Marine Projects Manager

Seattle, Washington (WA)

The Nature Conservancy is the leading conservation organization working to make a positive impact around the world in more than 30 countries, all 50 United States, and your backyard. Founded in 1951, the mission of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. Visit www.nature.org/aboutus to learn more.
TNC

The Marine Projects Manager assists the Director of Marine Conservation and the Marine Ecologist to develop and implement projects that support the Conservancy’s mission and its marine conservation strategies in Washington.  Projects can span a wide variety of activities in this context but will generally be term-limited and focused on an end result such as new scientific knowledge, a resource management policy or practice, or the conservation or restoration of habitat at a specific site.  S/he plays important roles in achieving tangible scientific and conservation results by ensuring that the Conservancy and its partners act on time and within budget to fulfill project scopes of work.  S/he also contributes to the development of new projects by scoping opportunities for funding, drafting project descriptions and budgets, and writing proposals.  The Marine Projects Manager often represents the Conservancy in public and in relationships with science collaborators, project contractors, and partner organizations. 

General responsibilities in this position include:

• Developing project descriptions, scopes of work and budgets for new project ideas. 
• Scoping opportunities for public and private grant funding, writing grant proposals, tracking progress on grant deliverables, and writing grant reports. 
• Tracking budgets and expenditures, and managing grants out and contracts to fulfill project scopes of work. 
• Contributing directly to project goals and deliverables. 
• Maintaining a network of relationships with people in tribal and non-tribal government agencies, academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and businesses to develop and complete projects. 
• Representing The Nature Conservancy at meetings, conferences, and public policy forums to advance projects, deliver reports on the results, and solicit evaluative responses. 

Strategic priorities and specific projects will evolve over time, but current priorities (with rough estimates of percentage time commitments) are:

• Sustainable fisheries: Managing collaborative research projects with fishermen and academic partners to develop practices that reduce ecological impacts and protect economic and social benefits.  (30 - 35%)
• Marine planning and policy: Managing projects to deliver information and technical assistance to federal, tribal, state, and local government agencies and stakeholder groups engaged in coastal and marine planning.  Providing assistance to implement plans and apply them to resource management and policy decisions.  (40 - 45%) 
• Habitat conservation: Managing projects that conserve and/or restore estuarine and marine habitats for their multiple ecological, economic, and cultural benefits (e.g., producing important fish and shellfish species, protecting communities from coastal hazards, or providing refuge from large-scale trends in climate change and ocean acidification).  (20 - 30%) 

• Bachelor’s degree and 3 years of experience in marine science, marine resource management, or marine policy OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience managing the work of others in a supervisory, contractual, or collaborative arrangement. 
• Experience communicating with the public and/or media both in writing and verbally.
• Experience using common software applications such as Word, Excel, Web browsers, etc.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree and 3 years of experience in marine science, marine resource management, or marine policy OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Knowledge of current trends and practices in coastal and marine spatial planning, coastal and marine habitat conservation, marine policy, and fisheries management.
• Ability to work effectively with a diversity of people including scientists, resource managers, commercial fishermen, and habitat management/restoration professionals.
• Experience managing the work of others in a supervisory, contractual, or collaborative arrangement. 
• Ability to manage time and diverse activities under deadlines while delivering quality results. 
• Experience writing grant proposals, managing grant funding, and reporting project results. 
• Excellent communication skills via written, spoken and graphical means in English. 
• Experience using computer applications that support project management and communications such as Word, Outlook, Excel, Web browsers, video conferencing software, etc.

• This is a term-limited position being offered only for the current fiscal year, ending on June 30, 2014.  Candidates should expect the position to be eliminated on the scheduled ending date. 

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.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL EFFORT

May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances. These conditions:

• require considerable physical exertion and/or muscular strain
• present frequent possibility of injury
• require long hours in isolated settings

The Nature Conservancy offers competitive compensation, a 401k plan, 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. 
TNC

To apply to position number 41518, submit resume and cover letter as one document. All applications must be submitted in the system prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on October 14, 2013.

Failure to complete all of the required fields may result in your application being disqualified from consideration.

You must click “submit” to apply for the position. You may select “save for later” if you prefer to create a draft application for future submission. Once submitted, applications cannot be revised or edited.

If you are experiencing technical issues, please refer to our applicant user guide or contactapplyhelp@tnc.org.
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