NC Sea Grant Seeks Coastal Processes Extension Specialist
Posted on November 16, 2022
Position Title:
Coastal Processes Specialist
Position Summary:
This position serves as a technical resource, including but not limited to the following: coastal processes and hazards (including impacts of climate change on coastal systems), shoreline erosion and erosion management, coastal flooding, community resilience planning, coastal structural and landscape engineering, for a range of partners in the coastal region of North Carolina. The position focuses on solutions and best practices to the resilience challenges North Carolina coastal communities confront.
The Coastal Processes Specialist, in consultation with NC Sea Grant team members, key stakeholders and constituencies, extends science-based information to coastal communities, resource managers, and interest groups in North Carolina and the surrounding region and works with researchers to develop outreach extensions for their projects. The specialist contributes to research motivated by community needs and provides hands-on operational and technical support for constituents. The specialist solicits funding as needed to support projects through the development of grant proposals. Topical areas of work include coastal response to storms and sea level change, coastal and riverine flooding, coastal engineering, coastal hazard resilience, and other synergistic topics.
Specific duties:
-Deliver technical assistance and educational programming related to
coastal processes and hazards, erosion control and management, coastal structures and infrastructure, engineering and the operation, management, development, and restoration of coastal ecosystems.
- Identify and deliver technical support to targeted audiences using a
variety of delivery mechanisms including written materials, digital media (e.g., development, implementation and administration of specialized GIS based web sites), presentations, meetings and workshops, site visits and individual consultations.
-Identify, compile, and synthesize information on coastal processes,
coastal hazards and associated impacts of climate change, shoreline
erosion management and engineering, flooding and flood mitigation
strategies, technical and regulatory aspects of dredging, and renewable
energy, among other topics
-Identify existing and emerging opportunities related to built environment resilience in North Carolina coastal communities.
-Where basic information required for program development is lacking, the specialist will help craft applied research questions and design studies to fill these gaps and identify funding sources to facilitate these efforts.
-Technical assistance and educational programs will be designed to
increase technical capabilities and improve decision making and planning for local, state, and federal government representatives, coastal property owners and businesses, community groups and consulting engineers and marine contractors.
-Identify audience and program informational needs, develop and submit proposals and design and conduct applied research to fulfill these needs.
coastal processes and hazards, erosion control and management, coastal structures and infrastructure, engineering and the operation, management, development, and restoration of coastal ecosystems.
- Identify and deliver technical support to targeted audiences using a
variety of delivery mechanisms including written materials, digital media (e.g., development, implementation and administration of specialized GIS based web sites), presentations, meetings and workshops, site visits and individual consultations.
-Identify, compile, and synthesize information on coastal processes,
coastal hazards and associated impacts of climate change, shoreline
erosion management and engineering, flooding and flood mitigation
strategies, technical and regulatory aspects of dredging, and renewable
energy, among other topics
-Identify existing and emerging opportunities related to built environment resilience in North Carolina coastal communities.
-Where basic information required for program development is lacking, the specialist will help craft applied research questions and design studies to fill these gaps and identify funding sources to facilitate these efforts.
-Technical assistance and educational programs will be designed to
increase technical capabilities and improve decision making and planning for local, state, and federal government representatives, coastal property owners and businesses, community groups and consulting engineers and marine contractors.
-Identify audience and program informational needs, develop and submit proposals and design and conduct applied research to fulfill these needs.
The specialist will communicate research needs of constituents to NC Sea Grant and UNC System academic researchers, and collaborate with
researchers in proposal development and project implementation in subject areas.
-Continue to expand knowledge, and keep current in their area of
professional expertise. Professional growth is demonstrated in
development and fulfillment of professional improvement plans filed with NC Sea Grant leadership.
Other Resonsibilities
-Prepare performance-based program objectives, benchmarks, metrics, program evaluations, and other programmatic reports as required by NC Sea Grant.
-Acts as a leader within their area of expertise within North Carolina Sea Grant, and, when appropriate, within the Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic and/or National Sea Grant Network
-Acts as a leader within their area of expertise within North Carolina Sea Grant, and, when appropriate, within the Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic and/or National Sea Grant Network
Job City & State: Wilmington, NC (preferred)
Current Base Salary/Position Budget
$60,000 - $72,000
Experience/Education
(Preferred)
Master’s Degree in engineering, geosciences,
coastal/marine science, or related field and one year post
graduation experience in coastal processes, erosion
management, shoreline engineering, engineering project
management, design, or related field.
Or
Bachelor’s Degree in engineering, geosciences,
coastal/marine science, or related field and at least three
years of post graduation professional work experience in
coastal processes, erosion management, shoreline
engineering, engineering project management, design, or
related field.
Master’s Degree in engineering, geosciences,
coastal/marine science, or related field and one year post
graduation experience in coastal processes, erosion
management, shoreline engineering, engineering project
management, design, or related field.
Or
Bachelor’s Degree in engineering, geosciences,
coastal/marine science, or related field and at least three
years of post graduation professional work experience in
coastal processes, erosion management, shoreline
engineering, engineering project management, design, or
related field.
Department Required Skills
-Advanced computer skills and the ability to use computer and long
distance education technologies in the area of extension programming
expertise.
-High level of analytical, organizational, and planning skills.
-Ability to work independently and as a part of a team.
-Effective oral and written communication skills.
-Possess the ability and willingness to engage people and communities of different backgrounds
distance education technologies in the area of extension programming
expertise.
-High level of analytical, organizational, and planning skills.
-Ability to work independently and as a part of a team.
-Effective oral and written communication skills.
-Possess the ability and willingness to engage people and communities of different backgrounds
Preferred Qualifications
-NC Professional Engineer or EIT licensure.
-Advanced computer skills and training/certification in the use of GIS
software.
-Training and background in geology, soil science, hydrology, and basic
knowledge of nonpoint source pollution, stormwater management,
floodplain management, and site design.
-Knowledge of green-infrastructure-based approaches to natural resource protection, stormwater management and site design that can be used by North Carolina’s coastal communities to better protect unique and vital water and natural resources from the negative impacts of land development and nonpoint source pollution.
-Knowledge about the National Flood Insurance Program.
-Experience with coastal geophysical mapping tools (e.g. drones, LIDAR,
single and multibeam, side scan sonar and associated software, water
quality and physical process sensors).
-Knowledge of renewable energy facility design, operation, and ecosystem impacts.
-Knowledge relating to coastal ecosystem models.
-Demonstrated ability to build partnerships and communicate, collaborate, and work effectively with diverse groups of internal and external stakeholders.
-Ability to interpret and convey scientific research for non-technical
audiences.
-Capacity to design, implement, and evaluate engagement strategies for multiple audiences.
-Demonstrated proficiency in grant writing and management.
-Advanced computer skills and training/certification in the use of GIS
software.
-Training and background in geology, soil science, hydrology, and basic
knowledge of nonpoint source pollution, stormwater management,
floodplain management, and site design.
-Knowledge of green-infrastructure-based approaches to natural resource protection, stormwater management and site design that can be used by North Carolina’s coastal communities to better protect unique and vital water and natural resources from the negative impacts of land development and nonpoint source pollution.
-Knowledge about the National Flood Insurance Program.
-Experience with coastal geophysical mapping tools (e.g. drones, LIDAR,
single and multibeam, side scan sonar and associated software, water
quality and physical process sensors).
-Knowledge of renewable energy facility design, operation, and ecosystem impacts.
-Knowledge relating to coastal ecosystem models.
-Demonstrated ability to build partnerships and communicate, collaborate, and work effectively with diverse groups of internal and external stakeholders.
-Ability to interpret and convey scientific research for non-technical
audiences.
-Capacity to design, implement, and evaluate engagement strategies for multiple audiences.
-Demonstrated proficiency in grant writing and management.
-Understanding of the principles behind extension and the land-grant
university mission.
-Prior experience working in a federal-state partnership organization
university mission.
-Prior experience working in a federal-state partnership organization
Apply
Applicants should submit a resume/CV, cover letter, short (three pages or less) writing sample, and names and contact information of three
professional references, (i.e., email addresses and phone numbers).
professional references, (i.e., email addresses and phone numbers).
Contact
Anna Martin
aearnol@ncsu.edu