Long Island Sound Blue Plan Outreach Coordinator in United States

The Nature Conservancy is the leading conservation organization working to make a positive impact for people and nature around the world in 69 countries, all 50 United States, major US cities and in your neighborhood. Founded in 1951, the mission of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. One of our core values is our commitment to diversity. Therefore, we are committed to a globally diverse and culturally competent workforce. Visit www.nature.org/aboutus to learn more.

The Nature Conservancy offers competitive compensation, 401k or savings-plan matching for eligible employees, excellent benefits, flexible work policies and a collaborative work environment. We also provide professional development opportunities and promote from within. As a result, you will find a culture that supports and inspires conservation achievement and personal development, both within the workplace and beyond.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Long Island Sound Blue Plan Outreach Coordinator will play a key role in organizing, managing and conducting outreach to stakeholders and scientists as part of a multi-faceted planning process to protect the Sound’s marine life and traditional human uses. This position will also be involved and play an important role in helping manage and support data management and mapping activities. This a temporary position with a duration of 8 months.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The State of Connecticut is developing “The Blue Plan,” a marine spatial plan for Long Island Sound aimed at protecting its marine life and traditional human uses while assuring the compatibility of new uses. The Nature Conservancy is playing a major role along with other key partners in developing this plan. Once completed and adopted by the Legislature, the plan will play an official role helping shape and direct future uses of the Sound’s waters and submerged lands. Preparing the plan involves assembling and advancing ecological and human use information into a “Resource & Use Inventory,” extensive stakeholder engagement along with developing the detailed policy of the plan itself. To support this outcome, the “Long Island Sound Outreach Manager” will:

• Support outreach to stakeholders to help assure stakeholder awareness and participation in the Blue Plan process.
• Assist in the implementation of the Stakeholder Engagement Plan
• Work with and support the activities of the Blue Plan’s Ecological and Human Use Characterization Work Teams, the Data and Mapping Team and other committees of the Blue Plan process to advance development of the plan.
• Assist in identifying and developing spatial data and information so that it can support making maps and other products involved in developing the Blue Plan.
• Provide organization, structure and appropriate tracking of actions and information for some of the tasks involved in the Blue Plan process.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE

• Support the coordination, communication and product development of work teams involved in advancing the Ecological and Human Use Characterization process. This includes identification of Ecologically Significant and Important Human Use Areas.
• Assist in the set up and implementation of meetings with scientific experts and human use sectors and their representatives to review and ground truth existing maps and data.
• Assist Blue Plan teams in working with scientific and stakeholder input to further develop and advance data and mapping work, including filling data gaps when feasible, and preparing for additional meetings and webinars.
• ?Assist and/or lead in organizing public meetings and/or meetings w/ stakeholder associations and/or stakeholder representatives to gain their input into the Blue Plan process, including, potentially, additional information they may contribute.
• Potentially assist in setting up and conducting meetings with stakeholder representatives to conduct “participatory mapping” of geographic places in Long Island Sound they consider to be important.
• Report to the Director of Connecticut Coastal and Marine Initiatives and coordinate with Blue Plan Advisory Committee teams, subcommittees, staff and volunteers.
• Develop relationships and allies while completing work tasks that help expand the reach of the Blue Plan process including generating new contacts with organizations, agencies, stakeholders and scientists.
• Work within the geographic and strategic scope of Long Island Sound including both Connecticut and New York State.
• May requires some regional travel and evening hours.
• May supervise an intern and/or volunteer on a project basis.
• Ensures integrity of both data collection and management relating to conservation projects and project statistics.
• Work and communicate effectively with a diverse group of people, including scientists and others, providing and obtaining needed information.
• Resolve routine issues independently.
• Manage, maintain and populate databases using computer spatial or tabular based management skills.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• BA/BS or Associates degree in related field and 1 year related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience maintaining and populating databases and manual files.
• Experience producing maps and/or other graphic products and reports.
• Experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, Access and web browsers.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience facilitating informational sessions, increasing organizational knowledge and capacity, and identifying key stakeholders. Familiarity with local stakeholders and issues a plus.
• Experience coordinating projects in a decentralized organization, working across teams and functions to achieve results.
• Skills in speaking diplomatically with experience presenting to and communicating with diverse audiences including citizens, government and non-government representatives.
• Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross cultural experience appreciated.
• 1-2 years related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• GIS and data management experience; database and computer spatial or tabular based management skills including managing, maintaining and populating databases.
• Managing and prioritizing tasks from multiple sources.
• Communicating clearly via written, spoken and graphical means

BENEFITS-SHORT TERM POSITIONS

The Nature Conservancy offers competitive compensation, 401k or savings-plan matching for eligible employees, excellent benefits, flexible work policies and a collaborative work environment. We also provide professional development opportunities and promote from within. As a result, you will find a culture that supports and inspires conservation achievement and personal development, both within the workplace and beyond.

AUTO SAFETY POLICY

This position requires a valid driver's license and compliance with the Conservancy's Auto Safety Program. Employees may not drive Conservancy-owned/leased vehicles, rental cars, or personal vehicles on behalf of the Conservancy if considered "high risk drivers." Please see further details in the Auto Safety Program document available at www.nature.org/careers.

Employment in this position will be contingent upon completion of a Vehicle Use Agreement, which may include a review of the prospective employee's motor vehicle record.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply to position number 45409, submit resume (required) and cover letter separately using the upload buttons. All applications must be submitted in the system prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 4, 2017.

Click “submit” to apply for the position or “save for later” to create a draft application for future submission. Once submitted, applications cannot be revised or edited. Failure to complete required fields may result in your application being disqualified from consideration.

If you experience technical issues, please refer to our applicant user guide or contact applyhelp@tnc.org.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of men and women of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

The successful applicant must meet the requirements of *The Nature Conservancy’s background screening process.*

Job Title: Long Island Sound Blue Plan Outreach Coordinator

Location: Connecticut

Job ID: 45409

Regular/Temporary: Temporary

Full/Part Time: Part-Time