Weather Satellite Imagery and Communications Professional

The Geographic Information Network of Alaska (GINA) is hiring a Research Professional 2 to support our near real-time satellite operations. We downlink, process, and distribute polar-orbiting satellite data around the clock to government agencies, university researchers, and communities across Alaska. As a member of the GINA team, you will use your atmospheric science background to serve as a scientific liaison between satellite product developers and the user community. This position provides the opportunity to apply innovative approaches to using and promoting satellite weather data in Alaska while working in an interdisciplinary team environment. You will have access to the broad curriculum at UAF through tuition waivers. Fairbanks, Alaska, is also a gateway to the outdoors! Miles of trails are available just outside the GINA office doors; glaciers, wild & scenic rivers, and mountain peaks will be within your reach. Fishing, biking, and skiing enthusiasts won’t be disappointed with the Fairbanks lifestyle. Your work at GINA will make a difference to everyday Alaskans through improved monitoring of weather, wildland fire, and volcanoes. If you are graduating from college, this is an excellent opportunity to start your career in environmental monitoring. We look forward to receiving your application!

***US CITIZENSHIP IS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION. TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION, PLEASE LIST YOUR CURRENT CITIZENSHIP STATUS IN EITHER YOUR COVER LETTER OR RESUME***

The Geophysical Institute is a research-driven organization at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The university offers an attractive work environment and strong benefits including retirement and health insurance, generous leave policies, and tuition waivers for UAF courses. The Geophysical Institute is committed to equity, inclusion, and accountability and values the open sharing of different perspectives. We support a respectful and welcoming environment and a commitment to serving Alaska and Alaskans with strong applied science. Career growth and professional development are expected and encouraged.

The Geographic Information Network of Alaska (GINA) is hiring a Research Professional 2 to support our near real-time satellite operations. We downlink, process, and distribute polar-orbiting satellite data around the clock to government agencies, university researchers, and communities across Alaska. As a member of the GINA team, you will use your atmospheric science or meteorology background to serve as a scientific liaison between satellite product developers and the user community. You will use a variety of software in this position, including Python and AWIPS (Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System) to collaborate with the National Weather Service. You will present product and project summaries several times per year at conferences and workshops; you will also visit National Weather Service offices to train forecasters on GINA satellite products.

As a public, regional, comprehensive university, UAF is committed to building a culturally diverse and inclusive organization and strongly encourages women, minorities, members from marginalized communities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans to apply.

To thrive in this role, the candidate should enjoy working in a team environment across diverse projects. The candidate should be able to use their meteorological knowledge to identify weather and natural hazards from satellite imagery. The candidate should be sufficiently comfortable with computers such that learning to deploy job-specific software in operational environments is not an undue burden.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree and one year experience in a field relevant to the research (e.g. science, math, business), or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Position Details:

This position will be physically located at the UAF campus in Fairbanks, Alaska. The successful finalist will be expected to report to duty at the UAF office on the first day of employment.

This position is full-time, Grade 79, term-funded, exempt, 12-month position complete with a competitive salary and UA employee benefits package. UA provides a generous compensation package that includes retirement options, annual leave, 12 paid holidays per year, tuition waivers for employees and family members, and affordable medical, dental and vision care coverage. New hires will be placed on the UA staff salary schedule, based on education and experience. 

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until a successful candidate is identified.

Review of application materials will begin immediately. Search and selection procedures will be closed when a sufficient and viable number of qualified candidates have been identified.

*You must be a U.S. Citizen and provide this confirmation in your resume or cover letter. 

This position is a term-funded position and is reviewed annually for contract renewal at the University's discretion.

The University of Alaska (UA) is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities throughout the applicant screening process. If you need assistance in completing this application or during any phase of the interview process, please contact UA Human Resources by phone at 907-450-8200.

UA is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer, educational institution and provider and prohibits illegal discrimination against any individual: www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination.

The successful applicant is required to complete a background check. Any offer of employment is contingent on the background check.

Your application for employment with the University of Alaska is subject to public disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act.

If you need assistance applying to this posting, please contact GI - Office of Human Resources at 907-474-7357 or at uaf-gi-hr@alaska.edu. 

*Each university within the University of Alaska system publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report which contains information regarding campus safety and security including topics such as: campus law enforcement authority; crime reporting policies; campus alerts (Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications); fire safety policies and procedures; programs to prevent dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking; the procedures the University will follow when one of these crimes is reported; and other matters of importance related to security on campus. The report also contains information about crime statistics for the three most recent calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in On-Campus Student Housing Facilities; in Noncampus buildings or property owned or controlled by the University or a recognized student organization; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus.  The report also contains fire statistics for any fires occurring in an On-Campus Student Housing Facility during the three most recent calendar years.  

Access to the reports is available at:

UAA: (Addresses Anchorage campus, Aviation Technology Complex, JBER - Elmendorf Extension, JBER - Richardson Extension, Kenai Peninsula College - Kachemak Bay campus, Kenai Peninsula College - Kenai River campus, Kodiak College, Kodiak High School Extension, Matanuska-Susitna College, Prince William Sound College, and Prince William Sound College - Cordova Extension) Online: https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/students/safety. Request a paper copy in person: UAA Police Department Office at Room 114 of Eugene Short Hall on the Anchorage campus / UAA Dean of Students Office at Room 122 of Rasmuson Hall on the Anchorage campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-786-1120 or police@uaa.alaska.edu / 907-786-1214 or uaa_deanofstudents@alaska.edu. 

UAF: (Addresses Fairbanks Campus, Bristol Bay Campus, Chukchi Campus, Community and Technical College, Kasitsna Bay Campus, Seward Marine Center, Tok Campus, Kuskokwim Campus, and Northwest Campus) Online: https://www.uaf.edu/orca/files/ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: UAF Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability on the 3rd Floor of Constitution Hall. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-474-7300 or uaf-orca@alaska.edu.

UAS: (Addresses the Juneau Auke Bay Campus, Juneau Technical Education Center, Sitka Campus, & Ketchikan Campus) Online: https://uas.alaska.edu/equity-and-compliance/docs/clery/UAS_ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: Hendrickson Building, Suite 202 on the Juneau campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-796-6371 or emailing uas.clery@alaska.edu.