Research Fellow (Outreach Coordinator) - WaterSmart
Job no: 528414
Position type: Senior/Research Fellow (Amherst Only)
Location: UMass Amherst
Division/Equivalent: Univ of Mass Amherst
School/Unit: Civil & Environ Engineering
Categories: Research
About UMass Amherst
The flagship of the Commonwealth, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1,450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valued—and thrives, and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges, and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental, social, economic, and technological challenges in our world.
Job Description
- Engage with Boards of Health (BOH) and municipal officials to investigate regulatory frameworks, evaluate the implementation of public health initiatives, and analyze intergovernmental communication models that influence programmatic outcomes.
- Collaborate with Water-Smart partners (e.g., DESE, EEC) to conduct longitudinal data collection, comparative policy analysis, and systematic evaluation of partnership models that advance water-related health and education research agendas.
- Examine the integration of Childcare Systems, Head Start Programs, and Schools within water-safety initiatives, employing qualitative and quantitative methods to assess communication dynamics, institutional participation, and the effectiveness of engagement strategies.
- Design and evaluate seminars and symposia as research interventions, developing theoretically grounded work plans, analyzing participant outcomes, and synthesizing findings into scholarly reports and peer-informed outreach materials.
- Advance cross-cultural dissemination of knowledge by translating technical documents and research outputs into Spanish, thereby expanding inclusivity and enabling comparative analyses of accessibility and program uptake.
- Systematically document and analyze stakeholder engagement processes, including interactions with BOHs, municipal leaders, state agencies, and educational institutions, to generate evidence on effective models of cross-sectoral collaboration.
- Contribute to the development of empirically grounded communication and risk assessment strategies, ensuring alignment with MassDEP’s research priorities, senior management objectives, and statutory mandates.
- Develop, pilot, and evaluate knowledge translation and dissemination tools, including promotional resources, to assess their efficacy in advancing research-informed outreach goals.
- Conduct applied and translational research to measure the effectiveness of Water-Smart outreach activities, including statistical analyses of participation trends, identification of structural barriers, and evaluation of program impacts on underrepresented schools and early education settings.
- Generate evidence-based recommendations for future interventions and outreach strategies, grounded in research findings, stakeholder feedback, and theoretical models of program adoption and diffusion.
- Contribute to the broader research agenda by undertaking additional scholarly inquiry and program evaluation as required to advance innovation, policy relevance, and field impact.
- Perform additional duties as assigned.
Requirements
- Master’s degree or Bachelor’s degree plus two years of qualifying experience or Associate's Degree plus four years of qualifying experience or high school degree/GED/HiSet plus six years of qualifying experience. Degree may be in civil engineering, environmental engineering, public health, child development, nutrition, communications, environmental science, biology, chemistry, earth science, environmental health, meteorology, natural science, toxicology, or a closely related field.
- Knowledge of state and federal environmental regulations, including Safe Drinking Water Act programs, and public drinking water systems is required. Specific and substantial subject matter expertise in lead in drinking water and/or nutrition or water systems in schools and childcares.
- Prior experience in outreach and communication with relevant partners such as local officials, staff, partner agencies, schools, and childcare providers.
- Ability to follow through on tasks, maintain routine contact, and support coordinated planning of Drinking Water Program activities.
- Skilled in exercising tact and diplomacy in both personal and professional interactions.
- Proficient in computer skills (Office Suite), with the ability to learn and adapt to new systems as needed.
- Excellent communication and organizational skills, with the ability to work effectively with local officials, staff, partner agencies, schools, and childcare providers.
- Valid driver's license.
- Spanish language proficiency preferred.
Supervision is received from UMass Principal Investigators (PIs) with additional support from MassDEP Drinking Water Program Boston staff.
Fully Remote with up to 40% travel within Massachusetts.
One position available contingent on funding. Initial appointment for 1 year with renewal based on performance and funding.
Salary: $76,960
Application Instructions
Please apply online. Along with the application, please provide a cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information for three professional references.
The University of Massachusetts Amherst welcomes all qualified applicants and complies with all state and federal anti-discrimination laws.
Advertised: Eastern Daylight Time
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