Coastal Management Specialist

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Puerto Rico.

📋 Description

• Act as the contract liaison for Puerto Rico's Coral Reef Conservation Program by providing management support to ensure the program meets its requirements.

• Offer technical assistance in coral reef conservation, planning and management, coral disease prevention, restoration ecology, and fisheries and watershed management.

• Collaborate with jurisdictional coral reef contacts and other relevant agencies on NOAA Coral Program activities within the region.

• Work with federal partners to develop and implement initiatives that align with Coral Program goals and priorities.

• Assist in the annual planning process for the Coral Program, which includes addressing inquiries from potential principal investigators and coordinating communications with local partners, conducting technical proposal reviews, and providing support for project implementation.

• Aid in the development and execution of coral reef action plans and other local initiatives in Puerto Rico.

• Support the establishment and management of coral reef marine protected areas and enhance management capacity as needed.

• Conduct field visits or site assessments to evaluate Coral Program activities.

• Coordinate with Puerto Rico and NOAA's federal program officer to negotiate, process, amend, and monitor existing cooperative funding agreements and new non-competitive block grants, along with providing technical reviews for other funding grants and agreements related to the Coral Program.

• Guide Puerto Rico in fulfilling its documentation responsibilities for all coral reef projects, which includes permits, financial compliance, environmental adherence, and monitoring of ongoing management and restoration efforts.

• Serve as a connection between Puerto Rico's initiatives to tackle coral reef conservation and coastal management issues.

• Supply information to outreach and communications teams for creating tailored coral reef outreach and educational materials.

• Assist in the implementation of the reauthorized Coral Reef Conservation Act in Puerto Rico, which encompasses managing block grants and cooperative agreements, providing technical support for various grant programs, developing and executing Coral Reef Action Plans, implementing the National Coral Resilience Strategy, fostering Coral Reef Stewardship partnerships, and participating in the US Coral Reef Task Force.

• Serve as the contract liaison for Puerto Rico’s Coastal Zone Management Program, aiding in the execution of its coastal zone management program under the Coastal Zone Management Act. Work with Puerto Rico and NOAA's federal program officer to negotiate, process, amend, and monitor cooperative agreements and grants, as well as conduct technical reviews for other proposals as needed. Support the implementation of Coastal Zone Management Program activities, including reviewing proposed policy changes, conducting required program evaluations, and developing five-year assessments and strategies. Provide subject matter expertise and regional coordination on coastal management issues. Highlight Puerto Rico's coastal management program successes and identify opportunities for effective communication. Facilitate synergy between the Coral and Coastal Zone Management programs to improve execution and outcomes or identify joint projects.

⛳️ Requirements

• A Master’s degree in coral reef conservation, marine science, coastal management, or a related field, along with six years of relevant experience; equivalent work experience may be accepted in lieu of the educational requirement under certain conditions.

• Familiarity with the challenges facing coral reef conservation in the U.S. Caribbean and Puerto Rico.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• A self-motivated individual capable of working effectively within a team.

• Proven ability to cultivate relationships with management, colleagues, and external partners.

• Proficient technical writing skills with the ability to distill complex information.

• Professionally fluent in both conversational and written Spanish and English.

🏝️ Benefits

• Comprehensive healthcare coverage for employees at no monthly cost.

• Healthcare benefits include medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage.

• Personal Time Off (PTO) Policy along with paid holidays.

• Highly competitive compensation package regularly assessed against industry and regional benchmarks.

• 401(k) retirement plan with company-matching contributions.

• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) – everyone is a company owner!

• Flexible spending accounts available.

• Employee assistance program (EAP) offered.

• Short- and long-term disability insurance provided.

• Life and accident insurance coverage available.

• Tuition assistance, training, and workforce improvement reimbursement offered annually.

• Spot bonuses awarded for exceptional performance.

• Annual Employee Recognition Awards with bonus incentives.

• Employee Referral Program in place.

• Access to a centralized, self-directed Learning Management System for personal development at your own pace.

• Customized career growth plans available for every employee.