Environmental Jobs
Location
Monterey, CA | United States
Job description
California State University, Monterey Bay is a mid-sized university in California’s Central Coast that grants undergraduate and graduate degrees.
The CSU Council on Ocean Affairs, Science & Technology (COAST) is the CSU’s systemwide consortium for ocean and coastal research, education, and workforce development. COAST integrates systemwide expertise and resources to advance our knowledge of ocean and coastal systems, train students, and inform decision-making. It is a dynamic and robust community of hundreds of CSU faculty members, researchers, and students from diverse disciplines actively working to answer questions about our oceans and coasts and address our most pressing challenges. The scope of COAST includes the open and coastal ocean, coastal zones, and coastal watersheds. At its core, COAST provides several critical functions that serve the CSU, the state of California, and national and international communities:
Support ocean and coastal research.
Provides a community for researchers with ocean and coastal interests from across the CSU.
Develops current and future ocean and coastal scientists, scholars, and leaders.
Communicates the best available science to stakeholders to promote evidence-based decision-making and policy development.
Of specific importance to this position is the State Science Information Needs Program (SSINP), which COAST established in 2019. SSINP directly and exclusively supports the state of California’s highest priority needs for ocean and coastal scientific information in a timely and actionable manner. To date, SSINP is funded by state of California appropriations to the CSU totaling $8M and awards have supported research on climate change, microplastics, mitigation and restoration, ocean acidification, sea-level rise, and sustainable aquaculture and fisheries.
As a member of the COAST staff, the incumbent must be committed to COAST’s overarching priorities of advancing our knowledge of ocean and coastal systems, supporting faculty and student research and success, and creating a more inclusive and diverse marine science community.
PURPOSE:
Under the general supervision of COAST Director, the Science Policy Specialist will lead COAST’s efforts at local, state and national levels to engage policy and decision-makers including resource management agency staff, legislative members and staff, nonprofit organizations, philanthropy, and industry. The incumbent will advance COAST’s parallel, complementary goals of 1) securing external funding to support solution-oriented scientific research and 2) serving as a primary resource for guidance and expertise to promote evidence-based decision-making and policy development. The incumbent will communicate the activities, successes and impact of COAST and its members to stakeholders and the public; work to position COAST and its members to leverage state, federal, and private funding opportunities; and secure additional resources to support COAST programmatic activities.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Strategic engagement
In collaboration with the Director, develop a strategy and lead efforts to increase recognition of COAST as a primary resource for informed decision-making and workforce development and increase public awareness of the research capacity of the CSU.
Develop and maintain relationships with government officials and staff through meetings, events, and outreach materials.
Independently or in collaboration with other organizations, convene scientific panels to brief government officials on relevant topics.
Develop public-facing content for the COAST website and social media.
Coordinate with the CSU Office of Advocacy and State Relations in Sacramento, CSUMB government relations staff, and government relations staff at other CSU campuses.
Analyze policies and actions relevant to COAST and develop appropriate response strategies as needed.
Plan and execute the annual California Ocean Day luncheon featuring CSU researchers.
Attend ocean-related events to increase awareness of COAST and engage stakeholders.
2. Solution-oriented scientific research
Interface with local, state, and federal government to identify their highest priority needs for ocean and coastal scientific information to support evidence-based decision-making and policy development.
Lead the State Science Information Needs Program, including developing Requests for Proposals in collaboration with agency representatives, other executive branch staff, and legislative members and staff; overseeing competitions for funding, including a rigorous review process; and managing awards. Report as needed to COAST leadership, the CSU Chancellor’s Office and the state.
3. Diverse funding streams
In consultation with the Director, develop a strategy and lead efforts to diversify COAST’s funding portfolio.
Position COAST members for funding and advocate for involvement of CSU faculty members and students in initiatives that provide opportunities for cutting-edge research, education, and workforce development, particularly at the state level.
Represent COAST’s interests and goals at state and national levels and interface with policy makers and resource managers.
Analyze and distill relevant policies and opportunities for distribution to members.
Write proposals and coordinate with state agencies and others in support of COAST’s mission, goals, and activities. Oversee development of CSU ocean- and coastal-related faculty member database.
4. Programmatic support and project management
Participate in monthly COAST Executive Committee calls and semi-annual retreats, COAST Annual Meeting, and other virtual or in-person meetings as needed.
Assist in meeting and event planning with emphasis on overall goals and strategy. Develop content for the COAST Annual Report.
Other Functions:
Performs other job-related duties and special projects as assigned.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Extensive and in-depth knowledge of and ability to apply expertise to ocean and coastal research and education, including general practices and applicable internal policies and procedures. Substantial and broad knowledge of public and private entities including their organizational and operating structures, internal systems, and functional areas, as well as the impact of critical external entities on COAST and the CSU. Ability to integrate and apply this knowledge to anticipate problems and assess the impact of proposed solutions on various organizational areas. Extensive and in-depth knowledge in project management.
Ability to interpret and integrate complex data and information to formulate appropriate courses of action that have broad and far-reaching impact. Ability to understand and analyze complex problems from a future-oriented and broad interactive perspective and readily develop proactive solutions that integrate strategic goals into tactical operations. Ability to effectively use applicable information systems and applications in analysis, research, and reporting activities and projects. Ability to effectively communicate with and influence high-level and diverse contacts inside and outside of the CSU system. Ability to effectively use all communication methods and formats and to use expertise, as well as persuasion and negotiation skills, to build consensus to achieve short- and long-term goals and objectives.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor’s degree and/or equivalent training and administrative work experience involving study, analysis, and/or evaluation leading to the development or improvement of administrative policies, procedures, practices, or programs.
SPECIALIZED SKILLS REQUIRED:
Experience in government relations including strong working knowledge of and/or experience working in or with California state legislative and executive branches; strong working knowledge of state-level legislative and budget processes; strong working knowledge of natural resource management state agencies (e.g., CA Department of Fish and Wildlife, CA Coastal Commission, CA Ocean Protection Council, and Ocean Science Trust) as well as federal agencies (e.g., Army Corps of Engineers, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, US Geological Survey) and NGOs.
Ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and to quickly adapt to shifts in plans and priorities; work independently with a high degree of flexibility; be an advocate for COAST and the CSU without introducing personal interests or biases; distill complex issues into concise and understandable language; effectively communicate with high-level and diverse contacts inside and outside of the CSU system; establish and maintain professional working relationships and deal effectively with a broad range of people and situations.
Excellent interpersonal skills and a high degree of professionalism; excellent verbal and written communication skills, particularly with vocabulary and grammar. Excellent time management, organizational skills, and attention to detail.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS/DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE:
Demonstrable knowledge of ocean and coastal science OR ocean and coastal policy issues. M.S. and/or Ph.D. in biology, ocean science, environmental studies, environmental policy, environmental law (J.D.) or related discipline. Substantial and broad knowledge of ocean and coastal-related public and private entities including their mission, funding priorities and organizational structure. Ability to write proposals and funding requests in support of COAST activities.
Tagged as: Law/Policy
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