Senior Program Specialist, Ocean Observatories Initiative

By Leslie Smith | November 2, 2017 |

Senior Program Specialist, Ocean Observatories Initiative

The Consortium for Ocean Leadership is seeking a Senior Program Specialist. This is a temporary, full-time position scheduled to last through September 30, 2018, with the possibility of extension pending funding availability. The position will report to the Vice President, Research and Education.

The successful candidate will implement science support, education, and user and public engagement activities in support of the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) and for the benefit of the ocean observing community. Activities will enhance the visibility and increase utilization of the OOI, as well as promote the building of collaborative bridges between the OOI and the broader domestic and international ocean science community and ocean observing systems. The Senior Program Specialist will work closely with the National Science Foundation to coordinate science support activities and to determine how best to integrate science support, education, and public engagement with operations and maintenance of the OOI system, particularly as it transitions to a new operational phase.

Responsibilities include:

Implementation of a full suite of science support and community engagement activities for the OOI, including but not limited to organizing workshops, writing reports and other publications, and planning outreach and training events.
Building networks for and user engagement in the OOI across ocean science and technology disciplines, such as through showcasing the science opportunities available through the OOI arrays and data.
Supporting student and early career scientist engagement in and access to the OOI platforms and data.
Creating—or leading the creation of—more user-friendly reports and holistic graphics/charts to improve user understanding of the OOI arrays, technologies, data, and science potential.
Working with the OOI Facilities Board to organize a compelling Town Hall and related events at the 2018 Ocean Sciences Meeting in Portland, Oregon.
Performing other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

Master’s degree in a scientific or technical discipline related to ocean science and a minimum of seven (7) years of experience in scientific research or project/program management. A Ph.D. in these fields is preferred and may substitute for equivalent years of experience.
Familiarity with ocean observing systems, platforms, sensors, and related technologies; specific knowledge of OOI preferred.
Demonstrated initiative, creativity, and the ability to work well both independently and as part of a team are a must. Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including executive staff, international scientists, federal agency representatives, industrial representatives, and academic institutions.
Experience working in academia and understanding of the ocean science community
Familiarity with ocean science and related federal government agencies is preferred.
Experience in public outreach, education, and research broader impacts activities.
Budgeting and cost management experience.
Ability to lead teams, strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
Experience in meeting and workshop organization a plus.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, strong interpersonal skills, excellent organizational skills and strong attention to detail are required.
Proven problem-solving capabilities with the ability to exercise good, independent judgment on courses of action and to exhibit a proactive approach to assigned projects.
Demonstrated flexibility and ability to work well under pressure.

Ocean Leadership offers a collegial work environment and excellent benefits. To learn more about Ocean Leadership, please visit www.oceanleadership.org .

To apply, please forward cover letter, resume, salary requirement, and any other relevant application materials to jobs@oceanleadership.org with the subject line, “Sr. Program Specialist, OOI”. Materials may also be mailed to Human Resources, The Consortium for Ocean Leadership, 1201 New York Avenue, NW, 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20005.

About the Consortium for Ocean Leadership

The Consortium for Ocean Leadership (COL) is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization that represents the leading ocean science and technology institutions — public and private; academia, aquaria, and industry. Our mission is to shape the future of ocean science and technology. In addition to our advocacy role as the voice of the ocean research and technology community, COL manages a variety of community-wide research and education programs in areas of ocean observing, ocean exploration, and ocean partnerships. The Consortium for Ocean Leadership (COL) advocates for sound ocean policy and wise investment in ocean science, infrastructure, and education. Having established a reputation for being a credible, reliable, non-partisan, and trustworthy source of information for policymakers in the nation’s capital, COL elevates the awareness of the importance of the ocean to the nation’s economic and social well-being. Consequently, COL positively influences ocean policy and federal financial support for ocean research and technology.