Special Assistant, Gulf Restoration & Fish Conservation Program – Austin, TX

Organization: Ocean Conservancy

Job Title: Special Assistant

Location: Austin, TX

Hours and Compensation: Full time, Commensurate, Competitive benefits package

Position Dates: Start ASAP

Application Deadline: Send in ASAP

Posted On: July 16th, 2012

Organization Overview

Ocean Conservancy is a nonprofit organization that educates and empowers citizens to take action on behalf of the ocean. From the Arctic to theGulf of Mexicoto the halls of Congress, Ocean Conservancy is leading the search for solutions to protect our water planet. Founded in 1972, Ocean Conservancy has emerged as a trusted voice in its advocacy for the ocean that is essential to all life and provides much of the food we eat, water we drink and air we breathe.

Description

Ocean Conservancy’s Gulf Restoration and Fish Conservation program is a dynamic initiative focused on fully restoring the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem. Ocean Conservancy has provided strategic leadership in addressing key threats facing the Gulf of Mexico for over two decades. Key accomplishments include successfully promoting the use of fishing gear that reduced incidental taking of endangered Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles, transforming regional fishery management systems to focus on science based management plans that end overfishing and restore depleted fish populations, and launching the largest global volunteer event of its kind—the International Coastal Cleanup. We are now combining our regional expertise with a seasoned team of Exxon Valdez oil spill experts to ensure the effective restoration and enhancement of the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem and its dependent communities. The Special Assistant of the Gulf Restoration and Fish Conservation Program will work in concert with our team of professionals to maximize the effectiveness of our work. Ocean Conservancy envisions a healthy and productive Gulf of Mexico that supports resilient ocean ecosystems and coastal communities.

Responsibilities

Primary Responsibilities:

The Special Assistant is responsible for working with the Director of Gulf Restoration and Fish Conservation Program to manage day to day operational aspects of this growing conservation program. The Special Assistant will work with a team of Ocean Conservancy experts to coordinate and manage the flow of regional programmatic campaigns to ensure Ocean Conservancy’s program goals and objectives are met.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Supports the Director of Gulf Restoration and Fish Conservation Program to ensure team accountability; development of comprehensive work plans; orchestration of deliverables on all levels; monitoring of goals, expenditures, and available resources; and assessment of results and impact.
• Manages flow of information between Gulf Restoration and Fish Conservation Program team members to ensure and enhance communication within the team and achieve maximum effectiveness.
• Supervises regular programmatic reporting to accurately communicate success and effectiveness.
• Convenes meetings for status updates, problem solving, and work plan development, in consultation with Director of Program Effectiveness, to fully flesh out project development and on an ongoing, regular basis to facilitate communication of project progress across the organization.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Three years or more of experience in project management preferred; with proven experience in fiduciary management.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills are essential, as is the ability to communicate complex scientific or technical concepts to policy and lay audiences (written samples will be requested).
• Bachelors degree or higher preferred in a relevant interdisciplinary specialty, management, communications, public policy, or another field closely related to coastal/marine affairs or environmental protection.
• Working knowledge preferred in one or more of the following: marine/coastal ecosystems, human impacts and threats to oceans/coasts, ecosystem protection and management, program management strategic communication methods. Familiarity with U.S. or state fishery management systems, regulations and policy preferred.

Other/Personal Characteristics:

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with past success in working collaboratively and functioning as part of a team;
• Highly collaborative with an appreciation of the benefit of a multi-disciplinary team approach;
• A strategic thinker who can bring the creativity, energy, discipline and commitment needed to help secure sustainable fisheries and restore and enhance the Gulf of Mexico;
• A high-level performer who remains attentive to details and adheres strictly to deadlines and deliverables while keeping a larger vision in mind;
• Personable, passionate, productive, and focused to support accurate, timely, and powerful policy, products, and positions.

How to Apply