POSITION SUMMARY
As a core member of Ocean Conservancy’s Florida Conservation Team, the Florida Conservation Program Manager will provide critical mission support and added capacity, and will expand and enhance the organization’s ability to work with partners in state and local governments and within the conservation community across Florida. The Manager will serve as a key point of contact with both existing and new local government partners, and will provide lead flagship projects such as grassroots marine debris efforts, marine plastics assessments and grassroots advocacy, sea level rise and climate change initiatives, water quality and abundance interventions, and marine wildlife and habitat protection efforts. The Manager will also represent Ocean Conservancy in public appearances, testimony, and in outreach and education activities.
The Manager will report to the Senior Director of Florida Conservation, and will preferably be based in St. Petersburg, Florida.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Seek, manage, and expand upon community led initiatives to reduce marine debris and nutrient pollution across Florida, including in key regions that align with the Florida Program Multi Year Strategy – Tampa Bay, Indian River Lagoon, and Biscayne Bay, among others.
- Lead strategic development of marine debris positions for the organization that can be deployed at the local government and state levels.
- Develop and advance community driven interventions on water quality and marine debris
- Participate in the development of grant applications and budget development to attract funding for water quality and marine debris projects in Florida.
- Network and partner with state and local government officials on marine conservation priorities in target regions of Florida including South Florida, West Central Florida, Southwest Florida, the I-4 corridor, and Northeast Florida.
- Lead the coordination and networking of environmental NGO peers and partners statewide to maximize impact for marine conservation, including in formal Ocean Conservancy led coalitions
- Network with impacted stakeholders on issues including water quality and abundance, sea level rise and climate change, marine debris and ocean plastics, and habitat and wildlife
- Represent Ocean Conservancy in public settings, including events such as conventions, symposia, and restoration and cleanup events
- Provide public testimony to local and state government on marine conservation issues, for example in support of marine debris regulation or fertilizer ordinances
- Help develop and refine Ocean Conservancy’s policy positions on marine conservation issues affecting the state
REQUIRED SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE
The successful candidate will, at a minimum, possess the following qualifications:
- 3-5 years experience in the field of environmental conservation in Florida; an advanced degree (in science, law, policy, or a field related to conservation) will be considered in lieu of experience.
- A genuine, ardent passion for the conservation of Florida’s marine environment, and a deep connection to the state and its ecosystems.
- Familiarity and experience with the latest marine conservation issues in Florida, and with the potential spectrum of solutions to address those issues – this includes water quality and abundance, nutrient pollution, plastic pollution and marine debris, sea level rise and climate change, and threats to wildlife and habitat, among others.
- Innate empathy and a willingness to work with people from across economic and political spectrums and from diverse communities to achieve a greater good
- Excellent communications skills, both written and verbal; facility with public speaking; experience and comfort with speaking to the media a plus.
- Experience and familiarity with environmental policy analysis and advocacy and a desire to develop policy positions that will have a positive impact for Florida’s marine environment
- Highly detail oriented, adaptable, well-organized, and self-starting – ability to work independently and manage up
- Highly collaborative and outgoing with large, multi-disciplinary teams
EDUCATION/TRAINING
- Bachelor’s degree in a field relevant to Ocean Conservancy’s marine conservation mission
Salary range: $70,000 – $80,000 annually
Location: Hybrid – St. Petersburg, Florida (Jacksonville, Miami, and other Florida locations may be considered)
