Climate Change Specialist, Governor’s Coral Reef Advisory Group – American Samoa
Organization: Governor’s Coral Reef Advisory Group
Position Title: Climate Change Specialist
Location: Pago Pago, American Samoa
Application Deadline: March 29th, 2015
Description: The Climate Change Specialist will work as an integral part of the Governor’s Coral Reef Advisory Group (CRAG). CRAG coordinates all of American Samoa’s coral reef management activities. The group is a partnership of five local agencies: the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources (DMWR), the Department of Commerce (DOC; including AS Coastal Management Program & National Marine Sanctuary of AS), the American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the American Samoa Community College (ASCC), and the National Park of American Samoa (NPSA). Member agencies work together by mutual consensus to manage the estimated 296 square kilometers of coral reefs with the vision “to protect and conserve reefs for the benefit of the people of American Samoa, the United States, and the world.”
Responsibilities:
- Maintain and improve the quality of CRAG’s climate change-related programming through continuous improvement, adaptive management, and prioritization of actions and efforts.
- Act as point of contact for CRAG member agencies for climate change-related activities;
- Support ongoing science and research projects related to coral reefs and climate change within American Samoa, including supporting and liaising with local and off-island scientists to develop and implement projects related to coral reef resilience, taimasa, ocean acidification, and other impacts related to climate change;
- Communicate climate change, associated impacts, and potential solutions to local stakeholders such as decision-makers, community members, and staff.
- Facilitate strategic partnerships in the field of climate change for program implementation, resource mobilization, learning and advocacy at local, regional, and national levels.
- Identify new areas of needed research with CRAG member agencies and the Local Action Strategy working group, and sit as lead for Climate Change LAS Group
- Coordinate and conduct relevant training opportunities to build local capacity and increase community awareness about climate change and climate variability (including ENSO-related impacts);
- Work with partner agencies to integrate climate information and adaptation into community-based planning and outreach efforts;
- Work with partner agencies to implement the adaptation options identified by the climate change task force and outlined in the Territorial Climate Change Framework.
In addition to the above tasks, other duties and responsibilities of this position include:
- Facilitate outcomes from the CC Local Action Strategy, by providing support in planning, coordination, and implementation;
- Provide expertise about local climate change impacts to Territory agencies, organizations, and governmental working groups as needed;
- Serve as a liaison to ongoing national, international, and regional initiatives;
- Seek additional public and private funding opportunities for the operations and projects of the American Samoa Territorial Climate Change Adaptation Framework as needed; and
- Undertake other climate change-related projects and initiatives as identified by the CRAG Chair and the CRAG Coordinator.
Requirements:
- A master’s degree in natural resource management, Climate Change, Coral Reef management or environmental-related fields with 2+ years’ experience is required.
The following background and skills are *required* for this position:
- Expert knowledge on climate change impacts specific to small-island states and coral reef ecosystems;
- Experience in spearheading and managing climate change science and research projects and programs;
- Highly skilled in facilitation, specifically to drive outcomes from a multiagency working group
- Knowledge of climate change adaptation strategies for Pacific islands;
- Experience disseminating climate change information to diverse audiences via education and outreach programs;
- Demonstrated oral, written, and interpersonal communication and leadership skills;
- Project management experience;
- A proven ability to be well-organized and able to manage and prioritize multiple tasks; and
- Creativity, flexibility, and willingness to learn and adapt!
The following background and skills are *preferred* for this position:
- Experience living and working in another culture or in an island community;
- Desire to be involved in many aspects of coastal and marine resource management (e.g., fisheries, coral reef monitoring and management, nonpoint source pollution, etc)
- Knowledge of sustainable development, including, but not limited to: alternative energies, waste management, and smart growth;
- Knowledge of and experience working in tropical marine ecosystems;
- Public speaking, events planning, and meeting facilitation experience;
- Snorkeling and/or SCUBA diving experience
- Sense of humor!
How to Apply: Applicants must send a cover letter and a curriculum vitae with three references (phone numbers and email addresses) by Sunday, March 29th, 2015. Applicants should email these documents to [email protected] with email subject Climate Change Specialist Position. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for interviews.
