Marine Programs Associate
Closing date: December 23, 2011
Reports to: Nick Battista, Marine Programs Director
A healthy marine environment and vital fishing communities are essential to achieving the Island Institute’s mission: sustaining Maine’s island and remote coastal communities. At the Island Institute we partner with Maine’s 15 year-round islands and working-waterfront communities to ensure that they remain vibrant places to live, work and educate children.
The Island Institute’s marine program undertakes projects that address island and remote coastal communities' priorities related to the marine environment as they evolve over time, including fisheries, aquaculture, ocean energy and climate change.Our marine partnerships hinge on two strategies. First, we identify emerging leaders in fishing communities. We learn from these leaders and invest in their vision for the future of their communities. Second, we seek to share emerging information with island and working-waterfront communities so that they can make informed decisions about how to improve their livelihoods and better steward the marine environment. These strategies are enabled through research and analysis, publications, events and informational forums, grant-making, investments, in-kind staff support, science translation and technical services.
The Marine Programs Associate will work closely with the rest of Marine Programs staff to implement the Institute’s programs. The Marine Programs Associate will work on projects primarily focused on sustainable federally-managed fisheries. This work will include providing staff support for creative partnerships with fishing communities in Maine, including fishing gear research projects and the Institute’s groundfish permit bank; as well as providing administrative support for a collaborative network of community-based fisheries organizations across the country.
The Marine Programs Associate will also provide staff support for the Marine Programs Director on fisheries management and policy issues as they move through the New England Fisheries Management Council and National Marine Fisheries Service. In addition, the Marine Programs Associate is expected to work with other staff as needed on issues related to the marketing and branding of ethically-harvested seafood; working waterfront preservation; offshore wind energy; climate change; marine spatial planning and other projects that emerge.
Responsibilities will include: tracking issues related to federal fisheries; coordinating, organizing, and maintaining records for the Institute’s activities on assigned projects; developing outreach and education materials; research, including data collection, analysis and synthesis; organizing, attending and reporting out on meetings; tracking and ensuring specific project deliverables are met; providing administrative support for outside collaborative coalitions and fishery groups; providing logistical support for other Institute staff. This position requires the ability to work on multiple projects at a given time and dedication to building and maintaining relationships within partner organizations.
The successful candidate should have a degree in marine science, marine policy, environmental studies, anthropology, a related field or relevant work experience. Demonstrated experience and interest in fisheries and fisheries policy is a plus. Candidates should be broadly interested in fisheries issues and able to work with various groups across the country to achieve common goals. Candidates should have excellent organizational and communication skills and be able to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.
The job also requires travel at non-standard work hours to remote locations along Maine’s coast and may also involve travel to coastal communities in other states.The successful candidate will be a self-starter with an excellent work ethic and time management skills. Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Power Point, and accessing web-based information is required.
The Marine Program Associate will be a full-time position based out of Rockland, Maine, and scheduled to start as soon as possible with compensation commensurate with experience.
Please submit a letter of application including a résumé, a writing sample, and three professional references to:
Nick Battista, Marine Programs Director, Island Institute,
For more information visit: http://www.islandinstitute.org/careers.php