The Chesapeake Research Consortium (CRC) is seeking an individual for a three-year Environmental Management Staffer position within its Environmental Management Career Development Program. All CRC Staffers in the Environmental Management Career Development Program support the work of the Chesapeake Bay Program. The Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) brings together leaders from state, federal and local government, as well as academia and the watershed’s many communities, to collaborate on creating the best strategies and tools for cleaning up the Bay and the rivers and streams that flow into it and engaging with diverse communities to restore habitat health for living resources and promote stewardship for an environmentally and economically sustainable Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay Program is fueled by science and driven by partnership.
The Environmental Management Staffer in this position will support the CBP’s Sustainable Fisheries Goal Implementation Team (Fisheries GIT). The Fisheries GIT enhances cross-jurisdictional, ecosystem-based fisheries management in the Chesapeake Bay and uses science to inform management decisions. The Fisheries GIT is comprised of the lead state fisheries managers, scientists, and key stakeholders from around the Bay to improve management and recovery of fish and shellfish species, including oysters, blue crab, menhaden, striped bass, shad, herring, and their habitats. The Fisheries GIT is responsible for implementing the oyster restoration, blue crab, forage, and fish habitat outcomes under the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. It also leads the Invasive Catfish Workgroup to improve science and tributary based management strategies for blue and flathead catfish. The Staffer in this role will also provide support to the Plastic Pollution Action Team and the Hypoxia Collaborative Team.
As an Environmental Management Staffer in this program, you would have a unique opportunity to develop up to 3-years of professional experience through your day-to-day work activities while having dedicated time and support focused on your individual professional growth. This position offers an opportunity to work with a broad team of partners from across the Chesapeake Bay watershed representing a vast network of government (federal, state, and local) and non-government entities. The skills and network gained from this position will be valuable to someone seeking further education and/or career development in the environmental policy and scientific field with a focus on fisheries and natural resources management.
Environmental Management Staffers work a hybrid work schedule, dividing time each week between in-office work and telework. The selected candidate will work as a CRC employee at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Chesapeake Bay Office located in Annapolis, Maryland.
- Provide meeting support by scheduling meetings and developing meeting agendas, setting up hybrid meeting technologies such as video conferencing and collaborative tools (training provided), drafting concise meeting minutes, and tracking and following-up on action items with various staff and partners.
- Engage closely with Fisheries GIT coordinator and leadership by providing meeting pre-briefs and other planning meetings.
- Work with staff at the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office to link work with the Fisheries GIT.
- Manage and update content, contacts, and calendar items on goal team and workgroup webpages on the Chesapeake Bay Program website (content management system training provided). Maintain internal workgroup email distribution lists.
- Update, track, and consolidate feedback on documents or resources as necessary from workgroup members, leadership, and other experts.
- Assist with coordination, implementation, and tracking of actions specified in the two-year logic and action plans for relevant fisheries outcomes, particularly: Blue Crab Abundance; Blue Crab Management; Oysters; Forage; and Fish Habitat.
- Participate in the Strategy Review System (SRS) process for the fisheries-related outcomes, including the review and development of management materials, action plans, presentations, and associated materials.
- Assist with grant funding processes and management responsibilities and project oversite. This requires identify project ideas and setting priorities with the Fisheries GIT, drafting project statements of work, and working with technical leads to track project status and provide project leads feedback from key Fisheries GIT members (this usually involves helping to coordinate a project steering committee).
- Participate as needed to write reports and communication pieces, perform analysis, consolidate data, report on performance indicators and other tasks as assigned, or as desired for professional growth.
- Bachelor’s degree with a focus on natural or environmental science and/or policy (or a related area of study), emphasis on marine ecology or fishery science and/or management a plus.
- Knowledge of ecosystem management concepts including its physical, biological, social, and economic components as they relate to a large watershed restoration program is also desirable.
- Ability to perform background research, analysis, and synthesis on policy and science related topics.
- Ability to provide support by independently planning meetings, developing agendas, drafting concise meeting minutes, and tracking action items.
- Familiarity with using hybrid meeting technologies such as video conferencing (Google Meets, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Webex, etc.).
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is required.
- Experience with or interest in collaborating with a range of partners and stakeholders as part of interdisciplinary teams representing a variety of interests, in an environment meant to build consensus.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to prioritize tasks under tight timelines in a fast-paced environment, to multi-task and remain flexible with shifting demands.
- Ability to take initiative and work collaboratively with a team.
- Interest in learning how a multi-stakeholder, regional governmental-environmental-management partnership sets and achieves goals through collaboration, adaptive management, and science-based decision making.
- A willingness to explore career options and interest in engaging in professional development activities.
All Environmental Management Staffers are required to successfully complete a federal background check upon hire.
Chesapeake Research Consortium is committed to a diverse workforce and encourage people from all backgrounds to apply. CRC recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, gender identity (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender individual), sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.