Coral Reef Management Fellow - American Samoa - 992776

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Primary Purpose:

The Susan L. Williams National Coral Reef Management Fellowship is a partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Nova Southeastern University (NSU), the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) and the U.S. All Islands Coral Reef Committee (AIC). There are seven (7) U.S. states and territories participating in this program: American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Hawaii, Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Coral Reef Management Fellows are placed in state and territorial natural resource management agencies (the host agencies) in each of these jurisdictions every other year where they work on specific projects related to coral reef conservation. Although fellows are employed through NSU, they are essentially working for the host agencies and should consider their on-site fellowship supervisors to be their direct managers.

The fellowship program's mission is two-fold:

1. Provide coral reef management support in each participating jurisdiction by placing highly qualified individuals whose education and work experience meet each location's specific coral reef management's needs.
2. Provide individual fellows with professional opportunities and training in coastal and coral reef resource management.

The host agency for the 2026-2028 National Coral Reef Management Fellowship in America Samoa is the American Samoa Coral Reef Advisory Group Coordinator (CRAG), based in Pago Pago. The Fellow will work with the local and federal CRAG agencies to build local capacity with a target of community engagement in restoration. Community buy-in and permission are vital to projects in American Samoa; therefore, the Fellow will engage the community throughout the Fellowship by building local technical capacity and ensuring ongoing success with coral restoration efforts. The Fellow will also assist in coordinating and planning the US Coral Reef Task Force, which is scheduled to be held in American Samoa in the fall of 2026.

The three goals of this 2-year coral fellowship are to:
1. Build local capacity by engaging communities in hands-on restoration activities, workshops, and training sessions. These efforts will equip community members with the technical skills to participate in and sustain restoration projects

2. Support ongoing monitoring by collecting data, assessing restoration sites, and developing the Rapid Reef Response Plan in collaboration with the CRAG Resilience Coordinator.

3. Response monitoring is critical to evaluating restoration efforts and identifying emerging threats to coral reef health. The Fellow will support ongoing monitoring by collecting data, assessing restoration sites, and developing the Rapid Reef Response Plan in collaboration with the CRAG Resilience Coordinator.

The Fellow will also provide CRAG with planning efforts for conservation activities, fieldwork activities, and outreach events and assist with projects and/or activities related to coastal marine activities.

Job Category: Non-Exempt

Hiring Range:  21.538461

Pay Basis:  Hourly

Subject to Grant Funding? Yes  

Essential Job Functions: 

1. Builds local capacity by engaging communities in hands-on restoration activities, workshops, and training sessions.

2. Supports CRAG’s Education and Outreach Coordinator in delivering school-based outreach activities.

3. Participates in the monthly USCRTF Restoration Working Group calls.

4. Participates in in-water coral restoration and monitoring activities aligned with the Action Plan for Coral Reef Restoration in CRAG’s annual monitoring protocol.

5. Works closely with instructors at the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) to deliver restoration-related activities, including in-water and lab-based exercises for the Marine Science Program.

6. Supports Coral Restoration Planning/Support Continued Development of Restoration Action Plan.

7. Assists the Marine Invasive Species Coordinator in monthly timed swim surveys to monitor coral disease outbreaks, invasive species proliferation, and other reef health indicators.

8. Leads reef flat aerial monitoring regimen, using drone technology to map reef flat sites around Tutuila visually.

9. Uses Agisoft Metashape to generate photomosaics from drone images, allowing for the long-term tracking of changes in reef flat conditions.

10. Works with CRAG to update and refine the Rapid Reef Response Plan, ensuring that it includes clear protocols for responding to disturbances.

Job Requirements: 

Required Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities: 1) Knowledge of coral reef restoration principles and techniques
2) Direct experience with the conservation of coral reef ecosystems
3) Competence with snorkeling and swimming in lagoon and ocean conditions
4) Demonstrated ability to review and edit content and grammar of a technical and scientific nature, as well as for educational and outreach purposes
5) Demonstrated ability to 1) initiate and complete projects with minimal supervision 2) work effectively and communicate with diverse audiences and 3) interpret technical information and relate it in nontechnical language to local communities
6) Must be willing to engage with the local community and respect cultural protocols.
7) Must be able to reside in American Samoa for the duration of the fellowship
8) Proficient with PC computers and Microsoft Office software

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS / WORKING CONDITIONS:

1. Ability to conduct field work including hiking, swimming, snorkeling, carrying loads up to 40 lbs. over uneven terrain.

Required Certifications/Licensures: 

Required Education: Bachelor's Degree

Major (if required: Biological Sciences or Resource Management

Required Experience: Biological Sciences or Resource Management
Bachelor’s degree in biological science or resource management with experience that correlates with aptitude and interest for marine management and at least two (2) years of experience in tropical marine science and/or management

--OR--

Master's degree in a related area of study and at least one (1) year of experience.

Preferred Qualifications: 

1. Fluency in conversational Samoan language

2. Experience with collecting field data, and data analysis

3. Knowledge of coral reef ecology, restoration techniques, and monitoring methods (e.g., coral nurseries, outplanting, bleaching assessments, or invasive species management).

4. Experience with GIS software and ability to apply basic GIS skills relevant to the project

5. Experience living or working in an island or/and or other remote locations

6. Experience in environmental education, outreach, or citizen science initiatives.

7. Experience in conference planning, logistical coordination, or stakeholder engagement is a plus.

8.Demonstrated experience working with a diverse series of stakeholder(s) and resource manager(s) and experience coordinating resource management initiatives.

Is this a safety sensitive position? No  

Background Screening Required?  No  

Pre-Employment Conditions: 

Sensitivity Disclaimer: Nova Southeastern University is in full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and does not discriminate with regard to applicants or employees with disabilities and will make reasonable accommodation when necessary.

NSU considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status or any other legally protected status.