Assistant Marine Coordinator / TNC Marine Conservation Fellowship Program

SUMMARY

The Assistant Marine Coordinator (hereafter, the “Marine Fellow”) will participate in full-time capacity for two years in the Marine Conservation Fellowship Program (MCFP), implemented jointly through a partnership between the Hawai‘i Chapter of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Pacific Services Center.  The goal of the MCFP is to train Marine Fellows to become the next generation of marine conservation leaders in Hawai‘i. The program is designed to build a cadre of well-qualified, experienced marine resource managers who will provide critically needed leadership for the sustainable management of Hawai‘i’s marine resources. Marine Fellows will be recruited for the next fellowship class of 2016-2018 based in Honolulu. Additional information on the MCFP and what applicants should expect under the fellowship experience is available online at http://bit.ly/1TJC8i1

The MCFP provides an opportunity for professional development by training Marine Fellows in a variety of professional skills and providing opportunities to conduct marine conservation fieldwork. The first year of the fellowship program will focus on professional development and skills building. Areas of professional development include project management, strategic planning and partnerships; biological and human use monitoring, working with communities, the application of various conservation tools such as public policy and regulation, technical writing skills, leadership and organizational skills. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

During the second year of the fellowship, each Marine Fellow will complete a capstone project in a topic area of their choice, relating to and augmenting TNC Hawaii’s work with communities and partners. These projects may be completed at project sites on the Islands of O‘ahu, Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, or Hawai‘i, and accordingly may require extended travel to these neighbor islands. 

During both years of the fellowship, the Marine Fellows will assist in the development, implementation, management, monitoring, and coordination of community-based marine conservation projects implemented by TNC and NOAA throughout the main Hawaiian Islands.

The fellowship experience will operate from a foundation of science, and incorporate both traditional knowledge and contemporary resource management approaches. Applicants are expected to bring ideas on how their fellowship experience can be used as a vehicle to integrate and communicate science and scientific concepts in concert with traditional knowledge and customary practice with the public, including community groups, user groups and stakeholders, and other professionals. Scientific skills development during the fellowship experience will include qualitative and quantitative analysis.

Primary duties and functions of a Marine Fellow include:  

• Actively participating in a two-way learning program to develop competencies in the conservation arena
• Documenting work and learning progress through a journal and quarterly reports
• Assisting TNC and our project partners in planning, managing, monitoring, and assessing the conservation effectiveness of community-based projects
• Coordinating and participating in community volunteer events at TNC and NOAA project sites
• Interacting respectfully and intelligently with our community partners
• Cultivating relationships with community, government, and other partners
• Assisting in the development and implementation of conservation action plans
• Interacting regularly with previous marine fellowship graduates
• Building and managing project databases in a variety of software programs (e.g., Excel, ArcGIS).
• Monitoring biological and human-use indicators at our project sites
• Removing exotic coastal and marine species
• Monitoring and researching species and native habitats
• Providing feedback on and contributing to the growth of the MCFP
• Assisting in the training of staff, interns and volunteers

TO APPLY:

Please complete an online application by 5:00pm, Hawai‘i Standard Time, Sunday, April 3rd at www.nature.org/careers and upload as one document, a resume and cover letter that addresses these 4 questions below: 

1) Why are you an outstanding candidate for the marine fellowship program?

2) What are your interests and experiences relating to marine resource management in Hawai‘i and how do you meet each of the five basic qualifications?

1.    BA/BS/AS/Technical or vocational degree and at least one year of related experience in natural resource management or equivalent combination of education and experience. Degree in a science-related field or cultural studies helpful.
2. Commitment, dedication and passion for conserving Hawai‘i’s marine ecosystems.
3. Experience working with or knowledge of Hawai‘i’s natural systems and cultural practices.
4. Knowledge of island ecosystem principles.
5. Knowledge of current trends and practices in conservation, marine management (traditional and contemporary) and biodiversity conservation.

3) The fellowship program will introduce you to many facets and specialties within the field of conservation, but you will be able to select an area of focus in your second year. What area(s)/topic(s) would you want to focus on your two-year fellowship and why?

4) What are your short- and long-term career goals, and how would these contribute to the future of marine resource management in Hawai‘i?

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

• Performs under the direct supervision of the Marine Fellowship Program Coordinator and reports to/consults with TNC Marine Program staff.
• May lead or monitor work groups consisting of staff, interns, and volunteers covering a wide geographic area.
• Financial responsibility may include working within/managing a budget to complete projects, negotiating and contracting with vendors, and assisting with budget development. 
• Networks with diverse groups, including conservation partners, government officials, donors, board members and the general public to recruit support for the Conservancy and publicize Conservancy. 
• May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.   These conditions may:

• require considerable physical exertion and/or muscular strain
• require SCUBA certification (training provided if not certified)

• present frequent possibility of injury
• require long hours in isolated settings
• require extensive travel to neighboring and other Pacific islands

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• BA/BS/AS/Technical or vocational degree and at least one year of related experience in natural resource management or equivalent combination of education and experience.  Degree in a science-related field or cultural studies helpful.
•  Commitment, dedication and passion for conserving Hawai‘i’s marine ecosystems.
• Experience working with or knowledge of Hawai‘i’s natural systems and cultural practices.
• Knowledge of island ecosystem principles.
• Knowledge of current trends and practices in conservation, marine management (traditional and contemporary) and biodiversity conservation.

PREFERRED KNOWELDGE, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE

• Ability to complete tasks efficiently and in a timely manner.
• Working knowledge of common software applications (e.g.; Word, Excel, Database, Web browsers). 
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Leadership initiative, and resourcefulness
• Ability to follow instructions from colleagues, complete tasks independently with respect to timelines.
• Working knowledge of geospatial information sciences (e.g.; GIS, GPS, ArcGIS, Google Maps/Earth).
• Commitment to the mission, goals, and core values of The Nature Conservancy.
• Valid driver's license