Research Coordinator III

Job no: 514666
Work type: Staff Full-Time
Location: Remote/Flexible
Categories: Administrative/Professional, Research/Scientific/Grants
Department:57201000 - FSG-MANAGEMENT

Classification Title:

Research Coordinator III

Job Description:

The position will provide national level coordination to facilitate communications, identify information and resource gaps, and efficiently allocate federal resources to support an effective response to Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) across all seven U.S. jurisdictions (i.e., the U.S. Territories of American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico; and the U.S. States of Hawaii and Florida). The selected candidate will receive guidance from the Director of Florida Sea Grant, in consultation with NOAAs Coral Reef Conservation Program, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the USVI Department of Planning and Natural Resources, the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, and other project partners in order to:

1) Facilitate information sharing;

2) Serve as a liaison with other federal agencies in disease response efforts;

3) Coordinate with local Disease Response Coordinators;

4) Identify and work to address information/research gaps;

5) Identify and engage new partners;

6) Support implementation of NOAAs National SCTLD Strategy

7) Update NOAA and Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) leadership;

8) Provide training for resource managers and field researchers; and

9) Review and assist in development of reports and recommendations.

Cross-Jurisdictional SCTLD Response Coordination [40%]

Lead efforts to share information between local SCTLD response efforts in U.S. jurisdictions and establish regular lines of communication between U.S. jurisdictional disease response coordinators and disease response practitioners, as appropriate.

Serve as liaison with other federal agencies and partners involved in disease response efforts, which includes:

a. Leading the development and implementation of regional and national strategic action plans to address national response priorities (e.g., ballast water);

b. Providing technical assistance to local coordinators in the development of local action plans, as needed;

c. Actively coordinating with federal agencies to identify technical and financial resources to support jurisdictional response efforts;

d. Coordinating with appropriate federal agencies to expedite regulatory reviews associated with permitting treatments or projects associated with disease response; and

e. Participating actively in the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force and the Caribbean Coral Reef Partnership (CCRP), an interagency collaboration and communication mechanism for coral reef conservation efforts in the U.S. Caribbean, using this platform as one mechanism (among others) for coordinating federal agency engagement in SCTLD response in the Caribbean region.

Capacity Building and Strategic Support for Response Efforts [40%]

Identify and work to address response capacity and resource gaps at national and local levels.

Assist local response coordinators and/or participants in identifying and securing necessary supplies.

Maintain current files on the capabilities and needs of each jurisdiction (i.e., response team members, logistical support, facilities, and laboratory diagnostic capabilities).

Gather and archive national level data on disease characteristics, spread and treatment effectiveness.

Engage with existing research teams to maintain communication among SCTLD research investigators across the region.

Identify and engage new partners from federal agencies and private institutions/ businesses who could bring resources to the response effort(s), and explore potential international collaborations.

Coordinate USCRTF and NOAA CRCPs efforts to support, implement, and track the SCTLD response effort in U.S. waters with program leadership and relevant Coral Reef Management and Fisheries Liaisons.

Identify training needs and opportunities for local response coordinators.

Coordinate training for coral reef resource managers and field researchers in unaffected U.S. coral jurisdictions in the Pacific to prepare them to detect and respond to the disease.

Reporting [20%]

Review and assist in development of reports and recommendations and communicate findings to appropriate Federal and Jurisdictional government agencies.

Update Agency leadership, including NOAA and CRCP leadership on the status of the disease, associated response efforts, and priority response needs to agency leadership.

Share information from jurisdiction-specific response efforts with national level leadership via the US Coral Reef Task Force, and with NOAA, DOI, EPA and other agencies, as needed.

Support/provide updates to Jurisdictional leadership, as requested by local response coordinators.

Expected Salary:

$65,000 - $75,000

Minimum Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area and three years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master's degree in an appropriate area of specialization and two years of experience; knowledge of and direct experience with the conservation of coral reef ecosystems; demonstrated ability to initiate and complete projects with minimal supervision; work effectively and communicate with diverse audiences, and interpret technical information and relate it in nontechnical language to local community concerns.

A high level of analytical, organizational and planning skills; ability to work independently and as a part of a team; effective oral and written communication skills; ability to interact objectively and effectively with diverse audiences; fluency in computer and communications technology; demonstrated experience coordinating marine resource management and disturbance response initiatives; knowledge of coral reef diseases, intervention methodologies and response approaches to disease outbreaks; experience in public outreach/extension is highly desirable.

Proficiency in grant writing; willingness to travel, and work occasionally in evenings and weekends. Preferred locations include Washington D.C. and Southeast Florida.

A valid passport will be required to attend international meetings

This is a grant-funded time-limited exempt (TEAMS) position with the Florida Sea Grant College Program, University of Florida. Current funding is for four years for this more than 50-year-old state/federal partnership program.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

In order to be considered, you must upload your cover letter and resume and list of references.

This is a time limited position.

Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.

Health Assessment Required:No

Advertised: 17 Sep 2020 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: 15 Oct 2020 Eastern Daylight Time