We’re looking for a leader who is:
- A collaborative relationship-builder with strong communication skills
- Experienced in climate science or a related discipline
- Skilled in team leadership, project management, and strategic thinking
- Comfortable balancing administrative leadership with technical expertise
- Passionate about public service and community impact
The North Carolina State Climate Office (NC SCO) is seeking a dynamic and forward-thinking Associate Director to help lead and shape the future of one of the state’s most impactful public service organizations. The NC SCO is a pubic service center at NC State University and is dedicated to serving the needs of North Carolinians by translating climate research and data into useful and usable knowledge.
This position is an exciting opportunity to help steer the NC SCO and enhance its ability and capacity to serve the people of North Carolina. Additionally, the NC SCO has longstanding and fruitful partnerships across the State of North Carolina, and the right candidate will help cultivate and further these professional relationships.
Reporting to the Director of the NC SCO, the Associate Director serves as both a senior administrator and subject matter expert in climate science. This role will act on behalf of the Director when needed and play a key leadership role in advancing the office’s research, extension, and education mission. The ideal candidate will bring a blend of scientific expertise, leadership experience, and relationship-building skills to support a highly collaborative, mission-driven team.
Key Responsibilities include:
Leadership & Strategic Impact
- Serve as acting Director in the Director’s absence
- Help guide the NC SCO’s strategic growth and future direction
- Foster strong partnerships across state agencies, universities, and external stakeholders
- Contribute to advancing the office’s public service mission
Research, Partnerships & Outreach
- Build and sustain research collaborations with faculty, agencies, and partners statewide
- Support North Carolina agencies with climate expertise and applied data insights
- Deliver presentations at conferences and meetings on climate science, trends, and events
- Contribute to extension, research, and educational initiatives
Project & Staff Management
- Oversee administration and successful execution of SCO projects
- Supervise a team of environmental climatologists/scientists (3 direct reports)
- Support staff development, mentorship, and annual evaluations
- Ensure compliance with NC State policies and foster a culture of accountability
- Assist in task delegation and workload prioritization across the team
Funding, Grants & External Relations
- Support fundraising efforts, including grant writing and proposal development
- Cultivate partnerships to secure state and federal funding opportunities
- Develop familiarity with contract regulations governing SCO funding
Operations & Administration
- Assist with budget oversight and labor distribution management
- Coordinate with MEAS, College of Sciences, and university administration
- Engage stakeholders on project scope, funding, and deliverables
All NC SCO staff receive 10% dedicated time to pursue passion projects, professional development, and areas of personal and professional interest. If you are driven to apply your expertise in a role that bridges science, service, and leadership, this is your opportunity to help shape climate resilience and understanding across North Carolina.
