a related STEM discipline.
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• Demonstrated experience in developing weather and/or climate products and tools, or similar programmatic work and/or research.
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• Fluency in one or more computing languages (e.g., Python, JavaScript, ArcGIS, MySQL, or similar).
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• Experience manipulating large datasets.
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• Strong background or experience in atmospheric sciences, meteorology, geography, statistics, or related fields.
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• Strong analytical and statistical skills.
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• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.

Nice-to-haves
• Experience with stakeholder engagement in climate services.
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• Familiarity with online tool development for climate data access.
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• Knowledge of Kentucky-centric climate applications.

Benefits
• Comprehensive wellness and health benefits for employees and their families.
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• Paid time off for holidays, vacation, and sick leave.
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• Tuition discount program for employees and dependents.