Faculty Research Assistant-Waterways and Bays Restoration Coordinator

University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) invites applications for a Faculty Research Assistant to act as a coordinator with a strong science or environmental policy educational background. The successful candidate will work with dynamic agency and academic partners. The position is based at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in Annapolis, Maryland, and offers a hybrid or in-person work schedule. This position will advance the goals of restoring Maryland’s waterways and bays by working to integrate environmental restoration and resilience into the state’s implementation programs; provide staff support to Maryland’s Bays Watershed Workgroup and Maryland’s Whole Watershed Program; and increase implementation through the development of new policies, partnerships and strategies. The position supports the Center Director for Watershed and Bays Resilience in coverage of Chesapeake Bay Program activities and may serve on various Bay Program workgroups related to the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement clean water, healthy landscapes, engaged communities and thriving habitat, fisheries and wildlife goals that have a direct connection to Whole Watershed program implementation; grant reviews and grant management for selected projects from Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund and Whole Watershed Fund; coordination of multi-agency planned annual expenditure report for Bay Restoration; meeting coordination, project reviews, mapping, data management and synthesis, science translation, local engagement and reporting.

Requirements

BS degree with at least 3 years of professional experience in a relevant role is required.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
High level of organization.
Intellectual curiosity.
Eagerness to solve problems and learn new things.
Emphasis on customer service.
Ability to work under tight timelines with multiple priorities.
Required to review and accept the UMCES Principles of Conduct.

Nice To Haves

MS degree in either environmental or natural sciences is preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide logistical and administrative support to Maryland’s Bays Workgroup and Bays Restoration Officer, coordinate tracking of restoration implementation and represent DNR on various Chesapeake Bay Program workgroups as needed.
Support the Whole Watershed team with administrative, planning and adaptive management tasks, grant management, field visits, and integration of FieldDoc.
Assist in the planning and execution of recurring meetings, synthesize and disseminate information, support Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund, Grants Gateway and Whole Watershed communications needs.
Assist with developing the targeting scheme and proposal review process to incorporate co-benefits into projects, review proposals and advise center directors on opportunities to emphasize co-benefit connections including wildlife habitat, riparian buffers, and wetland restoration; the restoration of aquatic resources; carbon sequestration; mitigation, adaptation, or resilience; local employment opportunities; improving and protecting public health; recreational opportunities and public access to waterways and natural habitats into various implementation programs.