Restoration of the Chesapeake Bay requires committed, passionate and diverse individuals. The Chesapeake Research Consortium (CRC) seeks such an individual for a three-year appointment to provide support to the Chesapeake Bay Program partnership’s Healthy Watersheds Goal Implementation Team.

The Healthy Watersheds Goal Implementation Team (GIT) is a forum for shared learning and collaboration among Chesapeake Bay Program partners to promote the identification, assessment, vulnerability, and protection of waters and watersheds that have high ecological value throughout the greater Chesapeake Bay watershed. The team’s mission emphasizes the strategic use of the Goal Implementation Team forum to foster support for relevant state and local governments and non-government programs. The work of the goal team emphasizes the development and communication of measures to assess, track, sustain and protect state-identified healthy waters and watersheds. Such measures will support an adaptive management approach to the goal team’s strategies. In addition, the Health Watersheds GIT places emphasis on public communications, using exemplary case studies of successful local initiatives in order to serve as a forum for shared learning and collaboration.

Environmental Management Staffer Responsibilities

The candidate selected for this position will be involved in goal team activities and should expect to engage in work such as synthesis of policy pieces and decision support documents, development of and reporting on key watershed health indicators, development of a framework for characterizing watershed health and vulnerability information, and will gain experience in working with natural resource managers from around the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The Staffer will also be responsible for organization and support of meetings, member coordination and communication, tracking team action items, cross goal team activities related to local action and mapping, grant management, and research and synthesis activities, including reporting on performance indicators such as miles of Riparian Forest Buffer and Tree Canopy cover. This position also supports the Forestry and Federal Facilities Workgroups, both of which focus on water quality improvements in these respective areas. The candidate will also support the goal team’s involvement in the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Strategy Review System process to track progress toward achieving Chesapeake Bay restoration goals and outcomes, including coordinating partnership reviews and consolidating feedback. The selected candidate will work as a CRC employee at the U.S. EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program Office located in Annapolis, Maryland.

Desired Skills and Qualifications

The ideal candidate for the position would have the following background and qualifications:

  • A Bachelor’s degree in natural sciences, environmental management/policy/planning, or relevant field of study. Familiarity with land use/urban/conservation planning, forestry, landscape ecology, and watershed processes preferred.
  • Ability to perform background research, analysis, and synthesis on policy and science related topics.
  • Skills in data visualization using GIS.
  • Some experience with science communications, outreach, and conveying key messages to target audiences desired.
  • Ability to collaborate with a range of partners and stakeholders as part of interdisciplinary teams representing a variety of interests, in an environment meant to build consensus.
  • Provide support by independently planning meetings, developing agendas, drafting concise meeting minutes, and tracking action items.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to communicate with diverse partners at all levels of program activities with diplomacy.
  • Ability to work independently and prioritize tasks under tight timelines in a fast-paced office environment.
  • Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
  • Demonstrated ability to problem solve.
  • Ability to manage and update content for group web pages using a content management system.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is required. Experience with Microsoft Access is a plus.
  • Familiarity with using remote meeting technologies such as video conferencing (Web-X, Adobe Connect, Zoom, etc.).
  • Interest in learning how a diverse, governmental-environmental-management partnership makes decisions effectively and sets and achieves goals through collaborative and regulatory processes.
  • A will to explore your career options, passion and enthusiasm for the work and program.

Salary and Benefits

The annual salary is $40,831 and a competitive vacation and benefits package is included for the three-year position. In addition to the experience gained through their work assignments, Staffers, through individually crafted professional development plans, also attend professional conferences and workshops, and receive training related to their position and identified future career interests.

Application Instructions

Applications (a detailed cover letter, resume, list of at least three references, transcript [unofficial accepted] and a short writing sample) should be sent electronically to Melissa Fagan, Environmental Management Career Development Program Coordinator, at faganm@chesapeake.org. Please include information concerning education and professional background as well as immediate and long-term career goals.

Application Due Date: March 25, 2019

Additional information about the CRC Environmental Career Development Program is available at www.chesapeake.org. Additional information about the Chesapeake Bay Program partnership is available at www.chesapeakebay.net.

Chesapeake Research Consortium is committed to a diverse workforce. CRC provides equal employment opportunities and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, veteran status or national origin. CRC maintains a drug-free workplace. All Environmental Management Staffers are required to successfully complete a federal background check upon hire.