Atlas of Disaster Outreach Coordinator/Assistant Research Scientist Part Time

New York University: NYU - NY: Office of the Provost: Institute for Public Knowledge

Location

New York City, remote or in person

Open Date

Oct 09, 2024

Description

Background:

Climate change is here, and storms that feel extreme now will only become more frequent and more intense. Rebuild by Design released a report identifying county-level disaster impacts and costs over the past decade. The report, Atlas of Disaster, at over 650 pages – includes over 300 maps that show county-level data for where major disasters have occurred, where post-disaster federal assistance has been given, where the most socially vulnerable populations reside, the energy reliability by utility area, and where compounding physical and social risks indicate a potential high return on investment.

The research found 91% of all U.S. counties have had a major disaster due to an extreme weather event from 2011-2023, affecting more than 300 million Americans, and that disasters are distributed all across the country (rural, urban, coastal, inland, desert, mountain), and provides a blueprint for equitable planning, and better decision-making for government, the private sector, philanthropy, and finance. The report calls for state-level Resilient Infrastructure Funding sources supported by a ballot measure or a small surcharge on insurance, as well as a number of federal disaster policy changes to ensure that communities, no matter where they live, will not suffer from increasingly severe climate events.

Rebuild by Design is now building off of the research to connect with decision-makers, organizations, funders, and other stakeholders at the local, state, and federal levels, and seeks a highly motivated Coordinator to connect to key stakeholders and decision makers to utilize this important work.

Responsibilities:

Working under the Director of Rebuild by Design, the Coordinator will assist in organizing opportunities for the Atlas of Disaster to be shared. The work includes:

Research

• Through desktop research and networking, research coalitions and organizations actively working on climate adaptation and mitigation in the United States.

• Identify foundations and other funders of climate adaptation work around the US.

• Follow current events on climate, and track organizations who are in the news working on similar issues pre- and post- climate events.

• Look for opportunities in conferences and conventions for Rebuild by Design staff to share Atlas of Disaster.

• Assisting with other projects as needed.

Outreach

• Connect with key players in specific states of interest, such as funders, government, coalitions, organizations, private sector companies, and media.

• Connect with targeted policy-makers at the state and national levels.

• Present the findings from the research and policy recommendations

• Schedule meetings/briefings with jointly prioritized individuals or audiences.

• Maintain a database of organizations, contacts, responses and calendar engagements.

• Work with Rebuild staff to prepare and carry out briefings and meetings

This position will require approximately 15-20 hours per week, and scheduling is flexible in coordination with the Rebuild team. Tasks can be performed at either the Rebuild by Design office at New York University or remotely. The position is a part-time position.

About Rebuild by Design

As the world faces rising populations, mass migration, climate change, social injustices, and economic challenges, communities can’t afford to wait until after the next crisis to plan for the future. Through regional competitions, local engagements, research and policy, Rebuild by Design is reimagining the way communities find solutions for today’s large-scale, complex problems by creating collaborations across communities and governments.

Rebuild convenes global expertise, with regional leadership, and community stakeholders to gain a better understanding of how overlapping environmental and human-made vulnerabilities leave communities at risk. Rebuild’s core belief is that through collaboration our communities can grow stronger and better prepared to stand up to whatever challenges tomorrow brings.

Rebuild achieves its mission through a four-pronged approach: regional competitions, place-based engagements, research & policy, and education. We are a small team with a passion for social justice and equity in all our work. We recognize that championing true equity and inclusion begins in our own office. We strongly encourage applications from people of color, women, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQ individuals. If this position speaks to your interest and experiences, we strongly encourage you to apply. If you need any accommodations in the application process, please contact info@rebuildbydesign.org.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have all or most of the following skills:

• Flexibility in hours.

• A strong interest in urban planning, architecture, environmental studies, government, ecology, or other relevant field and a competent understanding of environmental issues, climate adaptation practices, and policies.

• Highly organized with excellent written and communication skills.

• Strong time management and prioritization of tasks.

• Public speaking experience is preferred.

• Salary

  $29 an hour, 15-20 hours a week. In compliance with NYC’s Pay Transparency Act, the hourly rate for this position is $29.00. New York University considers factors such as (but not limited to) the specific grant funding and the terms of the research grant when extending an offer.

Application Instructions

Application Instructions

Interested applicants should submit the following

• Cover Letter demonstrating why you are qualified for this specific role, and why you want to work with Rebuild by Design to create this material.

• Resume demonstrating relevant experience

The review of applications will begin immediately, and will continue until the position is filled. If you have any questions, please email info@rebuildbydesign.org. Only applicants who match the qualifications will receive responses.