Consultant - Young Scientists Outreach and Engagement Project

CONSULTANT

Young Scientists Outreach and Engagement Project
Union of Concerned Scientists Outreach Team

Washington, DC Office

Summary:

Engaging and developing relationships with the “next generation” of US-based scientists (graduate students and post-docs) is a major long-term priority for the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) as we work to solidify our reputation and brand as the “leading science-based nonprofit working for a healthy planet and a safer world.” We hope these future scientists will become invested in UCS and serve as ambassadors for our work and organization throughout the country.

The UCS Outreach Team seeks a consultant to help conceive organizational strategies to foster lasting relationships with, and build organizational awareness among, science-focused graduate students and post-docs at colleges and universities located in or near the cities in which UCS offices are located—Boston/Cambridge, MA; Washington, DC; Berkeley, CA; and Chicago, IL. We hope to initiate these relationships early in their careers before they find permanent positions throughout the country in areas important to UCS work.

The consultant will help develop a detailed plan for initial in-person events that some or all UCS offices will host in September 2009. The consultant will evaluate and provide advice on what kind of events would be most effective, or if other activities should be considered in addition to, or instead of, these events. The consultant will show how these events would work into a larger strategy to develop long-term relationships with young scientists, including clear and traceable measures for success.

Scope of Services:

The consultant scope will have two primary components:

1. September 2009 event planning—Work with UCS organizers to develop and plan events to be held in late September 2009 in at least two of the organization’s four offices—ideally all four. The events will be public events targeting graduate students and post-docs from area colleges/universities. The consultant will help shape these events by:

• consulting with UCS organizers and other select UCS staffers to get their program ideas—format, timing, venue, speakers, offerings, follow-up, and take-aways;
• outlining options for events, with special attention to cost and staff time needed to execute each option (ranging from in-office meet-and-greets to hosting an event in rented space);
• working with designated UCS organizers in each of the four offices (Berkeley, Cambridge, Chicago, and Washington, DC) responsible for event planning and to quickly make decisions by the end of June on the basic outlines of the event(s).
• assessing long-term engagement value of the event(s).

2. Long Term Engagement Report—Develop a report by July 31, 2009, outlining initial ideas, options, and recommendations for an institution-wide strategy (focusing on the aforementioned geographic areas) for engaging and building long-term relationships with young scientists that will help the organization build its scientist donor and activist base over the long term.

The report will include:

• background information about today’s young scientists that will help us understand and better reach them—demographics, social/political/other interests, social engagement/networking preferences, communication preferences, geographic or academic differences (e.g., hard vs. social sciences), etc.; and
• options for engagement that may include events, targeted membership appeals/offers, online or offline social networking opportunities, on-campus or academic association outreach or promotional opportunities, or newly established programs (e.g., fellowships, awards, competitions); for each option, describe the rationale, estimates of organizational resources needed, timelines, and metrics.

The Consultant—in coordination with the UCS Outreach Facilitator—shall have regular contact with outreach team members and other selected UCS staff and management to solicit their ideas and feedback on engagement strategies.

All work related to this project must be completed by September 25, 2009.

To Apply:

Interested parties should send a cover letter (referencing where you learned of the job opening), resume/credentials, fee structure, and a brief proposal to the attention of Scott Nathanson, consultantjob@ucsusa.org by June 11, 2009.  Please include “Consultant” in the subject line. Electronic Submissions Only.  

No phone calls, please.