FSG-DEP Coral Protection Project Coordinator

 

Classification Title:

Research Coordinator II

Classification Minimum Requirements: Bachelor's degree in an appropriate area and two years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Job Description:

This project is to directly support the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Coral Protection and Restoration (CPR) program, including assisting administration of CPR funding, leading regional water quality initiatives, supporting the SCTLD response effort, expanding communication efforts, and maintaining DEP Quality Assurance standards, through a Coral Protection Coordinator (‘Coordinator’). The coordinator is a core member of the DEP CPR Team and will be responsible for working directly with the CPR Administrator to set and implement high-level priorities and goals and to ensure that the CPR Team’s efforts are aligned with SCTLD response goals and other state priorities. The Coordinator is also intended to be a conduit of information related to response activities and management priorities, including for up-to-date information on CPR-related priorities and budgeting.

As a complement to the SCTLD response efforts, the Coordinator will lead new and assist development of existing regional-water quality related efforts that will further protect Florida’s Coral Reef. These include but are not limited to unifying all offshore coral reef water quality monitoring projects, assisting DEP efforts to research revised water quality standards as they relate to coral reef resources, and overseeing efforts to identify and reduce known pollution hotspots in Miami-Dade County.

As a complement to Florida Sea Grant’s (FSG’s) involvement in other DEP programs, and particularly the evolving nature of coral disturbances, causes and consequences, the Coordinator will also serve as a liaison between this position and FSG’s research, extension, outreach and/or educational programs through sharing activities and deliverables.

Assist Administration of State Funding: Work with technical partners and CPR Team to develop scopes of work including budgets; negotiate and administer purchase orders, contract, and grants, and administer allocated state funds in compliance with state and federal laws, policies and procedures. Track progress and review/approve deliverables and ensure timely completion of projects, as needed.

• Plan, execute, and facilitate project related meetings and workshops, as appropriate.
• Provide technical review for agreements and deliverables including all programmatic finance and accounting transactions.
• Ensure annual and multi-year budgets are encumbered and spent in a timely manner.

Water Quality Priorities: Track and participate in ongoing activities that address regional land-based sources of pollution, water management, water quality, and the identification of policies and procedures needed to reduce impacts to Florida’s Coral Reef.

• Lead efforts to create a united network of coral reef water quality monitoring programs so that data can be compared equally across programs.
• Support efforts of the South Florida Water Quality Action Plan and Turbidity Triennial Review groups by attending meetings and providing budget recommendations for research gaps to the CPR Administrator.
• Attend meetings and participate in working groups as needed to support regional water quality issues across Florida’s Coral Reef and within Biscayne Bay including the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force and Working Group and Bay-related commissions and advisory boards.
• Coordinate with Southeast (SE) Region staff to plan, execute, and facilitate water-quality related meetings and workshops, as needed.
  
  SCTLD Response: Represent DEP on SCTLD teams and assist DEP Steering Committee (SC) and Executive Coordination Team representatives, as needed. Attend meetings of the Disease Advisory Committee (DAC), and sub-teams, if requested. The Coordinator will contribute to research proposal reviews during relevant response activities. Serve as Florida’s representative for the Coral Disease Working Group of the US Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF) and participate in monthly calls.

  
  Information Management and Sharing: Produce and provide information and/or updates to response partners, agency representatives, leadership, other key partners, and the general public. Information and updates may be in the form of presentations, one-pagers, written or verbal updates, or other products as requested. Work collaboratively and exchange information with CPR and RCP SE Region staff, and all interested partners and stakeholders. Where appropriate, represent the DEP CPR program. Finally, as appropriate, the Coordinator will assist in the onboarding of new partners and personnel.

  • Assist development of a CPR program Strategic Plan and annual action plan in