Community & Water Engagement Specialist

Kentucky Association for Environmental Education; Frankfort (KY); On-site; USD 37,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation time

Sick leave

Paid holidays

Health benefit

SIMPLE IRA match

Reimbursement for travel

Office space provided

Phone provided

Laptop provided

Job summary

Kentucky Association for Environmental Education seeks a Community & Water Engagement Specialist to advance public understanding of water resources across Kentucky. The role focuses on outreach, education, and developing the Water Resource Publication Tool (WRPT) in collaboration with the Division of Water.

The position emphasizes content development, stakeholder engagement, and dissemination of resources statewide, with training for diverse audiences and strong writing ability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in environmental science, water resources, planning, natural resources management, or a closely related field.
• Strong writing and data visualization for technical and general audiences.
• Ability to translate research to target audiences of various levels.
• Comfortable working independently and discerning reputable sources from non-reputable sources.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with KAEE's Program Director and the Division of Water on content development and educational alignment for the Water Resource Publication Tool (WRPT).
• Identify and consolidate information regarding educational content development with water resource professionals and stakeholders.
• Develop and curate educational content focusing on healthy wetlands and streams and incorporate wetlands into resiliency planning.
• Promote and distribute the WRPT statewide as a free resource and train municipal water managers, non-profits, educators, and local communities on using the WRPT.
• Execute targeted outreach campaigns to improve public understanding of wetland and stream quality, protection, and restoration in alignment with the Wetland Program Plan (WPP).
• Provide technical assistance and community engagement support for local watershed management and wetland protection statewide.
• Integrate Project WET and related water curricula into community-based environmental education programs.
• Coordinate community education opportunities, workshops, and listening sessions highlighting watershed health and resiliency.
• Build and maintain collaborative partnerships with municipal water managers, conservation districts, non-profit organizations, watershed groups, and community leaders.

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher in environmental science or related field

Job description

300 Sower Blvd, Frankfort, KY 40601, USA

POSITION TYPE

Full-time

Job Description

The Community & Water Engagement Specialist is a grant-funded position that will assist with public outreach, community engagement, and educational initiatives focused on water quality, watershed health, and community water issues across Kentucky. This position is housed under a contract agreement between KAEE and the Division of Water (DOW). The specialist will collaborate with state partners, community organizations, and educators to advance public understanding of water resources and environmental stewardship. This position will be based at the DOW office in Frankfort.

Summary of Essential Job Functions

Water Resource Publication Tool (WRPT) Development & Community Deployment

Collaborate with KAEE's Program Director and the Division of Water on content development and educational alignment for the new Water Resource Publication Tool (WRPT).

Collaborate with water resource professionals and other stakeholders to identify and consolidate information regarding educational content development.

Develop and curate specialized educational content focusing on the value of healthy wetlands and streams, and incorporating wetlands into resiliency planning.

Promote and distribute the WRPT statewide as a free resource to reduce cost and technical expertise barriers.

Train municipal water managers, non-profits, educators, and local communities on using the WRPT to generate customized water resource materials.

Wetland & Stream Program Outreach (WPP 2025–2029 Alignment)

Execute targeted outreach campaigns to improve public understanding of wetland and stream quality, protection, and restoration in alignment with the updated 2025–2029 Wetland Program Plan (WPP) and Core Elements Framework.

Provide technical assistance and community engagement support for local watershed management and wetland protection activities statewide.

Integrate Project WET and related water curricula into community-based environmental education programs.

Coordinate community education opportunities, workshops, and listening sessions highlighting local watershed health, stream conservation, and resiliency.

Build and maintain collaborative partnerships with municipal water managers, conservation districts, non-profit organizations, watershed groups, and community leaders.

Requirements

The ideal candidate will have working knowledge of Kentucky watersheds with an emphasis on watershed land use, assessment techniques, impairment, restoration, and stakeholder outreach and engagement. They will be comfortable with updating web content and using technology as well as public presentations, meeting facilitation and planning, and professional networking amongst diverse stakeholder groups. They will need to be a strong writer and have the ability to provide environmental education, training, and translation of research to target audiences of various levels. Applicants should feel comfortable working independently and discerning reputable sources from non-reputable sources. Writing and data visualization for technical and general audiences. They will need to have use of a personal vehicle for work-related, reimbursed travel.

A Bachelor's degree or higher in the field of environmental science, water resources, planning, natural resources management, or a closely related field is preferred.

Compensation

Full-time, exempt position working 40 hours per week. KAEE values work-life balance and offers a flexible, family-friendly schedule, including compensatory time up to 120 hours for additional hours worked. Benefits include 10 days of vacation time, 12 days of sick leave, and 14 paid holidays per year. Additional benefits include healthcare or a health reimbursement of $150/month and up to a 3% match for a SIMPLE IRA retirement plan. DOW will be responsible for providing office space, a phone, and a laptop. Reimbursement will be provided for costs incurred during work-related travel.

Pay :

$44,000