UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. All of which has allowed the UW to be nationally recognized as a “Great College to Work For” for six consecutive years.

Earth and Space Sciences has an outstanding opportunity for a PNSN ShakeAlert User Engagement Facilitator.  The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN) at the University of Washington (UW) is seeking a PNSN ShakeAlert User Engagement Facilitator to help implement the ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) system in the Pacific Northwest.  EEW will save lives during, and speed recovery after, damaging earthquakes in Washington and Oregon by giving alert receivers from a few seconds to a couple of minutes of warning so they can take protective actions before strong shaking hits them. The ShakeAlert EEW project is a multi-million dollar effort that is collaborative with the US Geological Survey, University of Oregon, UC Berkeley and CalTech.

Under direction of the PNSN director, the Program Operations Specialist will be responsible for establishing and maintaining  relationships with entities that receive and use warnings in Oregon and Washington. They will also help plan and execute projects with the goal of disseminating widespread public alerts. They will implement user engagement and educational outreach projects in coordination with ShakeAlert partner alert providers in Oregon and California. User engagement includes providing educational outreach about EEW to groups with a variety of technical knowledge, exploring how EEW can benefit the user, and coordinating and catalysing the development, implementation, and documentation of pilot EEW projects.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Establish and nurture relationships with technical users of ShakeAlert warnings who seek to automate mitigation actions, with the goal of broadening the user base of ShakeAlert.
• Facilitate the implementation of automatic actions based on ShakeAlert through understanding the user needs and the technical capabilities and operations of ShakeAlert.
• Make presentations to both general and technical audiences about ShakeAlert with the goal of expanding the use of EEW alerts and expanding the user base of ShakeAlert.
• Manage contacts and relationships with private corporations, non-profits, and state, regional, and local governmental agencies.
• Manage PNSN social media content with respect to ShakeAlert.
• Coordinate with other ShakeAlert partners along the US West Coast to implement outreach and user engagement projects in a uniform and well-documented fashion.
• Use project management and communications software tools to manage complex interconnected projects, design and implement workflows, and manage documentation and communication tasks.

  As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs.  For detailed information on Benefits for this position, click here.

  Requirements:

  Bachelors degree in a quantitative science, Communications, Environmental Policy, or equivalent field, and at least three years experience in a position involving technical communications.
  •Ability to work independently, take initiative and ownership of work, successfully prioritize, and manage multiple projects in a deadline-driven environment.
  •Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and follow through.  Strong written and verbal communication skills.
  •Experience with databases/contact management programs
  •Demonstrated ability to learn, research and apply new approaches and solutions to problems.
  •Keen attention to documentation, standards, procedures, and controls
  •Team player mindset, with strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills
  •Ability to identify and establish new standards for quality, performance, and/or productivity
  •Excellent writing and communication skills; ability to maintain open communication with all internal and external contacts
  •Able to receive and apply feedback in a professional manner
  •Demonstrated interpersonal skills, to include collaborating, mentoring, and training others
  •May involve extra time commitment in the aftermath of a newsworthy earthquake (rare).
  •Licensed to drive in the states of Washington and Oregon
  •Project will involve travel (variable, approximately 1/wk), some overnight (variable, approximately 1/mo), to meet with stakeholders (users, media, government officials, ShakeAlert partners, etc.).

  Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except where there are legal requirements such as license/certification/registration.

  Desired Characteristics:
  •Familiarity with Earth Science research terminology.
  •Knowledge about seismic hazards
  •High level of accountability – drives for results, displays a sense of ownership, and is passionate about attaining goals and surpassing expectations.
  •Proactive problem solver and communicator, with a desire to improve systems.
  •Comfortable in collaborative setting and working within and across cultures.

  Application Process:
  The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process.  These assessments may include Workforce Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others.  Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your “My Jobs” page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.