Job Opportunities
Associate Extension Specialist - Coastal Resilience
Virginia Tech - Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center
JOB DESCRIPTION:
The AP Faculty, Associate Extension Specialist – Coastal Resilience position is part of a new, multi-institutional, Commonwealth initiative in a coastal resilience and adaptation economy through strategic planning at the local and state levels, public-private partnerships for workforce development and research and development (R&D), faculty-student innovation in resilience design, and building collaborative team science capacity. This position will play a critical role, as project manager and facilitator, in collaboration with Virginia Sea Grant (VASG) leadership and staff, Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center (VSAREC), and project partners in support of VASG’s GO Virginia award and the broader development of public-private R&D partnerships, towards a coastal resilience and adaptation economy in Virginia.
- Encouraging collaboration among program member institutions, extension partners, and the private sector to advance innovations in designs, products, technologies, and services to adapt coastal communities to the adverse effects of climate change;
- Budgeting and tracking project milestones, coordinating team efforts, and managing subcontractors;
- Building and maintaining partnerships with the private sector for applied R&D;
- Preparing property and neighborhood-scale coastal resilience designs with a focus on highly integrated blue-green-gray infrastructure strategies (e.g., landscape architecture, engineering, ecology, or other related disciplines) and energy-efficiency, net-zero and carbon-encumbering building;
- Managing collaborative research and team science activities; and
- Building a program area for VASG and Virginia Tech (VT) in climate adaptation and resilience design, technologies, products and services.
This position will be responsible for program and project reporting to VASG, in support of VASG’s GO Virginia and NOAA reporting. The individual will also work closely with the VSAREC, Virginia Tech, and VASG Communications programs to help create and disseminate project progress, updates and results to stakeholders.
Open until filled - first review date: November 10, 2021
Assistant Director for Engagement
Old Dominion University - Institute for Coastal Adaptation and Resilience
JOB DESCRIPTION:
The ODU Research Foundation is seeking an Assistant Director for Engagement to perform work under the Institute for Coastal Adaptation and Resilience and as a Virginia Sea Grant extension staff member. The Assistant Director for Engagement will fill a critical gap in Hampton Roads for outreach, coordination, technical assistance, and scientific synthesis and integration capacity on coastal adaptation and resilience issues. Position requires a skilled self-starter who will provide vision for engagement portfolio in ICAR and design programs and projects with minimal supervision to elevate ICAR as a national leader in implementing practices for climate change adaptation and resilience. Candidate will manage existing ICAR engagement initiatives (Hampton Roads Adaptation Forum, Resilience and Adaptation Feasibility Tool) in addition to building the Virginia Climate Adaptation and Resilience Program jointly with Virginia Sea Grant. They will also convene teams of faculty and community members to develop, write proposals for, and manage engagement in innovative initiatives in coastal resilience and adaptation practice.
Candidates should have a graduate degree in a field related to disaster and climate resilience and adaptation (e.g., geography, science and risk communication, geosciences, atmospheric sciences, land use planning, landscape architecture, public policy, public health, coastal engineering, or related field) and five years’ work experience that includes public engagement, including engagement with historically marginalized, under-represented, and other vulnerable communities and people. Candidates with practical experience in planning, communication, floodplain management, geographic information systems, disaster recovery or case management, hazard mitigation, public health, economic development, and other allied fields are encouraged to apply, as are candidates whose careers to date have focused exclusively on hazards, disaster, and climate resilience and adaptation.
Job Responsibilities:
- Identify, write proposals, lead/participate in, and facilitate novel community-engaged research to support inclusive disaster and climate resilience and adaptation that serves community-driven needs
- Use risk communication approaches to create two-way conversations in coastal communities about the science and impacts of hazards and climate change and practices to adapt and build resilience
- Convene and connect individuals and organizations across coastal Virginia through networking activities and knowledge exchange (maintaining existing, revising existing, and developing new)
- Provide budget management and oversight for Virginia Climate Adaptation and Resilience Program, including reporting to Virginia Sea Grant and collaborating with the VASG extension network
- Travel within Hampton Roads, the Commonwealth of Virginia, the mid-Atlantic, and nationally to conduct and promote ICAR engagement and resilience work
- Assist with ICAR communication needs, including website content, newsletters, and other public engagement opportunities as they arise
- Provide practitioner expertise to ODU faculty for designing useful engaged research, transferring findings into actionable information, and sharing research results through appropriate communication strategies
- Develop and conduct educational and training opportunities in climate adaptation and resilience for University students, professional practitioners, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector
- Other duties as assigned
Open until filled - first review date: November 8, 2021
Project Management Assistant
Virginia Sea Grant - Virginia Institute of Marine Science | William & Mary
JOB DESCRIPTION:
Virginia Sea Grant (VASG) is a federal-state partnership funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with matching support from partner universities. Hosted at William & Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), VASG’s other partner institutions include: University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, George Mason University, Old Dominion University, and Virginia Commonwealth University. VASG’s mission is to enhance the ecological, economic, and social resilience and sustainability of coastal and ocean communities and the ecosystem services they depend upon through university-based research, extension, education, and communication that provide science-based information to decision-makers.
Virginia Sea Grant seeks qualified applicants to apply for the Project Management Assistant (PMA) position. The ideal candidate will be currently enrolled into graduate program with an interest in marine and coastal science, biology, environmental science, policy, design, engineering or research and program management., with strong organizational skills and event coordination experience.
The PMA will acquire valuable research and higher education administrative experience in grant-making and oversight, multi-tasking, and responding to constantly changing priorities in a fluid academic environment. The Project Management Assistant (PMA) will provide support to VASG’s research and administrative team. This position is for two (2) academic semesters, 20 hours a week, which may include summer work. While the work schedule is flexible during business hours, the majority of the time must be spent at VASG’s office located on the VIMS campus at Gloucester Point, VA. Limited telework may be permitted.
Reporting to the Associate Director, of Virginia Sea Grant, the Project Management Assistant, provides assistance to the recruitment efforts and application processes for the suite of VASG’s undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate fellowships, internships, and other student opportunities. The position will have an opportunity to collaborate on other special projects developed with the VASG leadership team, and carry out responsibilities as determined by the Director and Associate Director.
Daily responsibilities will include (but not limited to):
- Conduct data management (perform data entry and analysis).
- Manage the process of proposals (proposal processing, submission, and review).
- Coordinate professional development events and VASG training workshops for mentors, fellows, interns, and students (schedule /coordinate meetings and events, managing conflict of interest, supporting training programs, and tracking projects.)
Job close date: December 10, 2021
Commercial Fisheries Extension Specialist
Virginia Institute of Marine Science - Marine Advisory Program
JOB DESCRIPTION:
The Commercial Fisheries Specialist establishes and maintains communication links with individuals, organizations, industry, or other entities involved in the harvesting, processing, and distribution for the fishing community at large. Further, to identify the needs of the fishing community and design and implement research and education, programs (workshops, seminars) to address identified needs.
Responsibilities include (but are not limited to):
- Communicate with the commercial fishing industry to determine areas in need of expertise, research, and information. Coordinate the expertise within both VIMS and partner institutes to formalize a communication channel that would serve in information transfer and development of science-based protocols.
- Foster the development of applied research projects directed at answering complex fisheries problems. Facilitate the research and development in areas of expertise (e.g. conservation engineering, bycatch, offshore wind development, fishery product development). Serve as a liaison between industry and researchers to accomplish goals. Establish where needed and maintain existing information exchanges within the industry, as well as between industry and various governmental or regulatory groups (e.g. Virginia Marine Resources Commission, Regional Fisheries Management Councils, NMFS).
- Independently prepare proposals for funding and collaborate with the Associate Director, Marine Advisory Program in the development of Sea Grant Marine Extension Program proposal and other RFPs, grant, and contract opportunities as appropriate to the core fisheries extension responsibilities. Lead or contribute to the preparation of manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication. Coordinate the Virginia Fishery Resource Grant Program (VFRGP) by managing the annual request for proposals.
- Prepare and convey information on the commercial fisheries industry to the public/coastal resource users via group presentations and appropriate media outlets.
- Process industry applications, and manage applicant communications. Facilitate the internal and external review process, and award preparation and reporting.
Open until filled - Review begins: November 30, 2021
Shellfish Aquaculture Extension Research Specialist
Virginia Institute of Marine Science - Marine Advisory Program
JOB DESCRIPTION:
The Shellfish Aquaculture Extension/Research Specialist will be responsible for working collaboratively with the Commercial Shellfish Aquaculture Specialist to maintain and grow a robust extension and applied research program focused on commercial shellfish aquaculture relevant to the Commonwealth of Virginia. The position is expected to foster working relationships and regularly engage with members of the commercial shellfish aquaculture industry, resource managers, the general public and other relevant stakeholders to assist in addressing challenges to the growth of sustainable shellfish aquaculture. The position will work closely with faculty and staff at both VIMS and William & Mary, Virginia Sea Grant (VASG) and existing VASG extension partners.
Core responsibilities include but not limited to:
- Partners with the Shellfish Aquaculture Specialist to communicate with shellfish aquaculture stakeholders to determine areas in need of expertise, research and information. Collaborates with the Shellfish Aquaculture Specialist to coordinate the expertise within both VIMS and partner institutes to formalize a communication channel that would serve in information transfer and development of science-based protocols.
- Facilitates the research and development in areas of expertise (e.g. submerged aquatic vegetation and aquaculture, new species development). Serves as a liaison between industry and researchers to accomplish goals. Establishes where needed, and maintain existing information exchanges within industry, as well as between industry and various governmental or regulatory groups (e.g. Virginia Marine Resources Commission, Virginia Department of Health, NOAA Aquaculture, USDA NRCS).
- Prepares proposals for funding and collaborate with the Associate Director, Marine Advisory Program in the development of Sea Grant MAP proposal. Conceptualizes, participates and prepares proposals in response to extramural funding opportunities as appropriate to the core shellfish aquaculture extension program. Prepares and conveys information on the shellfish aquaculture industry to the public/coastal resource users via group presentations and appropriate media outlets.
- Assists in the coordination of the Virginia Fishery Resource Grant Program (VFRGP) by working with industry applicants across all phases of the projects (e.g. proposal development, data collection and project reporting). Leads or contributes to the preparation of manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication.
Open until filled - Review begins: November 29, 2021
Scallop Researcher
Virginia Institute of Marine Science - Marine Advisory Program
JOB DESCRIPTION:
The Scallop Researcher will support at-sea survey cruises, and play a leading role in the inventory and procurement of all necessary supplies and equipment for the research cruises as part of the Sea Scallop Research Team. Reporting to the Marine Fisheries Specialist, the Scallop Researcher is also charged with ensuring that these items are successfully transferred to the commercial fishing vessels (docked at New Bedford, MA, Cape May, NJ or Seaford, VA) and properly stowed/configured as appropriate.
Other core responsibilities include (but not limited to):
- Oversees accurate and efficient data collection and execution of field work. This also includes working with vessel captains to set cruise tracks, assesses proper working course of action, setting scientific crew assignments and leading/participating in sampling processing efforts.
- Ensures that equipment and supplies are cleaned, properly maintained and stored in an appropriate manner after field work is complete. Ensures biological samples collected during field work operations are transported, stored and delivered to appropriate organizations or agencies. Collects age data from scallop shells collected during field work.
- Assists PI and project scientist with data analysis for various projects. Provides input and aides in the preparation of final, progress and industry reports as well as presentations for funding agents in accordance with deadlines.
- Participates with technical papers and manuscripts prepared for peer review in scientific journals.