Research Associate I (Partner Coordinator)

About the Role

This is a passionate and motivated entry-level position supporting the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) Energy Resources Center’s (ERC) pollinator habitat conservation agreements for the energy and transportation sectors. The role primarily supports the administration of the nationwide Monarch Butterfly Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (Monarch CCAA) and the Nationwide Conservation Benefit Agreement for Bumble Bees (Bumble Bee CBA). The ERC facilitates the Rights-of-Way as Habitat Working Group, which provides expertise and resources to 400+ organizations interested in promoting pollinator habitat and healthy ecosystems on energy and transportation landscapes.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform technical reviews of program applications, implementation plans, and other documentation provided by program partners.
• Contribute to the design and delivery of research projects and collaborates with researchers to develop, execute, and interpret research results.
• Perform complex data collection and analysis techniques.
• Assist with planning and organizing meetings and webinars, including scheduling, preparing agendas and presentations, and note-taking.
• Assist with partner coordination and outreach, including managing task forces, direct communications, document control, and other tracking activities.
• Perform independent literature reviews or background research.
• Perform other related administrative or research tasks as needed.
• Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Microsoft 365 Office and Google Workspace platforms.
• Experience in ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, R, Adobe Illustrator, or Canva is preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social science or related field required.
• Knowledge of research concepts, practices, and procedures.
• Experience in biology, environmental compliance, wildlife ecology, energy or transportation infrastructure, or sustainability.
• Demonstrated attention to detail and organization.
• Clear writing and verbal communication skills.
• Experience working on, or supporting, UIC’s Sustainable Landscapes Program and Rights-of-Way as Habitat Working Group initiatives is preferred.