JR EXTENSION AGENT, 11-MO (Position #0086333T)

Temporary/Permanent:

Temporary

Other Conditions: Renewal contingent upon availability of funds and satisfactory performance of duties.

The University of Hawai`i Sea Grant College Program seeks a Junior Extension Agent to support the development, translation, and dissemination of data-driven, user-centered tools and information products that advance coastal and community resilience across Hawai`i and the Pacific. The position will assist Hawai`i Sea Grant faculty and program staff in applying data analysis, visualization, web-based tools, interactive media, and emerging technologies to provide extension, education, outreach, applied research translation, and stakeholder engagement.

The Junior Extension Agent will work across a broad range of Hawai`i Sea Grant programs and partner initiatives related to climate resilience, coastal hazards, ecosystem restoration, fisheries, aquaculture, water resources, drought, coastal access, land-sea stewardship, place-based learning, and community-led resource management.

The position will help make complex environmental and coastal science information more accessible, understandable, and useful to communities, resource managers, educators, public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and other decision-makers.

This is an entry-level extension faculty position. The primary emphasis is on supporting extension programming, stakeholder-facing information products, applied science communication, and decision-support tools.

Duties and Responsibilities:

A. Extension, Outreach, and Community Engagement

Assists with the design and delivery of extension programs that improve access to applied coastal, climate, water, fisheries, ecosystem restoration, and natural resource information. Works under the guidance of Hawai`i Sea Grant faculty and program leadership to support workshops, trainings, public presentations, demonstrations, outreach events, community meetings, and partner engagement activities.

Helps translate complex scientific, technical, and geospatial information into clear and accessible materials for diverse audiences, including community members, educators, students, resource managers, agency staff, and nonprofit partners. Assists with the preparation of user guides, fact sheets, web content, visual summaries, training materials, and other extension products. Supports respectful engagement with communities and partners by listening to user needs, documenting feedback, and helping improve extension products based on stakeholder input.

B. Data Products, Web Tools, and Applied Visualization

Assists with the development, maintenance, and improvement of public-facing data products, dashboards, maps, web tools, mobile-responsive applications, visualizations, and other decision-support resources that support Hawai`i Sea Grant priorities. Uses appropriate programming, scripting, web development, data visualization, geospatial display, and user-interface methods to help organize, display, and communicate environmental information.

Supports projects related to climate tools, drought information, fisheries and aquaculture data, ecosystem restoration tracking, water resources, coastal resilience planning, and community stewardship. Helps organize and process datasets; prepare charts, maps, and visual summaries; test web-based tools; improve user experience; and document technical workflows. Assists with making Sea Grant information products accessible, visually effective, and useful for both technical and non-technical users.

C. Data Organization, Quality Review, and Workflow Support

Assists with the collection, organization, formatting, quality review, and documentation of environmental, geospatial, and programmatic datasets. Helps identify data gaps, inconsistencies, broken links, usability issues, or display errors in program-developed tools and information products. Supports repeatable workflows for updating dashboards, maps, websites, outreach materials, and other data products.

Develops and maintains documentation of datasets, code, technical notes, user feedback, and tool updates to support program continuity and transparency. Works with supervisors and collaborators to ensure that data products are accurate, current, organized, and understandable.

D. Emerging Technologies for Extension and Education

Assists with the use of interactive visualization, mobile tools, 3D models, virtual or augmented learning environments, artificial intelligence-enabled tools, collaborative platforms, and other emerging technologies when these tools strengthen extension, education, outreach, research translation, or place-based learning.

Supports the development and testing of innovative approaches that help users better understand coastal systems, climate impacts, ecosystem restoration, fisheries, water resources, and community resilience. Helps evaluate whether emerging technologies are practical, accessible, culturally appropriate, and useful for Hawai`i and Pacific Island audiences.

E. Applied Research Translation and Communication

Supports Hawai`i Sea Grant faculty, researchers, students, and partners in translating applied research into extension products and public-facing resources. Assists with literature reviews, technical summaries, visual products, presentations, web content, project reports, and other communication materials. Helps prepare updates that describe tool development, stakeholder engagement, data-product improvements, and extension outcomes.

Participates in project meetings and contributes to discussions about user needs, design improvements, outreach strategies, and evaluation approaches. May assist with conference presentations, public demonstrations, and contributions to reports or publications.

F. Other Duties

Performs other duties as assigned, consistent with the purpose and scope of the position.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree from a college or university of recognized standing, with major work in computer science, information and computer sciences, data science, natural resource management, environmental science, geography, planning, coastal or marine science, digital media, visualization, educational technology or a related field, whichever is appropriate.
• Evidence of ability for successful practice in extension, outreach, community engagement, or communications activities with diverse audiences.
• Professionalism in meeting and conferring with others.
• Working knowledge of data organization, programming, scripting, visualization, web development, or digital communication methods.
• Knowledge of one or more programming, scripting, or development tools such as Python, JavaScript, SQL, HTML/CSS, Java, C/C++, C#, Git, WordPress, GIS tools, database systems, mapping platforms, Unity, or comparable tools.
• General familiarity with environmental, climate, coastal, fisheries, ecosystem restoration, water resources, natural resource management, or place-based education issues.
• Ability to communicate technical information clearly to non-technical audiences.
• Ability to assist with the development of web-accessible and mobile-responsive data products, dashboards, maps, visualizations, or decision-support tools.
• Ability to work under supervision while also completing assigned tasks independently.
• Ability to learn new tools, troubleshoot problems, document workflows, organize information, manage multiple tasks, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work effectively and respectfully with faculty, staff, students, community partners, public agencies, educators, resource managers, and other stakeholders.
• Strong oral, written, visual, and digital communication skills.
• Ability to contribute to collaborative teams and respond constructively to feedback.

Desired Qualifications:

• At least one (1) year of relevant experience, which may include student employment, internships, fellowships, applied research, extension, outreach, technical projects, capstone projects, professional work, or other project-based experience in one or more of the following areas: data analysis; web or mobile tool development; dashboard development; geospatial data display; environmental or natural resource data products; visualization; user-interface design; programming; public-facing information tools; applied research support; education technology; or stakeholder/community-facing technical support.
• Experience developing or supporting tools, visualizations, or outreach products related to climate, drought, fisheries, aquaculture, ecosystem restoration, water resources, coastal resilience, natural resource management, or place-based education.
• Experience with community-based, education, outreach, applied research, or stakeholder-facing projects.
• Experience with public-facing dashboards, web tools, mobile-responsive interfaces, geospatial data, map-based displays, real-time or regularly updated datasets, or environmental information products.
• Experience with Python, JavaScript, HTML/CSS, SQL, GIS data formats, mapping APIs, Git, Docker, WordPress, React, Unity, Adobe Creative Suite, 3D modeling, virtual reality, artificial intelligence-enabled tools, or other visualization and development tools.
• Experience presenting technical information to non-technical audiences through demonstrations, workshops, classroom activities, public presentations, reports, websites, or educational materials.
• Experience working in interdisciplinary teams that include scientists, educators, students, software developers, community partners, public agencies, or resource managers.
• Familiarity with Hawai`i Sea Grant, the National Sea Grant College Program, University of Hawai`i applied research and extension programs, or coastal and marine resource issues in Hawai`i and the Pacific.