Coral Reef Management Fellow - USVI - 992770

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Primary Purpose:

The 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 the USVI is the Division of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) within the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR). The position is located on the island of St. Croix at the St. Croix East End Marine Park (STXEEMP) office.

The three goals of this 2-year coral fellowship are to:

1. With the territory’s restoration plan being published in the Spring of 2023, the Fellow will have the unique opportunity to work with each of the territory’s restoration practitioners and resource managers by facilitating the Virgin Islands Restoration of Coral Squad (VI RoCS), guiding the continued implementation of the restoration plan, including coordinating the groups’ engagement with the coral rescue software and database as well as creating summary reports of annual rescue efforts and Acropora palmata genetic management efforts. The Fellow will also work closely with resource managers to track outplant efforts and assess progress towards restoration targets outlined in the plan.

2. Support DPNR in the planning and implementation of the annual Coral Reef Week events in the territory.

3. Experiences all aspects of managing an MPA and become an integral member of staff at the East End Marine Park (EEMP), including coordinating citizen science efforts, outreach programming and management of the Sweeper’s Knoll, a complex-small scale reef restoration site.

The Fellow will also support resource management activities, helping to develop and attend awareness events with staff, speaking with school groups, providing input on, or editing Park materials, and representing the Park at public events.

Job Category: Non-Exempt

Hiring Range:  $46,000.00

Pay Basis:  Hourly

Subject to Grant Funding? Yes  

Essential Job Functions: 

1. Acts as the primary lead for facilitation of the VI RoCS group in 2026 and 2027. With support from DPNR and NOAA, the Fellow will take an active role in implementing the USVI Coral Reef Restoration Plan across four sites in St. Croix and St. Thomas.

2. Leads agenda setting for virtual monthly VI RoCS meetings as well as assist in the planning of annual in-person workshops, trainings, and learning exchanges.

3. Assists the VI RoCS group to maintain the use of Tracks, a rescue tracking software to help the territory quantify and track the rescue of endangered and disease susceptible coral colonies; including working with the USVI Coral Rescue Coordinator to synthesize annual territorial rescue data in summary reports and working with practitioners to submit data on the software. Training for the Tracks software will be provided by DPNR and/or the Tracks liaison during the first three months of the fellowship.

4. Produces a minimum of 4 outreach products (two per fellowship year) focused on raising public awareness of USVI coral restoration efforts through VI CRAG communications team channels.

5. Assists CZM staff in planning Coral Reef Week (CRW) 2026 (St. Croix) and 2027 (St. Thomas) to include, coordinating of logistics, budget tracking, purchasing and facilitation of planning meetings.

6. Leads coordination of engaging local partner participation and venues to host events, site visits, presentations, etc., focused on coral reef management, outreach and research, including planning of at least one (1) site visit to a land based or in-water coral nursery event.

7. Assists in the monitoring, maintenance and data management of the Park’s Sweeper’s Knoll complex, a demonstration coral restoration site, regularly observing and participating in coral restoration techniques and practice on a small scale, via snorkel.

8. Assists in Park’s sea turtle monitoring program (Turtle Patrol) and annual report, as well as its Seagrass Patrol.

Job Requirements: 

Required Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities: 1) Experience, through an internship, fellowship, or employment in environmental science or natural resource management
2) Experience in community organizing/engagement and/or coordination of conservation initiatives and working with a wide variety of stakeholders
3) Experience managing and analyzing scientific datasets
4) Strong oral and written communication skills that, on request, can be supported by examples of experience in writing, reviewing, and editing (grammar and punctuation) information of a scientific and/or technical nature that hasn’t been edited by anyone but the applicant
5) Experience in meeting planning and facilitation
6) Proficient with PC computers and Microsoft Office software
7) Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
8) Proven time management skills and the ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks at once


PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS / WORKING CONDITIONS:

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

2. Ability to drive motor vehicles for a couple of hours, if needed.

Required Certifications/Licensures: 

Required Education: Bachelor's Degree

Major (if required: Biological Sciences or Resource Management

Required Experience: 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 relevant experience in community organizing and/or coordination of conservation initiatives.

--OR--

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

Preferred Qualifications: 

1. Experience, through an internship, fellowship, or employment in environmental science or natural resource management (with a focus on coral reef management a plus)

2. Experience with hands on with coral restoration planning or field work

3. Experience living and working in another culture or in an island community (Caribbean preferred)

4. Experience swimming and snorkeling on coral reefs

5. Experience working outdoors in estuarine or mangrove lagoon habitats

6. Good communicator with ability to translate scientific content into presentations and education and outreach materials, considering the audience knowledge of the topic

7. Ability to work independently as well as part of a team

8. Familiarity with basic spatial software such as ArcMap or QGIS

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.