FloodWise Communities Program Specialist

Full-time, one year appointment
Supervisor: Heidi Roop
Salary Range: $89,500 – $114,000 depending on experience
Apply By: Open until filled, Application reviews will begin February 3rd, 2026. Priority applications considered by February 4th, 2026.
This position is not eligible for H-1B or Green Card sponsorship.

The University of Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership (MCAP) is seeking a full-time FloodWise Communities Program Specialist to join our team and work in collaboration with the Great Lakes NOAA CAP/RISA team (GLISA) to help build community resilience to current and emerging flood risks in Minnesota and the Great Lakes region. We are looking for a dedicated individual to join our team who possesses the expertise and experience to facilitate the research, engagement, and planning required to help communities across the region accelerate the implementation of flood risk reduction and resilience strategies.
This position is also part of a new, national initiative called the Strengthening Human Infrastructure Project (SHIP), supported by the Aspen Global Change Institute. As part of SHIP, this role will involve active participation in a national network of climate leaders and experts to share learnings and collaborate and scale programs.
By joining our team at the University of Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact toward building resilience and readiness for weather and climate risks in Minnesota and the Great Lakes region. We offer a collaborative and supportive work environment, opportunities for professional growth, and the chance to be at the forefront of community-centered climate adaptation and resilience efforts.
We seek applicants with a proven record of experience, expertise, and capabilities to help communities across the state and region use resilience frameworks and approaches to understand, plan, and manage changing flood risks. You will lead efforts to identify and develop changing flood risk information, assess community needs and capabilities, strategically design, develop, deliver, and evaluate education and technical support processes to assist communities across Minnesota and the Great Lakes region in understanding climate risks and comparing, selecting, and implementing different resilience strategies. This will include serving as a trusted expert, advisor, and educator capable of collaborating closely with GLISA and MCAP staff to refine, develop, and deliver research-based technical assistance and educational training and resources, such as the FloodWise Communities program.
The FloodWise Communities process guides practitioners through a municipal stormwater vulnerability assessment using a web-based tool with customized climate and socioeconomic information and a series of stepwise assessments. The assessment process focuses on identifying factors that may stress individual stormwater system components and the surrounding community due to impacts from weather and climate events, and guides communities to prioritize actions to adapt to these stressors. It was co-developed between GLISA and a cohort of Great Lakes cities starting in 2017 and has since been implemented in 75+ communities across the Great Lakes and U.S. Gulf coast.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Lead the strategic expansion, deployment, and evaluation of the FloodWise Communities Program in Minnesota and the Great Lakes region (35%)

• Work with community organizations, local governments, GLISA, and MCAP faculty to develop a strategic implementation and scaling plan for deploying the FloodWise Communities program across Minnesota and the Great Lakes region.
• Lead development of a community prioritization process to guide targeted recruitment and participation of rural, at-risk communities in Minnesota and Great Lakes geographies where the FloodWise Communities program has not yet been delivered. This process should include a range of criteria such as flood risk vulnerability, community characteristics, and resource and climate services access, and communities not yet served by state community climate resilience funding.
• Train a cohort of MCAP Extension educators and staff in Minnesota’s Regional Development Organizations (RDOs) to be able to collaborate in delivering flood risk programming and resources on an ongoing basis with MCAP and GLISA.
• Work with trained Extension educators and RDO staff to complete the FloodWise Communities program with at least 5-10 communities informed by the prioritization process.
• Expand existing program evaluation strategies to track program outcomes and implementation actions, as well as learning and tailoring the support program participants need following participation. This will include identifying additional hazards or impact areas where communities need similar frameworks, tools, and resources to accelerate planning and preparedness.

Design, test, and deploy decision support resources to support flood risk reduction in Minnesota and the Great Lakes region. (20%)

• Identify relevant, existing federal and other climate data and decision-support resources to enhance community flood risk reduction processes to include the identification of adaptation strategies and mitigation co-benefits, and implementation support for flood risk reduction strategies.
• Work with past FloodWise Community participants to assess needs and priorities, develop, and test new program content and at least two training modules to accelerate adaptation action and implementation. This content might include a menu of potential adaptation strategies and actions tailored to Great Lakes and/or rural community contexts, a climate action prioritization and evaluation protocol, or training elements that integrate multi-hazards and/or enable consideration of mitigation strategies and co-benefits.
• Co-develop with GLISA, MCAP, and the RDOs a community ‘implementation’ follow-up protocol to connect the FloodWise Communities participants with potential partner organizations that can help them transition their assessments and implementation priorities into action with funding or financing.

Document and demonstrate the potential of a shared collaborative capacity model for climate service providers, and set the foundations for additional hazard, impact, and/or mitigation-focused programs. (20%)

• Lead the assessment, documentation, and evaluation of activities and attributes that effectively support collaboration and enrich collaborative capacity among MCAP, GLISA, and RDOs, and enhance knowledge exchange across SHIP coalition organizations to recruit, facilitate, and support communities in managing flood and other climate risks.
• Work with MCAP and GLISA leadership to develop a framework based on effective activities and attributes to guide expanding and adapting the FloodWise Communities approach to address other climate hazard/impact areas, such as air quality and extreme heat.
• Use the framework to conduct a review of existing data, tools, resources, and programs at MCAP, GLISA, and other select climate service providers to identify and prioritize program(s) or resources that are ready to be scaled across geographies (e.g., from Minnesota to the Great Lakes) and outline the resources needed to initiate next steps.
• Actively engage as a member of the MCAP and GLISA teams, including regular updates to the team about ongoing work; participation in team meetings, staff development, and other activities; and help with supporting MCAP-wide activities (e.g., Midwest Climate Resilience Conference), as requested.

Engage with a national cohort of climate services leaders and boundary organizations (25%)

• Actively engage as a member of the Aspen Global Change Institute’s Strengthening Human Infrastructure Project (SHIP) network, including participation in meetings, and other learning and development activities that expand and strengthen the national network.
• Draw on and contribute to the collective SHIP network.
• Participate in SHIP convenings and professional development activities.

MORE ABOUT THE CLIMATE ADAPTATION PARTNERSHIP
This position will be a significant contributor to the Extension and research activities of the University of Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership, a joint program of University of Minnesota Extension and the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS). The Climate Adaptation Partnership works to develop critical climate science knowledge, champion climate adaptation leadership and support climate resilience actions and collaborations across communities, sectors, and levels of government to ensure Minnesota is making needed progress to prepare for our changing climate. The Climate Adaptation Partnership is a leading multi-sector group and partners directly with state, federal and local governments, the private sector, non-profits, Tribes, community organizations, and individuals.
MORE ABOUT GLISA, NOAA’s Great Lakes CAP/RISA team
GLISA is NOAA’s Great Lakes CAP/RISA team and works at the boundary between climate science and decision-making, striving to enhance Great Lakes communities’ capacity to understand, plan for, and respond to weather and climate impacts now and in the future. Since 2010, GLISA’s team of physical and social scientists has served all eight U.S. states that border the Great Lakes. The team is housed at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability and also includes Michigan State University, The College of Menominee Nation, and the University of Wisconsin. GLISA has sustained partnerships with scholars and practitioners across the region at other universities, federal agencies, state, local, and Tribal governments, NGOs, professional associations, and businesses.
LOCATION OF POSITION
Primary office location will be the University of Minnesota Saint Paul campus. Hybrid work arrangements may be considered for this position.
TRAVEL
This person will travel overnight to locations across Minnesota, Michigan, the Great Lakes region and nationally approximately 1-3 nights per month and day trips approximately 1-3 times per month.
For questions about this position, contact:
Heidi Roop, Director, University of Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership, hroop@umn.edu

Candidates must meet all REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS and must document them in application materials (cover letter and resume/CV).
Required

• Bachelor’s degree in climate adaptation science, water resources/hydrology, urban planning, social science, decision science, environmental science, geography, or a very closely related field with at least 6 years of experience.
• Six years of full-time professional experience engaging directly with decision-makers (e.g., local practitioners, state or federal agencies) to plan for and/or manage flooding or similar climate hazards through decision-making frameworks (e.g., vulnerability assessments, scenario planning, Steps to Resilience).
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize and communicate scientific literature and data in clear and concise language appropriate for diverse audiences, particularly in community leadership and planning contexts.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships and collaborations with colleagues, stakeholders, and communities with diverse missions, goals, cultures, and backgrounds.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and lead multi-faceted projects and work independently with little or no supervision.
• Excellent communication skills, including oral, written, and graphic/image formats.

Preferred

• A master’s or doctoral degree in climate adaptation science, water resources/hydrology, urban planning, social science, decision science, environmental science, geography, or a very closely related field.
• Extensive post-degree professional experience (8+ years) developing or delivering Federal climate services and/or leading the research-based design, delivery, instructor training, and evaluation of education for the public, communities and partners related to managing flooding or similar hazards.
• Expertise with developing and deploying federal resilience frameworks for planning and decision processes like hazard identification, risk assessment, vulnerability analysis, and strategy implementation.
• Experience supporting or developing federal grant programs and/or writing and leading grant proposals and projects.
• Relevant training or certifications, such as completion of American Society of Adaptation Professionals training programs, completion of FEMA National Emergency Management Academies, or planning certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners.

Additional Requirements

• Travel (in-state frequently and national occasionally) will be necessary to perform the responsibilities of this position. This person may be expected to use a personal vehicle and have appropriate insurance. Includes some monthly overnight travel. Mileage and sustenance reimbursement are provided according to University policies.
• Valid driver’s license and own means of transportation with required liability insurance, to be utilized for travel to workshops and transporting materials and supplies to events; the need to transport other people/employees may occur.
• When not in the assigned office location, must be reachable with a number that will be published in the staff directory.
• Ability to maintain a flexible work schedule, including occasional evening or weekend work.
• Must be able to work regularly at a dedicated/assigned campus office and must have reliable internet if/when working outside of the office.
• Must be able to travel within designated communities and provide in-person programming.
• Working ability to perform tasks involving prolonged sitting, standing, bending, or twisting, with occasional exertion of up to thirty pounds of force, and frequent repetitive motions
• This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship.

Pay Range: $89,500 – $105,000 annually; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type: Faculty and P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your “My Job Applications” page and uploading documents in the “My Cover Letters and Attachments” section.

• Cover letter
• Resume/Vitae
• Contact information for three professional references and college transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable) will be required during the interview process.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation’s most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America’s Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).