PFAS Community Outreach and Grant Support Specialist

Earth Day; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension is seeking a PFAS Community Outreach & Grant Support Specialist to collaborate with state and local agencies, health and water quality professionals, community leaders, and university partners to improve community awareness, engagement, and access to the PFAS community grant program and to enhance proposal quality and grantee readiness.

The role involves facilitating community conversations, coordinating expert “road shows” for training local

Responsibilities

• Facilitate community conversations.
• Coordinate subject matter expert “road shows” to train local government officials, community groups, and the public.
• Host grant writing workshops to assist communities in applying for PFAS grants according to DNR requirements.
• Facilitate peer learning across communities and connect PFAS technical assistance with broader development efforts.

Job description

The PFAS Community Outreach & Grant Support Specialist within the UW-Madison Division of Extension works collaboratively with state and local agencies, health and water quality professionals, community leaders, and university partners to improve community awareness, engagement, and access to the PFAS community grant program, enhance proposal quality, and increase grantee readiness. The Specialist serves as a trusted resource, connecting expertise across organizations to support communities, including Tribal Nations and rural towns and villages.

Primary responsibilities of this position are to facilitate community conversations; coordinate subject matter expert “road shows” to provide training for local government officials, community-based groups, and the general public; and host grant writing workshops to assist communities in applying for funding according to the DNR program requirements. The position will also facilitate peer learning across communities and connect PFAS-related technical assistance with broader community and regional development efforts.

The Specialist works closely with the Natural Resource Institute (NRI) Emerging Contaminants Outreach Specialist as part of a statewide PFAS team. Together, the team coordinates education and outreach activities that support DNR PFAS grant objectives and statewide priorities.

Division of Extension headquarters are located within Madison, Wisconsin. This location as well as the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) are being considered as a potential location. However, the position location is flexible within Wisconsin and will be determined based on programmatic needs, successful candidate’s preferences, and availability of suitable space.