I.M. Systems Group, Inc. (IMSG, http://www.imsg.com) is seeking a Coral Reef and Coastal Zone Program Specialist to serve as a Management Liaison to the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) for the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM), which is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The position will be located on either St. Thomas or St. Croix. OCRM houses the headquarters of NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP, www.coralreef.noaa.gov) and Coastal Zone Management Program (CZMP, www.coastalmanagement.noaa.gov). The incumbent will serve as the primary liaison between these two national programs and the coral reef conservation and coastal zone management programs in the USVI. The incumbent will be responsible for supporting activities under both programs, and ensuring that projects funded by each national program complement each other within the USVI. In addition, the incumbent will be responsible for providing technical assistance in a relevant field, such as marine protected area design and/or management, watershed management, social science research and monitoring, or communications and outreach, to be determined based on priority needs identified by coral reef managers in the USVI. Frequent travel between islands in the USVI is required, and several annual trips to other locations, including NOAA headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, is expected.

• The contractor’s duties will include, but not be limited to:
• Serving as the primary liaison between the national CRCP and CZMP, and the territorial programs:
• Communicate national policies and guidance from NOAA to the USVI
• Communicate USVI coral reef and coastal zone management program needs and priorities to NOAA headquarters and other program components
• Assist the USVI coral program with the CRCP’s ongoing management prioritization and capacity assessment processes
• Support the development, review, processing, and monitoring of Coral Reef Management and Coastal Zone Management grants
• Support strategic planning efforts, including identifying priority topics and geographic areas, developing program and project performance measures, and evaluation of historic, current, and potential future CRCP and CZMP projects
• Advise senior CRCP and CZMP leadership on endeavors, projects, and partnerships that would be of benefit in the USVI
• Assist with the implementation and integration of select USVI coral reef and coastal zone management projects
• Build partnerships with governmental, non-governmental, academic, and community organizations toward shared conservation goals
• Providing USVI, and potentially Puerto Rico and Florida, programs with technical assistance in various topical areas related to coral reef and coastal zone management such as:
• Marine protected area design or management
• Watershed management or land-based sources of pollution abatement
• Social science research or monitoring
• Communications and outreach
• Coral reef or coastal zone governance, law, or policy
• Project management
• Participating on behalf of the CRCP, CZMP, or OCRM on internal NOAA and external working groups, councils, and committees
• Supporting general activities for the relevant Divisions and Office in which this position will report to

• Minimum Requirements:
• Master’s degree (highly preferred) or bachelor’s degree with equivalent additional experience in a relevant discipline such as marine science, biology, marine or environmental management or policy
• 2 or more years post-graduate work experience in coral reef-related or integrated CZM management positions, with a strong coral reef management focus
• 2 or more years of experience working on or with small island states, preferably in the Caribbean
• Demonstrated proficiency in one or more of the technical fields listed in the job responsibilities section of this announcement
• Understanding of coral reef ecosystems, their threats, coastal management issues, and strategies for their conservation
• Ability to work well independently and cooperatively with a range of individuals that are geographically separated and that represent a range of different cultures
• Ability to work on several projects simultaneously and to shift priorities as needed
• Fluency in oral and written English, and strong communication skills
• Experience coordinating efforts and projects with multiple partners
• Technical proficiency with Microsoft Office programs Strongly Desired:
• 4 or more years post-graduate work experience in coral reef-related scientific or management positions
• 2 to 3 years of program development and project planning experience
• Experience working in a matrix organization and/or demonstrated ability working in team settings
• Experience working on multi-lateral, regional, or international environmental initiatives
• Experience in a governmental work environment