Pros
I was really surprised to see negative reviews for UNAVCO, but sometimes I think that's how these sites work. No one has an opinion until they've had a bad experience (which can happen to anyone, anywhere). I felt compelled to state my very positive experience, which I strongly believe matches the majority of my colleagues' experiences with UNAVCO.
I work in the Education and Community Engagement (ECE) department part-time and have had a wonderful experience at UNAVCO. The department (and entire organization in general) are very team-oriented, which is hard to find in larger companies. For the most part, all of the directors and project managers across the board are friendly and engaging. Of course there are a few bad apples here and there, but that is to be expected out of any organization. The ECE director and staff work really well together and have common goals and directions on advancing UNAVCO's educational resources and support. Many of the staff in the building have been working for UNAVCO 5-10+ years which I think says a lot of about an organization.
They also offer three different levels of internships (during the summer) and opportunities for early career professionals.
There can be a downside to working for a non-profit in terms of funding, but this is a facility whose majority of funding is provided by the National Science Foundation with awards that last many years.
Pros:
Relaxed environment
Friendly, intelligent staff
A great president
Opportunities for advancement
Strong networking within the science community
Excellent starting salaries
Outstanding benefits - lots of PTO, health insurance, retirement plans, free EcoPass...etc
A broad array of scientists, engineers, and professionals to learn from
Located in one of the largest science/tech towns in the U.S.
And how can I not add that this facility is located directly across the street from Avery Brewing!? One of the best in Colorado!
Every day I work with people who do amazing things as part of major projects all over the world. It is easily the most rewarding organization I've ever worked for. I highly recommend watching the UNAVCO intro video for more information on the science UNAVCO supports.
Cons
A few 'catty' women, typical of any office environment, but manageable.
