National Sea Grant College Program 2018 Knauss Placement Week Legislative Positions
L18-01, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden L18-02, U.S. Senator Jeffrey Merkley L18-03, U.S. Senator Jack Reed L18-04, U.S. Senator Cory Booker L18-05, House Committee on Natural Resources (Minority) L18-06, U.S. Representative Mike Thompson L18-07, U.S. Senator Roger F. Wicker L18-08, U.S. Representative Jared Huffman L18-09, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz L18-10, U.S. Representative Madeleine Bordallo L18-11, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Majority) L18-12, U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici L18-13, U.S. Representative Don Young L18-14, U.S. Representative Jimmy Panetta L18-15, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (Minority) L18-16, Senate Commerce Committee (Minority) L18-17, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse L18-18, U.S. Senator Gary Peters L18-19, U.S. Representative Thomas Suozzi L18-21, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski L18-22, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (Majority) L18-23, U.S. Senator Ed Markey National Sea Grant College Program 2018 Knauss Placement Week Executive Positions E18-01, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Advisor & Assistant to Technical Director E18-02, Department of the Navy, Policy Liaison E18-03, NOAA NMFS, Endangered Species Program Specialist E18-04, NOAA NOS, Coral Program Fellow E18-05, NOAA Headquarters, Congressional Affairs Fellow E18-06, NOAA Headquarters, International Affairs Fellow E18-07, NOAA OAR, Project Coordinator, National Climate Assessment E18-08, NOAA NOS, Marine Debris Sea Grant Fellow E18-09, Department of the Navy, Interagency and International Policy Liaison E18-10, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Marine and Coastal Resources Specialist E18-11, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Special Assistant to the Assistant Deputy Director of Ecological Services E18-12, NOAA OAR, Ocean Exploration Fellow E18-13, Marine Mammal Commission, Communications and Policy Analyst E18-14, Maritime Administration, Policy Advisor to the Executive Director E18-15, NOAA OAR, Ocean Observing Fellow E18-16, NOAA OAR, International Liaison: Ocean Acidification Coordination and Capacity Building E18-17, NOAA NOS, Policy Analyst E18-18, NOAA NOS, Ocean and Coastal Policy Analyst E18-19, NOAA NOS, Marine Ecologist E18-20, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA National Nutrient Criteria Program Fellow E18-21, U.S. Geological Survey, Recreational Fishing and International Biodiversity Policy Specialist E18-22, NOAA NMFS, Fishery Management Specialist E18-23, NOAA NMFS, Fishery Policy Analyst E18-24, NOAA OAR, International Activities Fellow E18-25, NOAA OAR, Strategic Planning and Policy Analyst E18-26, NOAA OAR, Research and Development Advancement Specialist E18-27, NOAA NOS, Senior Scientist E18-28, NOAA NMFS, Foreign Affairs Specialist E18-29, NOAA OAR, Research and Development Data Specialist E18-30, NOAA NMFS, Habitat Focus Area Program Specialist E18-31, National Science Foundation, Knauss Fellow, Biological Oceanography Program, Division of Ocean Science E18-32, National Science Foundation, Ocean Sciences Policy Fellow E18-33, NOAA OAR, Program Analyst in Budget Formulation E18-34, NOAA OAR, Climate Program Analyst E18-35, NOAA NMFS, Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation Division Communication Fellow E18-36, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Congressional and Legislative Fellow -- WITHDRAWN E18-37, National Science Foundation, Senior Adviser, Environment E18-38, NOAA National Weather Service, Marine Policy Fellow, OPC E18-39, NOAA OAR, Evaluations Fellow E18-40, NOAA OAR, Science Communications Specialist E18-41, NOAA Headquarters, Education Policy Fellow
1 of 2 National Sea Grant College Program 2018 Knauss Placement Week Executive Positions E18-42, NOAA NESDIS, Ocean Satellite Product Development Scientist E18-43, NOAA NMFS, Aquaculture Program Fellow E18-44, NOAA NESDIS, NOAA CoastWatch Outreach and Education Specialist E18-45, U.S. Department of Energy, DOE Water Power Office - Marine Science Analyst and Interagency Coordinato E18-46, NOAA NMFS, International Policy Fellow E18-47, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Ocean Research and Policy Analyst E18-48, NOAA Headquarters, Data Policy Fellow E18-49, NOAA NMFS, Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation Division Fellow E18-50, NOAA OAR, Special Assistant E18-51, NOAA NMFS, Fisheries Management Specialist E18-52, NOAA NMFS, Science Communications and Education Specialist E18-53, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Marine Policy Analyst E18-54, NOAA NMFS, NOAA Fisheries Habitat and EBFM Science Fellow E18-55, NOAA NOS, Ocean observing science and policy fellow E18-56, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Knauss Coastal Management Fellow E18-57, NOAA OAR, Coastal Ecosystems and Resilience Specialist E18-58, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Knauss Marine Pollution Fellow E18-59, NOAA NMFS, Bycatch, Release Mortality, and Observer Program Specialist E18-60, NOAA NMFS, NOAA Fisheries Electronic Technologies Coordinator E18-61, NOAA NMFS, Policy/Program Analyst E18-62, NOAA NMFS, Marine Ecologist E18-63, National Science Foundation, Knauss Fellow, Marine Geology and Geophysics Program, Division of Ocean E18-64, NOAA NMFS, NOAA Fisheries Advanced Sampling Technology Coordinator E18-65, U.S. Department of Treasury, Policy Analyst E18-66, U.S. Dept. of State, OMC Knauss Sea Grant Fellow E18-67, NOAA NMFS, Incidental Take Program Improvement Analyst E18-68, NOAA NMFS, Deepwater Horizon Restoration: Programmatic Evaluation Coordinator E18-69, White House Office of Management and Budget, Policy Analyst E18-70, U.S. Geological Survey, Water Mission Fellow
2 of 2 Position ID L18-01
Office Name U.S. Senator Ron Wyden
Relevant Committee Memberships (if applicable) Energy and Natural Resources, Finance (Ranking Member), Budget
Portfolio Summary Senator Wyden is seeking a Fellow to join his natural resources team and work on an array of policy issues to help move the Senator’s fisheries and coastal agenda forward. A Sea Grant Fellow would have the opportunity to work on a number of policy issues related to the health and vitality of Oregon’s coast, waterways and ports. Some specific issue areas that the Fellow could work on include: ocean acidification, salmon habitat health, fisheries management, drought impacts on fisheries and aquatic ecosystems, climate change, marine energy, maritime transportation, climate change and ports. The Sea Grant Fellow will have the opportunity to meet and collaborate with fish processors, fishers, environmental groups, port representatives, tribes, representatives from NOAA, and students and faculty from Oregon State University to learn about specific issues and develop targeted policy goals. The Fellow can expect to gain a strong foundation in policymaking, because they will be immersed in all parts of the process and considered a member of the senior staff.
Expertise Desired Strong writing skills and a willingness to work on a number of issues related to coastal health and comfort working independently as well as within a strong team environment. Background in issues related to fisheries, ocean and coastal health, environment and natural resources, transportation, clean water, energy and/or climate desired Position ID L18-02
Office Name U.S. Senator Jeffrey Merkley
Relevant Committee Memberships (if applicable) Environment and Public Works, Foreign Relations, Appropriations, Budget
Portfolio Summary Fellow will work on the environment, climate, energy, agriculture, and transportation team, with a focus on climate, energy, oceans and/or marine fisheries policy work.
Expertise Desired We are looking for a fellow with interests in a broad range of topics, and eager self-starter to work both collaboratively and also manage his/her own projects. Position ID L18-03
Office Name U.S. Senator Jack Reed
Relevant Committee Memberships (if applicable) Appropriations, Armed Services, Banking
Portfolio Summary The fellow would work on issues relating to energy, environment, basic science, and infrastructure. The fellow would work directly with staff (including those who staff the Senator on the Armed Services Committee and other committees on which he serves), with the opportunity to lead in selected issue areas. The expected responsibilities include researching and developing legislation, staffing meetings, preparing memos and briefings, and advising on policies and external communications. The fellow will also have the opportunity to develop outreach events for the bicameral and bipartisan Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency caucus.
Expertise Desired In addition to strong research, writing, and communication skills, ideal candidates will have expertise in and experience working on one or more of the portfolio issues and the ability to hit the ground running. Ideal candidates will also possess the ability to translate and convey technical information; undertake multiple tasks; produce quality work under deadlines in a fast-paced office environment; and work collaboratively with good humor. Position ID L18-04
Office Name U.S. Senator Cory Booker
Relevant Committee Memberships (if applicable) Commerce, Science & Transportation; Environment & Public Works
Portfolio Summary 2017 Sea Grant Knauss Fellow Job Description
Primary Responsibilities
A.Work with constituents a.Meet with constituents and advise the Senator/staff on issues raised by constituents. b.Support office activities related to the coast, estuaries, natural resources, sustainable development and water resources. c.Support activities of the office as they relate to marine resources such as fisheries, marine mammals and sustainable marine practices. d.Liaising with constituents, trade groups, industry and NGOs.
B.Develop policy in the oceans, environment, food and agriculture, and animal welfare portfolio a.Assist in drafting and guiding legislation. Advise on marine policy issues including marine spatial planning, the ocean economy, marine sanctuaries, marine debris, fisheries management, shark finning, marine wildlife protection, and potential re-authorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. b.Assist in the annual appropriations process and be actively involved in advocating for funding flagship programs within NOAA, EPA, DOI, or other agencies relating to committee and subcommittee assignments. c.Responsible for assistance with speeches on ocean, environment, food and agriculture, and animal welfare topics, drafting letters on portfolio-related issues, writing talking points for floor statements and hearings, and keeping up-to- date with science and policy issues impacting oceans, environment, and the state of New Jersey.
C.Committee Assignments and Senate Ocean Caucus
Assist in preparation of background documents for hearings and executive sessions (mark-ups); attend briefings, hearings, meetings and conferences; development, review, and analysis of legislation and research topics of interest to the Senator as they relate to the Senator’s committee assignments and membership on the Senate Ocean Caucus.
Expertise Desired Mandatory Skills
Applicants must be able to work well as part of a team, possess sound judgement and excellent written and oral communication skills. Applicant must have strong background in the oceans, environment and natural resources subject area. Position ID L18-05
Office Name House Committee on Natural Resources (Minority)
Relevant Committee Memberships (if applicable)
Portfolio Summary The Committee on Natural Resources has jurisdiction over the Department of Interior, the fisheries, ocean, and coastal programs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Forest Service, and Indian, Insular, and Alaska Native affairs. The Water, Power, and Oceans Subcommittee also has jurisdiction over international fisheries agreements and conventions.
The Fellow will be involved in all aspects of the office's work, including interacting with and briefing Members and staff, and developing legislation in response to requests from a variety of Member offices. The Fellow will work with the staff of the Committee, offices of Members who sit on the Committee, a variety of executive agency personnel, private sector stakeholders including commercial and recreational fishing interests, the environmental community, academic institutions, scientists, and other interested constituents.
The Fellow will be involved in developing background information for hearings, recruiting and preparing witnesses, drafting statements, talking points, and questions for members, staffing Members at hearings, and helping with follow‐up requests to witnesses. The Fellow will also be involved in developing concepts for legislation, drafting legislation, and following the legislation through the process to potential enactment.
While the Fellow will have the same duties as the rest of the legislative staff, this year is expected to be a learning experience for the Fellow. Our experienced staff will work with the Fellow and the amount and type of work will depend on the abilities and comfort level of the Fellow. Some key issues before the Committee that the Fellow may work on: protection of endangered species of fish and wildlife, marine sanctuaries and monuments, and commercial and recreational fisheries legislation.
Expertise Desired The Committee seeks a Fellow who has a strong academic background in science, law, and/or public policy. Practical experience is a plus. We work in a fast‐paced, pressure‐filled environment, and are always interested in Fellows who can write well, learn quickly, and clearly articulate complex concepts to people who have only a general familiarity with the issues. Fellows who serve on the Committee work hard and are rewarded with an unparalleled learning experience and a springboard to career opportunities in government, academia, and the private and non‐ profit sectors. Position ID L18-06
Office Name U.S. Representative Mike Thompson
Relevant Committee Memberships (if applicable) Ways & Means
Portfolio Summary Natural Resources, Oceans, Fisheries, Energy. Member leads the following Caucuses and fellow would staff: Shellfish Caucus, Salmon Caucus, Invasive Species Caucus, Wildlife Refuge Caucus
Expertise Desired We are a fast-paced office with a long track record with Sea Grant Fellows. We craft the portfolio and work to match the interests and experience of the fellow who chooses our office. Position ID L18-07
Office Name U.S. Senator Roger F. Wicker
Relevant Committee Memberships (if applicable) Senator Wicker is a senior member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, including a position on the Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard. He is a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, including a position on the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife. In addition, the Senator serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Subcommittee on Seapower. He is the chair of the Helsinki Commission on the Security of Europe, which is active on maritime security and Arctic issues. The Senator is also an active member of the Senate Oceans Caucus.
Portfolio Summary Senator Wicker seeks a fellow who will continue to manage and build upon a broad portfolio of marine and coastal legislative issues. With serious matters facing the Gulf Coast and a growing blue economy in Mississippi, the fellow placed in this position will have a significant issue base. The fellow will advise the Senator on an array of legislative activities related to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, stakeholders in the Gulf of Mexico, and national oceans issues.
The fellow will staff the Senator in meetings, hearings, and committee markups and draft legislation and amendments during his or her fellowship. The selected individual should expect significant interaction with university researchers in Mississippi, the Gulf of Mexico recreational and commercial fishing industry, federal agencies, and a number of non-profit organizations. A successful fellow will master the concerns facing one of the most productive ecosystems in the United States while gaining a valuable understanding of the legislative process and rules of the Senate. The fellow will work on many marine topics, including ocean technology, aquaculture, Magnuson-Stevens Act reauthorization, fisheries management, and the blue economy.
Expertise Desired The Senator is seeking a dependable professional who desires real responsibility and the opportunity to develop policies and strategies that will have a tangible effect on the environment and economy. Meeting deadlines, critical thinking, and working well under pressure are important. In addition, we are seeking a fellow with excellent writing skills and an enthusiasm about working on bipartisan legislation. Our fellow must be able to see multiple perspectives on an issue and work to best resolve pressing problems for our nation’s oceans and coasts.
The appropriate candidate should have a broad background in marine and coastal issues. Strong organizational skills and communication abilities are required. A successful fellow would be interested in developing common-sense coastal management policies while working with constituent groups, state and local agencies, and public and private organizations. Position ID L18-08
Office Name U.S. Representative Jared Huffman
Relevant Committee Memberships (if applicable) Vice Ranking Member, House Natural Resources Committee. Ranking Member, Water, Power, and Oceans Subcommittee. Member, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Member, Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee.
Portfolio Summary Jared Huffman represents California’s 2nd Congressional District, made up of six counties that stretch from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border. Boasting a third of the California coastline, the district includes Marine Sanctuaries, commercial, recreational, and tribal fisheries, and protected fish and wildlife, as well as National Parks and Forests, presenting a wide array of natural resources issues that the Fellow will work on. Congressman Huffman is the Ranking Member on the Water, Power, and Oceans subcommittee and an active member of the Natural Resources Committee where he also serves as the Vice Ranking Member. Working on environmental issues is a priority for the Congressman and the office, and we have pursued a very successful legislative agenda, including expanding a coastal National Monument and two National Marine Sanctuaries. The Legislative Fellow will work with the Legislative Director and the rest of the team in handling a portfolio that includes natural resources, ocean protections, fisheries management including Magnuson‐Stevens reauthorization, and the Endangered Species Act. The Fellow will also work as the lead for the Wild Salmon Caucus.
The Fellow will be responsible for preparing for some committee hearings and markups, working with committee staff and agencies, and attending committee meetings with Congressman Huffman. Examples of committee hearings and markups from 2017 include preparation for work on Magnuson-Stevens reauthorization, hearings on marine monuments and sanctuaries, and an oversight hearing on developments of state “rigs to reefs” programs. The Fellow will develop and move forward legislation, monitor legislative developments, and provide vote recommendations. Examples of the Fellow’s work from 2017 include: introducing reauthorization of the Sea Grant program, developing a Northern California public lands conservation bill, and working with fishermen and tribes on fishery disaster relief. The Fellow will also assist in the drafting of floor speeches and press releases, and compose constituent and other correspondence for the Congressman. Finally, the Fellow will meet with constituents, interest groups, and others ‐‐ with the Congressman and independently.
Expertise Desired A successful candidate will be creative, demonstrate strong communication skills, and be capable of learning quickly while working as part of a team. The candidate should possess a desire to work on a wide array of issues within the environment and natural resources portfolio, as described above. In addition, the candidate will have excellent organizational skills, a professional manner, and most importantly a sense of humor. Position ID L18-09
Office Name U.S. Senator Brian Schatz
Relevant Committee Memberships (if applicable) Commerce, Science, and Transportation – Subcommittee on Oceans and Coast Guard; Subcommittee on Science and Space Appropriations – Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science Indian Affairs Ethics
Portfolio Summary Appropriations, Authorization, and External Engagement: Oceans, fisheries, and science, with an emphasis on coastal infrastructure resilience, MSA reauthorization, aquaculture, and observing infrastructure. Climate change. General environmental advocacy.
Expertise Desired The Schatz office would like to collaborate with a fellow to: take action on sustainability and resilience; assist with NOAA, NSF, and NASA appropriations; analyze ocean and science legislation; engage the stakeholder communities in DC and Hawai‘i. We expect the fellow to take ownership of select projects, so self-starters with strong writing and strategic communication skills will have an advantage. In return, we offer professional development and mentoring through a broad array of tasks: memos to analyze issues and recommend action, discussions/negotiations with other Congressional offices, and opportunities to staff the Senator in the Commerce Committee and Appropriations Committee processes. You will undertake these tasks to support a principled, practical, and highly intelligent member with a long history of prioritizing climate action and environmental protection. Position ID L18-10
Office Name U.S. Representative Madeleine Bordallo
Relevant Committee Memberships (if applicable) House Committee on Natural Resources
Portfolio Summary About the Member & Office: Congresswoman Bordallo is the only federally elected representative for the nearly 170,000 American citizens who call Guam home. As a U.S. territory, Guam has a special relationship with the federal government and is key to American strategic interests in the Asia-Pacific region. Congresswoman Bordallo is a senior Democratic member of the House Natural Resources Committee, which has jurisdiction over priority issues for Guam including insular affairs (U.S. territories), federal fisheries, and ocean policy. The Congresswoman serves on the Natural Resources Subcommittees on Indian, Insular, and Alaska Native Affairs (IIANA) and Water, Power, Oceans (WPO).
Duties Expected of Fellow: As a Knauss Fellow in Congresswoman Bordallo’s office, you will have the opportunity to visit Guam; assist with all aspects of her work on the Natural Resources Committee; and advance her legislative agenda including her soon-to-be reintroduced bill reauthorizing the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (NOAA’s coral programs). You will also have the opportunity to help advance Congresswoman Bordallo’s leadership as the Committee considers Magnuson-Stevens reauthorization.
Supervisor: Unlike some Member offices, all Bordallo staff have open-door access to the Congresswoman, including any fellows. The Knauss Fellow will report to our Legislative Assistant, Iain Hart, who staffs the Congresswoman’s Natural Resources Committee work.
Past Fellows: Previous Knauss Fellows in Congresswoman Bordallo’s office helped primarily to develop legislation, including the Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Enforcement Act (now Public Law 114-81).
Expertise Desired Desired Fellow Expertise: The ideal Knauss Fellow for our office will have a strong working knowledge of federal fisheries and ocean policy. Expertise in the Magnuson-Stevens Act and regional fisheries management council framework will be extremely helpful and deeply valued. Personal ties to the Pacific Islands or region are a major plus. Position ID L18-11
Office Name Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Majority) Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard
Relevant Committee Memberships (if applicable)
Portfolio Summary The fellow on the Majority Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard will have the opportunity to work on all oceans bills that pass through this committee, ranging from weather, to fisheries, to satellites, and ocean policy. With this wide range of possibilities, our fellow will be encouraged to focus on those areas that interest them most. We also work closely with the agencies with the goal of producing effective legislation.
The fellow will have ample opportunity to engage with NOAA line office assistant administrators and all line office legislative affairs specialists. This office is extremely collaborative, and as a fellow on the Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard Subcommittee you will often work with the Committee’s Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security Subcommittee when a given project’s subject matter overlaps, i. e. maritime administration issues. We also pride ourselves on working very well with our minority colleagues, and often take meetings together.
We consider fellows to be equal players with the same roles and responsibilities as the rest of the professional legislative staff. The fellow will attend meetings and briefings; do background research; prepare memos, talking points, and questions for hearings; and draft and edit legislation. Fellows are also encouraged to take advantage of the numerous opportunities for professional development that exist.
Expertise Desired Mandatory Skills: The ability to contribute to a positive work environment. Desired Background Skills: We welcome a diversity of ideas and viewpoints and value the ability to objectively analyze problems and develop simple, common sense solutions. Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, are preferred. An ability to concisely explain complex ideas is very useful. Goal‐oriented and motivated individuals with the ability to be flexible and creative tend to do well in this position. Position ID L18-12
Office Name U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici
Relevant Committee Memberships (if applicable) House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
Portfolio Summary Northwest Oregon Democrat seeks a legislative fellow to work on Marine, Coastal, Environment, Science, Federal Research, Natural Resources, and water-related issues. In addition, help staff the Congresswoman’s leadership roles as co-chair of both the House Estuary and Oceans Caucuses. Congresswoman Bonamici is the Ranking Member on the Environment Subcommittee of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee. The fellow will work on appropriations letters, committee responsibilities, draft floor speeches and talking points, plan and execute caucus briefings, draft legislation and amendments, and compose constituent and other correspondence.
Expertise Desired We are seeking a fellow with excellent writing skills and an enthusiasm to work on bipartisan legislation. Meeting deadlines, critical thinking, and working well under pressure is important. Successful fellows will have excellent time management skills, be comfortable with translating sometimes complex technical issues into simple and concise terms, and the ability to work well in a team-oriented and collaborative environment. Position ID L18-13
Office Name U.S. Representative Don Young
Relevant Committee Memberships (if applicable) House Committee on Natural Resources (Chairman Emeritus) House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Portfolio Summary A fellow in this office will be granted tremendous autonomy to handle issues within the Congressman’s Natural Resources portfolio, with the eventual goal of being responsible for all hearings and legislation within a subcommittee. They will also be responsible for handling the Oceans Caucus and Congressional Arctic Working Group, both of which the Congressman co-chairs. The fellow will work closely with our Natural Resources LA in drafting legislation and moving the Congressman’s sponsored and cosponsored bills through committee.
Expertise Desired The successful fellow should have an interest in oceans and/or Arctic issues and be a team player who is not afraid to ask questions. This is a high performance office which has introduced over 65 pieces of legislation so far this Congress, 55 of which were referred to the Natural Resources committee, so you should have excellent time management skills. Experience in fisheries management or marine mammals is a plus. Position ID L18-14
Office Name U.S. Representative Jimmy Panetta
Relevant Committee Memberships (if applicable) Agriculture and House Armed Services
Portfolio Summary Working for Congressman Panetta and California’s 20th district will offer excellent opportunities to become involved in a broad range of ocean and land policy issues. The position comes with a highly developed portfolio of issues and contacts. The Panetta office welcomes the Fellow as a full member of the staff with the complete set of responsibilities and benefits that come with working for a Member of Congress. Mr. Panetta will rely on the initiative of his Sea Grant Fellow to draft and guide legislation through the process, advise him on marine and environmental policy issues, and interact with staff from committees and relevant caucuses. Mr. Panetta is actively involved in advocating for the funding of marine programs and activities (e.g. research, education, protection, exploration). The Fellow will get first-hand experience with the annual appropriations request process and funding flagship ocean programs within National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). There will also be ample opportunity for involvement with specific marine and environmental issues, including sea level rise, marine sanctuaries, public lands, marine debris, fisheries management, and marine mammals. The Fellow will help bridge the gap between the environment, and agriculture sector and the nation’s armed services. In all these efforts, the Fellow will have the benefit of mentoring and oversight from an extraordinary experienced legislative staff and a legacy of Sea Grant Fellows. The Fellow will be given the opportunity to develop invaluable policy-related skills and deliverables during the year in the Panetta office. The Fellow will prepare speeches on ocean and environmental topics, draft letters on pertinent marine-related issues, write talking points for floor statements and hearings, develop and advanced legislation, and keep up-to-date with marine and environmental science and policy issues impacting our oceans and CA-20’s Congressional district. The Fellow will be highly encouraged to visit the district and engage with constituents from the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, research facilities, and NOAA. During the fellowship, the Fellow will hone an ability to communicate effectively, develop expertise in analyzing policy issues, gain an understanding of a wide array of Congressional processes, and leave with a variety of writing samples. Perhaps more importantly, the Fellow will carry a large amount of responsibility, work closely with Mr. Panetta’s constituents and other staffers, and with Mr. Panetta himself.
Expertise Desired Strong written/oral communication skills; outgoing, creative, and good sense of humor; comfortable taking a lot of initiative; willingness to work independently with minimal supervision; ability to work interdisciplinary and productively with a range of people (e.g. constituents, lobbyists, other staffers, agency officials, state and local officials, etc.). The Fellow will be Mr. Panetta’s primary policy advisor for all ocean and science related appropriations requests and marine environmental issues, and will share responsibility for climate change and public lands issues. S/he will work closely with the House National Resources Committee staff, Climate Solutions Caucus staff, House Appropriations Committee staff, House Oceans caucus, California House and Senate offices, and other ocean champions on both sides of the aisle to advance the federal government’s ocean science, policy, and management programs. Position ID L18-15
Office Name Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (Minority) N/A
Relevant Committee Memberships (if applicable)
Portfolio Summary The Knauss Sea Grant Legislative Fellow will be a key member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee minority staff. The Fellow will have the opportunity to help preserve the National Environmental Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act, protect the nation’s watersheds and estuaries, and ensure the resilience of our coasts, communities, and ecosystems in the face of changing climate and a host of other challenges. The Fellow will also be able to advise the development of a trillion dollar infrastructure package, the majority of which flows through the EPW Committee. In addition to Committee-specific issues, the Fellow will help advise Ranking Member Tom Carper on a range of non-EPW issues including ocean and coastal, living marine resource, and other NOAA/Commerce-related issues he will face as a U.S. Senator.
The EPW Committee’s jurisdiction includes: policy and budget oversight of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) including advice and consent on nominations for its senior political leadership; oversight of the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) including reviewing its nominees and its responsibilities under the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA); the Clean Water Act; the Safe Drinking Water Act; environmental justice; fish and wildlife issues including oversight of the Department of the Interior’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Outer Continental Shelf issues including energy development and its impacts on marine ecosystems; the Clean Air Act and related climate issues; toxic substances (including the Toxic Substances Control Act – TSCA); remediation of contaminated lands; nuclear energy issues and oversight of the Nuclear Energy Commission; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers including navigation and ensuring the protection and resilience of coastal and riverine areas; and transportation issues.
As a full-fledged member of our professional team, the Fellow will: investigate hot-button issues; draft legislation; find and prepare witnesses for hearings; organize roundtables; prepare memos, questions, and statements for hearings; draft Floor statements, participate in meetings and briefings; and directly advise Ranking Member Carper. This experience will give the Fellow an opportunity to work closely with professional staff in other Congressional offices, EPW majority colleagues, federal and state experts in multiple agencies, and the wide variety of stakeholders and other parties interested in the work of this Committee.
Our staff is replete with former Fellows: Sea Grant, AAAS and Presidential Management. So, we understand the responsibilities of and opportunities for Fellows and hosts. Given that sensitivity and the wide range of possibilities, we will encourage our Fellow to find and focus on issues of particular interest to them.
Expertise Desired The ability to contribute to a positive work environment. The Committee seeks a Fellow who has a strong background in science, law, and/or public policy. We work in a fast‐paced environment, and are always interested in Fellows who can write well, learn quickly, and clearly articulate complex concepts to people who have only a general familiarity with the issues. Position ID L18-16
Office Name Senate Commerce Committee (Minority) Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard
Relevant Committee Memberships (if applicable)
Portfolio Summary The Senate Commerce Committee has broad jurisdiction over oceans issues, including coastal zone management; inland waterways; marine and ocean navigation; marine fisheries; weather and atmospheric activities; the Coast Guard; and research and development policy. The Knauss Fellow in our office will have the opportunity to work on all oceans bills that pass through the committee and on issues related to the oversight of laws implemented by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. With this wide range of possibilities, our fellow will be encouraged to focus on those areas that interest them most. We also work closely with the agencies with the goal of producing effective legislation. The fellow will have ample opportunity to engage with NOAA lines office assistant administrators and legislative affairs specialists. This office is extremely collaborative, and you will often work with other Senate and House staff members.
We consider fellows to be equal players with the same roles and responsibilities as the rest of the professional legislative staff. The fellow will attend meetings and briefings; do background research; prepare memos, talking points, and questions for hearings; and draft and edit legislation. Fellows will have the opportunity to learn about the federal budget process during briefings from agency leadership during the first part of the year and take Congressional Research Service classes to learn more about the legislative process.
Next year, we anticipate this would include working on reauthorizing and amending the Coastal Zone Management Act, the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, and the Coral Reef Conservation Act; a Coast Guard Authorization bill; and other issues related to fisheries, living marine resources, the weather, and climate.
Expertise Desired Mandatory Skills: The ability to contribute to a positive work environment. In our office, we primarily communicate with our bosses via written memos. It is important for a fellow to be comfortable translating sometimes complex technical issues into simple and concise terms. Though we work individually, we like to think through issues as a team. It is also critical that a fellow be discreet.
Desired Background Skills: We welcome a diversity of ideas and viewpoints and value the ability to objectively analyze problems and develop simple, common sense solutions. Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, are preferred. Goal‐oriented and motivated individuals with the ability to be flexible and creative tend to do well in this position. Position ID L18-17
Office Name U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
Relevant Committee Memberships (if applicable) Environment and Public Works, Budget
Portfolio Summary Since joining the Senate in 2006, Senator Whitehouse has been a national leader on climate change and ocean and coastal issues. The Fellow will work closely with other members of the Senator’s environment and energy team in DC and Rhode Island to protect, conserve, and manage our oceans and coasts, with special attention paid towards how climate change will affect these resources. Though it is difficult to predict what exact issues may come up next year, Senator Whitehouse will remain focused on taking action on climate change, addressing marine debris, protecting wildlife and clean water, supporting sustainable fisheries, building coastal resiliency, and championing strong investments in ocean and coastal research. The Fellow will work collaboratively with the Senator’s environment and energy team and other staff, reporting most directly to his Legislative Director (Josh Karetny) and Ocean & Natural Resources Counsel (Adena Leibman, Knauss ’09).
Though we are eager to work with the Fellow to identify specific responsibilities that cater to the Fellow’s experience and interests, anticipated responsibilities will include:
•Fisheries: build and maintain relationships with Rhode Island fishermen, regional and national fishermen’s groups and NGOs, fisheries management councils and commissions, and researchers; monitor MSA reauthorization efforts and propose amendments in line with the Senator’s priorities •Senate Oceans Caucus: manage the 36-member, bipartisan Senate Oceans Caucus, including administering the staff listserv, recruiting additional Senator members, coordinating and designing briefings and events for Senators and staff, drafting and shepherding legislation (particularly in relation to ocean data and monitoring), and driving forward implementation of the Caucus’s prior legislative successes in IUU fishing and marine debris •Ocean and Coastal Research and Restoration: steer startup and implementation of the National Oceans and Coastal Security Fund; support other efforts to improve ocean and coastal research and technology development; identify opportunities to promote ecosystem restoration, including small dam removal and coastal resiliency •Oversight: monitor and respond accordingly to any threats to scientific independence and integrity at NOAA, compliance with ethics agreements and other legal responsibilities of political appointees, and timely distribution of grants and other federal funds •Appropriations: review proposed FY19 budget; collect and review requests from Rhode Island stakeholders; draft and shepherd bipartisan ocean and coastal funding support letters; conduct comprehensive review of NOAA budget and submit requests specific to the Senator’s priorities •Environment and Public Works Committee: research witnesses, prepare questions and opening remarks, review legislative proposals, and brief Senator on hearings and markups; support Committee press, legislation, and other events; work with Rhode Island stakeholders to develop proposals for coastal infrastructure and WRDA legislation •Other Responsibilities: support broader environment and energy portfolio, as needed, by drafting floor speeches and public remarks, shepherding legislation and “Dear Colleague” letters, taking stakeholder meetings, monitoring regulations and policies, and attending scientific and policy briefings.
Expertise Desired The Senator’s “Green Team” is a fast-paced, collaborative team. The Fellow is expected to be diligent, responsible, discreet, enthusiastic, efficient, and organized. Though we often work together on projects, the Fellow should also be comfortable working independently. Particular expertise in New England issues, fisheries management, international marine stewardship, coastal resiliency, small dam removal, and/or advanced monitoring technologies (AUV/drone/satellite) is a plus. Position ID L18-18
Office Name U.S. Senator Gary Peters
Relevant Committee Memberships (if applicable) Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee; Ranking Member of Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard Subcommittee; Space, Science, and Competitiveness Subcommittee; Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee; Ranking Member of Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management Subcommittee
Portfolio Summary The fellow could take the lead and build on the Oceans subcommittee portfolio which includes marine debris, harmful algal blooms, weather forecasting, fisheries and reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, marine sanctuaries, ocean acidification, climate change, and national ocean policy. There is room to explore and work on a wide variety of issues of interest to the fellow including Great Lakes restoration, fisheries research, invasive species, energy policy and infrastructure, pipeline safety, oil spill response, STEM education, and more. The fellow also could choose to work on air and water quality issues ranging drinking water contamination including lead in drinking water and perfluorinated compounds in groundwater.
Expertise Desired Enthusiasm for natural resources conservation is a must! Ability to work on a team and under deadlines. Strong verbal and written communication skills. Familiarity with the Great Lakes, an understanding of the legislative process, a sense of humor, and passion for the outdoors are preferable. Must be comfortable briefing the member directly and answering his questions. Willingness to develop legislative proposals from concept to text. Position ID L18-19
Office Name U.S. Representative Thomas Suozzi
Relevant Committee Memberships (if applicable) House Armed Services Comittee
Portfolio Summary Congressman Tom Suozzi (NY-3) represents the North Shore of Long Island, New York and is seeking a legislative fellow who will be responsible for a variety of key environmental issues critically important to the Congressman and his district.
The Congressman has a significant pro-environmental protection record. In 2008, as Nassau County Executive, the New York State League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV) named him “Environmentalist of the Year.” In the late 1990s, as Mayor of Glen Cove, the Congressman spearheaded a nationally recognized Superfund and Brownfield site cleanup that was formally recognized by then Vice President Al Gore and implemented the first 50% nitrogen effluent reduction of a waste water treatment plant on the Long Island Sound. As a freshman member, the Congressman was asked by his colleagues to give an environmental response to President Trump’s joint address. He has also focused attention on cleaning up the Navy/Grumman plume in Bethpage, which is a state superfund site that has been contaminated gradually from years of dumping toxic chemicals from the 1940s until the 1980s. He currently serves as the co-chair of the bipartisan Long Island Sound Caucus and is a member of the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus and National Estuary Caucus.
Congressman Suozzi recently hosted “Orchestrating Both Coasts For A Better Sound 2.0,” a bipartisan environmental conference where attendees signed a pledge to preserve and protect the Long Island Sound. They also discussed the progress in reducing nitrogen levels in the Sound by more than 50 percent over the past 20 years. Please see the following link for additional details: https://suozzi.house.gov/media/press-releases/suozzi-leads- bipartisan-conference-protect-long-island-sound-reps-lee-zeldin
The fellow will work on the pressing environmental issues in Congress, including the threat of climate change, sea level rise and increasing volatile storms to coastal regions, the impact of high nitrogen levels to sea life and water quality and the infrastructure solutions available to reduce nitrogen release, and drinking water contamination caused by existing and emerging contaminants. In addition to trying to match the fellow’s experience and interest to his/her assignment, the office will also encourage the fellow to develop, propose and pitch policy positions for the Congressman’s environmental agenda. Responsibilities include, but at not limited to, developing the Congressman’s environmental agenda, tracking and advancing legislation, preparing statements and talking points for the Congressman, and writing and editing Congressional correspondence related to the fellow’s portfolio.
Expertise Desired A successful fellow should have an ability to work in a fast paced, demanding environment by exercising excellent time management skills. The fellow will also be a self-starter with the ability and initiative to handle long-term projects. Familiarity with environmental issues related to estuaries generally. Knowledge specific to the Long Island Sound is a plus. Flexibility and a sense of humor also encouraged. Position ID L18-21
Office Name U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski
Relevant Committee Memberships (if applicable) ENR, Appropriations (CJS, Interior)
Portfolio Summary The fellow would work as a member of Senator Murkowski's environmental, ocean, and Arctic team. Beyond that, there is an opportunity to create your own portfolio of interest within the environmental, marine, and Arctic spaces. Our current Knauss fellow is the lead staffer on all of the Senator's duties pertaining to the Oceans and Arctic Caucuses, which she chairs. The caucuses host briefings, create legislative priorities, and ultimately push forward those priorities into law. Our current Knauss fellow is the lead staffer on all things aquaculture, ocean acidification, marine debris, NOAA science/research/data/monitoring, and Arctic science, drafting legislation, briefing the Senator, and staffing the Senator in meetings, hearings, and around the hill on those issues. Additionally, our current fellow is a contributor on a host of issues that relate to fisheries and other ocean and climate issues.
Expertise Desired Must have some knowledge of Alaska and the unique situation of the 49th state, preferably having lived there for some quantity of time. Position ID L18-22
Office Name Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (Majority) Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
Relevant Committee Memberships (if applicable)
Portfolio Summary
The Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation has jurisdiction over the United States Coast Guard, including its duties, organization, functions, and powers. Within the Committee’s broader maritime transportation jurisdiction, the Subcommittee has jurisdiction over the regulation of commercial vessels and merchant seamen; domestic laws and international conventions related to the safe operation of vessels and safety of life at sea; and the regulation of ocean shipping, domestic cabotage requirements, and the merchant marine, except as it relates to national defense. The Subcommittee usually moves one comprehensive bill to the authorize funding for the Coast Guard and the Federal Maritime Commission, and includes amendment to maritime statutes in that bill. The Subcommittee may move a marine safety bill in the second session of the 115th Congress. The Subcommittee hold roughly 8 hearings a year, and other activities like round tables and listening sessions.
Expertise Desired Research and writing. Position ID L18-23
Office Name U.S. Senator Edward Markey
Relevant Committee Memberships (if applicable) Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Environment and Public Works
Portfolio Summary The Sea Grant Legislative Fellow working in Senator Markey’s office will have responsibility for all ocean, marine animal, and fisheries issues across his committee assignments and of concern in Massachusetts. In addition, the Fellow will likely help cover other issues pertaining to coastal communities, climate change, the environment, wildlife and endangered species, and general science topics.
Over his 40-year career, Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey has consistently championed clean energy and environmental protection. Senator Markey was one of the main architects of the 2009 Waxman-Markey climate bill, and climate remains a central focus of his policy work. As a senator from a coastal state where the fishing industry plays an important role in the economy and the culture, fisheries and oceans issues are a critical policy area for him. For more than a decade, Massachusetts has had the port with the highest commercial value of landed fish, but at the same time is facing challenges to its iconic cod stock. Finding approaches to revive the Massachusetts fishing industry in ways that insure the long-term economic health of coastal communities and the long-term health of fisheries and the oceans—even as climate change impacts take their toll—is a top priority for Senator Markey.
Senator Markey is lead Democrat on the Space, Science and Competitiveness Subcommittee of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee with jurisdiction over NOAA. His interests and other committee assignments will provide a Fellow many opportunities to work on a range of environmental issues, including fisheries, climate change, and wildlife protection. The Fellow would also have the option to work on other related issues, which may be adjusted based on the Fellow’s interests. Past fellows have covered issues including seafood fraud, international fisheries treaties, the Magnuson Stevens Act, international wildlife trafficking, the Clean Water Act, and funding and other support for science research. Senator Markey has a long history of hosting fellows and looks forward to having a 2018 Sea Grant Legislative Fellow work with him and his staff.
The Fellow would support the Senator’s fisheries, ocean, and climate objectives by evaluating proposed legislation, researching current issues, writing memos and letters, preparing for and attending relevant hearings, and liaising with constituents, trade groups, and NGOs. The Fellow will also attend briefings, Senate committee meetings, and staff meetings, and would have the option to attend relevant conferences, as well as work with constituents in Massachusetts.
Expertise Desired The ideal candidate will be a self-starter with excellent writing and verbal skills, and a great sense of humor. They will have strong research skills, and will be able to assimilate and prioritize large quantities of information quickly. Experience with New England fisheries issues is a plus, but not required. Position ID E18-01
Postion Title Advisor & Assistant to Technical Director
Agency U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Office Engineer Research & Development Center
Portfolio Summary This full-time position will fill an important staff responsibility in support of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s Research and Development Program. The Fellow will have the opportunity to take a leadership role in research and development directly supporting Corps operational requirements, addressing topics of choice and tailored to the knowledge and skills of the Fellow. Corps programs include threatened and endangered species, wetland and habitat restoration, coastal hydrodynamics, storm waves and surges, geomorphology, remote sensing, GIS, lidar mapping, hyperspectral imagery, data fusion, regional sediment management, coastal measuring and monitoring, structure condition assessment, asset management, and many other challenging areas with on-going research. The Sea Grant Fellow will work with the Technical Director to identify a suitable project based on individual career goals. Opportunity will be provided for travel and participation in conferences and workshops.
This position offers the opportunity to impact national R&D supporting the marine transportation system by creating and helping to manage a national R&D agenda, making decisions about technical approaches, integrating technical teams from across the Federal, academia and industry sectors, and participating in actual research projects. Included is the opportunity to advance individual career goals through targeted research supporting the Corps’ and national objectives.
Working under the direction of the Corps’ Technical Director for Navigation and senior staff, this position will be the lead researcher on several strategic initiatives supporting the Corps of Engineers and the national marine transportation system. One initiative is development and implementation of a multiagency R&D plan supporting the Committee on the Marine Transportation System (CMTS) strategic needs, including the 2018 conference co-sponsored by the National Academy of Science.
Expertise Desired Position requirements include the understanding and willingness to learn about Federal departmental and agency U.S. marine transportation authorities and responsibilities as they relate to the new White House ocean policy and stewardship initiatives. Also, the ability to compile and organize federal R&D program information, examine the information for potential R&D programmatic synergies and efficiencies is desired. Position requires basic office and computer skills, strong writing and research abilities, and the ability to generate complete and finished documents for high-level agency review and approval. The position also requires self-motivation, effective communication and interpersonal skills.
Travel within DC (days per month) 2-5
Travel outside DC (days per month) 2-5 Position ID E18-02
Postion Title Policy Liaison
Agency Department of the Navy
Office Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy- Environment
Portfolio Summary The Department of the Navy's Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Environment) works towards enhancing environmental protection; implementing environmental planning and restoration efforts ashore and afloat; and incorporating conservation initiatives of natural and cultural resources both on and off Department of the Navy property. The Fellow would work with senior leadership and staff across a broad range of issues, such as natural and cultural resource protection, marine species protection, ocean pollution and prevention, environmental technology, conservation banking, and environmental strategic communication. The Fellow would also serve as a liaison for the Office on any number of topics with the National Ocean Council, the White House, EPA, NOAA, and other Federal agencies, and lead and assist on high level ocean policy development. Specific duties can be tailored to the individual Fellow, and are cross-cutting in nature. The office is located at the Pentagon.
Expertise Desired A willingness to learn, an ability to communicate (both verbally and written), and the capacity to work both independently and as a part of a team are highly desired for this position. Specific tasks can be tailored to the strengths and weaknesses of the individual Fellow. The office works on a broad range of issues, so there is flexibility in defining the Fellow’s portfolio based on her/his goals for the fellowship. Due to the need for the Fellow to obtain an interim and final security clearance, this office can only accept US citizens and cannot accept US citizens with dual citizenship.
Travel within DC (days per month) 3-5
Travel outside DC (days per month) 2-3 Position ID E18-03
Postion Title Endangered Species Program Specialist
Agency National Oceanic and Atmoshperic Administration National Marine Fisheries Service
Office Office of Protected Resources
Portfolio Summary The Office of Protected Resources (OPR) is seeking a Sea Grant Fellow to assist in various aspects of the Endangered Species Program. The fellowship will provide exposure to a wide range of Endangered Species Act (ESA) policies programs and will focus on listing species as endangered or threatened under the ESA, developing conservation plans to address state and private impacts to listed species, and implementing recovery actions for species already listed. The fellowship will include conducting reviews of the status of species to determine whether they should be listed as threatened or endangered under the ESA. In addition, the fellowship will include assisting in the development of conservation plans to address the impact of state and/or private activities on threatened and endangered species. We will provide our fellow formal training on the Endangered Species Act as well as opportunities to attend various meetings and other fora on ESA and related issues.
Expertise Desired Must have excellent writing and analytical skills.
Travel within DC (days per month) 1-3
Travel outside DC (days per month) 0-1 Position ID E18-04
Postion Title Coral Program Fellow
Agency NOAA National Ocean Service
Office Coral Reef Conservation Program
Portfolio Summary The NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) is a partnership among the NOAA Line Offices working on coral reef issues: the National Ocean Service (NOS), the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), and the National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS). The CRCP brings together expertise from across NOAA for a multidisciplinary approach to managing and understanding coral reef ecosystems. The CRCP focuses on four pillars: climate change, fishing impacts, land-based sources of pollution, and coral restoration/interventions. In addition, several cross-cutting functions of the Program like social science, communications, and translating science to management help link those pillars. The program management resides within the NOS Office for Coastal Management. Major areas of potential work for fellows include: CRCP outreach and communication efforts, staffing of the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force, the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program, and strategic planning/visioning for CRCP Fellows would work from Silver Spring, NOAA headquarters, and have the opportunity to interact with staff in all U.S. Coral Jurisdictions (U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Florida, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). The selected fellow will develop top-level communication skills of culturally-sensitive emerging issues of coral reef conservation.
Expertise Desired Background in marine science (bonus points for coral ecology!), familiarity with marine policy, interest in communications/outreach, ability to work in fast-paced dynamic atmosphere, great organizational skills, strong writing skills, graphics/web/social media interest, and ability to work in a team as well as individually. Research experience in climate change impacts, adaptive management, resilience based management, land-based sources of pollution, impact assessments, fishing impacts, restoration techniques, and/or ecological monitoring is preferred, but not required. Fellows are expected to interact with an extensive network of researchers, state and US territory liaisons, program managers, resource managers, and members of the public. Using common language to highlight the value of coral reefs in briefings with NOAA leadership and experience with participatory processes is highly desired.
Travel within DC (days per month) 2-3
Travel outside DC (days per month) infrequent, 3-4 weeks over year Position ID E18-05
Postion Title Congressional Affairs Fellow
Agency NOAA Headquarters Office
Office Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs, NOAA
Portfolio Summary When there’s news about any significant coastal, ocean, or weather issue, you can be sure that NOAA is involved—and that Congress will want to know what the Agency is doing. As the Congressional Affairs Fellow at NOAA’s Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs (OLIA), you will personally help communicate NOAA’s mission to Members of Congress and their staff in an effective and consistent manner during Congressional Hearings, meetings with individual Members or Committees, and daily phone calls and E-mails from Congressional staff. Your scientific expertise will be a starting point to join the dialogue on the hot, cutting-edge issues that drive the budget and political cycles—the impact of climate change on coastal communities, the state of marine fisheries and endangered species management, and more. You will need to bring patience, drive, and excellent communication skills to this position as you interact with NOAA’s headquarters and program offices and Congress. You can expect: • Close mentoring with NOAA’s experts on Congressional engagement; • Contact with NOAA’s senior leadership, programmatic experts, and regional personnel; • Strategic and tactical responsibility on the teams that build NOAA’s interface with Congress and key stakeholders. • You will be viewed as a full team member in the office, and as you gain experience throughout the year, you will have an ability to branch off to focus on particular issues important to NOAA, Congress, and your own interests. A typical day might feature any – or all! – of the following: • Orchestrating an interaction between the NOAA Administrator and Members of Congress and their staff; • Responding to congressional inquiries on NOAA issues (including inquiries from Legislative Knauss fellows); • Meeting with Congressional staff to share positions, find common ground, and negotiate a cooperative path forward; • Working with NOAA (and other Agency staff) to develop Administration legislative language for various ocean, coastal, and atmospheric initiatives. These tasks will help you refine your ability to handle multiple issues simultaneously and gain firsthand knowledge about the interplay between legislative and executive branches.
Expertise Desired Strong oral communication skills, including comfort speaking in front of groups Strong written communication skills, including excellent editing skills Comfort working with diverse constituent groups Excellent organizational skills
Travel within DC (days per month) 4-7 Days Days/Month, Frequent travel to the Hill Travel outside DC (days per month) Infrequent Days/Month Position ID E18-06
Postion Title International Affairs Fellow
Agency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Headquarters Office
Office Office of International Affairs
Portfolio Summary As a Fellow in NOAA's Office of International Affairs (OIA), you will join a team of dynamic staff providing strategic leadership to NOAA’s international work and facilitating its coordination and cooperation with other Federal agencies. General duties will include:
• Contributing to the development of NOAA’s international policy positions; • Gathering, analyzing, and communicating information both from within NOAA and from external sources; and • Participating in U.S. Government interagency foreign policy discussions and international negotiations.
OIA is involved in numerous bilateral (e.g. Canada, Cuba, India, the European Union) and multilateral activities (e.g. United Nations and its subsidiary bodies, the Arctic region, the Asia-Pacific region). The Fellow can expect to participate in a number of these activities, including by taking a lead role on some issues. In addition, the Director of International Affairs is regularly called upon to address international policy issues with a quick turnaround, and the Fellow will assist in meeting these requests by pulling together relevant information on NOAA’s work, making policy recommendations, and providing written and oral briefings. OIA is also frequently called upon to support NOAA Leadership, including the Under Secretary, in preparation for meetings with foreign counterparts, with which the Fellow will also have the opportunity to engage.
Due to the variety of topics handled in OIA and the inherent flexibility of the office, the Fellow will likely be able to pursue issues of personal interest, work with multiple staff members in addition to office leadership, and develop new skills in a diverse field. The Fellow can expect to successfully complete the following tasks:
• Coordinate and participate in the review and development of NOAA’s international policies; • Represent NOAA in interagency meetings; • Work across NOAA Line Offices to develop NOAA positions in international fora; • Prepare correspondence for the Director of International Affairs and other NOAA leadership; • Draft policy/topical briefings and NOAA negotiating positions for international multilateral meetings.
There is also the potential to attend international meetings depending on how the Fellow’s portfolio evolves.
Expertise Desired Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills. Ability to work well under deadlines and in a fast paced environment. Enjoys working in a team environment with an energetic group of colleagues that have a good sense of humor.
Travel within DC (days per month) 3-5 Travel outside DC (days per month) 0-7 Position ID E18-07
Postion Title Project Coordinator, National Climate Assessment
Agency Department of Commerce / NOAA Office of Oceanic & Atmospheric Research
Office U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) and NOAA Climate Program Office (CPO)
Portfolio Summary The National Climate Assessment (NCA) is a mandated product of the U.S. Global Change Research Program, charged with assessing the state of the science regarding trends and implications of a changing climate for the United States. The NCA Project Coordinator will play a key role in delivering the high profile NCA4 for its 2018 deadline – the Fellow will be engaging with the Assessment at an exciting time, as the Fellowship timeframe will likely coincide with final preparation of the report and its public release.
As a Fellow with USGCRP, s/he will play a lead role in developing and executing a major meeting of all NCA authors. Additionally, the Fellow will be the lead coordinator of several NCA chapters, working directly with the chapter authors and chapter leadership to finalize the report. In this role, the Fellow will gain leadership experience in an interagency, multi-stakeholder, collaborative environment. In parallel to the NCA4 efforts, a vision for how to sustain the NCA activity is being developed. The fellow would work with the leadership of the Sustained Assessment Working Group to help develop this vision, which includes a deliverable to the OSTP Subcommittee on Global Change Research of recommendations on how to implement a sustained Assessment process. The fellow may also be engaged with rollout of the NCA4 on the NOAA side including contributing to planning and execution for the agency’s public affairs strategy.
The NCA brings together 300+ federal, university, and private sector experts in climate-related fields, which forms a great natural network for the Fellow in pursuing professional development related activities. The Fellow will also have to opportunity to become involved with other activities of USGCRP, including various interagency working groups. As an interagency program, USGCRP is at the cross-roads of government-produced climate research, which provides a unique opportunity for the Fellow to get involved with other interagency work, as well. Through working as the NCA Project Coordinator the Fellow will become an expert in climate-related risks and resiliency actions across the United States for a number of regions and sectors.
Responsibilities may include: ●Organizing and managing a meeting for all NCA4 authors ●Assisting and coordinating NCA4 chapter development (see http://www.globalchange.gov/content/nca4- outline for a complete chapter list) ●Aiding in the response to public, National Academies of Sciences, and Agency review periods ●Advising chapter leadership on USGCRP guidelines ●Facilitating author calls, webinars, and chapter team meetings ●Brainstorming and implementing new sustained assessment products and novel ways to communicate NCA4 ●Liaising between NOAA and USGCRP ●Assisting with additional assessment-related activities, as needed ●Supporting the development and implementation of a NCA engagement plan at NOAA ●Working with the Sustained Assessment Working Group to help formulate recommendations for a sustained Assessment process.
Background: The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) was established by the Global Change Research Act of 1990, which established a confederation of 13 Federal agencies that conduct or use research in climate- related global change. USGCRP sits in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). USGCRP activities focus on the congressionally mandated coordination of Federal research programs, needs, and priorities for the participating agencies; production and delivery of mandated products like the NCA, Our Changing Planet (annual report to Congress), and decadal strategic plans; research and products to inform decisions at all scales across the country.
Expertise Desired ●Works well in a collaborative environment with many fast-moving tasks ●A motivated self-starter who can identify what needs to be done pro-actively and is able to work independently on multiple projects (yes, both this and the first bullet can co-exist!) ●Capable of coming up to speed quickly. The Fellow will be placed in a fast-moving, energetic work environment from day one ●Good time management skills ●Excellent coordination skills to manage multiple chapter author teams ●Strong written and oral communication skills with senior-level experts ●Experience with scientific assessments ideal but not required ●Knowledge of some aspect of climate science preferred ●Knowledge of or experience with USGCRP is a plus
Travel within DC (days per month) Variable (Fellow would be encouraged to attend briefings of interest around town and go to NOAA in Silver Spring, as appropriate)
Travel outside DC (days per month) Estimated to be 2-3 roughly week-long trips (i.e., professional conferences, public outreach) Position ID E18-08
Postion Title Marine Debris Sea Grant Fellow
Agency NOAA National Ocean Service
Office Marine Debris Division
Portfolio Summary About the NOAA Marine Debris Division: The Marine Debris Division (MDD) is part of the National Ocean Services’ Office of Response and Restoration. The MDD is the U.S. federal lead for addressing marine debris. Marine debris is defined as any persistent solid material that is manufactured or processed and directly or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally, disposed of or abandoned into the marine environment or the Great Lakes. It is a global problem, and it is an everyday problem. There are five main areas in which the program focuses: prevention, removal, research, regional coordination, and emergency response. The MDD staff work in partnership with federal, state, and local agencies, tribes, non-governmental organizations, academia, and industry.
Job Responsibilities: We are a highly dynamic program whose activities are mandated under the Marine Debris Act, signed into law in 2006 and amended in 2012. The MDD has a dedicated staff, spread throughout the country that operates within a fast paced environment. The issue of marine debris has grown in visibility in recent years which has resulted in high level attention at both the national and international scale.
The Fellow in this position will have the opportunity to coordinate and lead a variety of projects to address critical marine debris issues . The Sea Grant fellow will work closely with the Marine Debris Division Chief and other staff members on a variety of projects. This work includes support of and participation in high-level meetings on marine debris such as the Interagency Marine Debris Coordinating Committee. The fellow will assist in the implementation of the strategic initiatives of the Program such as evaluating the effectiveness of previous projects and providing recommendations to revise federal funding opportunities to prevent the introduction of new marine debris. There will be ample opportunities to participate in outreach and education activities and events and work with the Communications Team to advance messaging related to marine debris. There will be opportunities to engage with the Science Team to conduct exploratory analyses using data from the Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project as well as opportunities to help the program’s regional coordinators with projects and activities, such as update project-specific fact sheets, one-pagers, etc. and participate in field site visits. The fellow will work on Congressional activities, such as providing briefing materials, and responding to policy taskers. Some travel will be required and training opportunities will be available. Training will be available in skills needed to complete any projects if the Fellow does not have them.
Expertise Desired Outstanding writing, verbal, and interpersonal skills. Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects under tight deadlines. Strong personal initiative, problem-solving skills, creativity, and ability to work independently and as a member of a team. Skilled with Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
Travel within DC (days per month) 1-2 Travel outside DC (days per month) 1-2 Position ID E18-09
Postion Title Interagency and International Policy Liaison
Agency US Navy
Office Oceanographer of the Navy
Portfolio Summary The Oceanographer of the Navy is the representative of the Chief of Naval Operations for the Naval Oceanography Program and Naval Oceanography policy, which includes operational environmental support to Department of Defense (DoD), NATO, and coalition forces worldwide. Naval Oceanography includes oceanography, meteorology, geospatial information & services, navigation, and precise time & astrometry. The Oceanographer of the Navy is the Director of Navy's Task Force Ocean, an effort to reinvigorate the state of Navy-relevant US ocean sciences, and Task Force on Climate Change, which is leading Navy's efforts to help the Navy adapt to potential climate change impacts. The Oceanographer of the Navy is also the Naval Deputy to NOAA and interfaces directly with the NOAA Administrator on issues of mutual interest to Navy and NOAA. The Deputy/Technical Director provides guidance to the Oceanographer of the Navy and often represents Department of Defense and Joint Chiefs of Staff in high level interagency meetings such as the Ocean Science and Technology Intergovernmental Policy Committee (IPC) and the Ocean Resource Management IPC of the National Ocean Council. The Sea Grant fellow will work with the Deputy/Technical Director and other staff members and be involved in a variety of international, interagency, and Congressional issues relevant to the mission of the Oceanographer of the Navy. Specific duties are tailored to the individual Sea Grant fellow, but will likely include involvement with the high- level subgroups under the National Ocean Council, which provides the opportunity to work with high-level officials from numerous agencies. Work will likely also include participation in the Navy's Task Force Ocean and Task Force Climate Change. The fellow will likely have opportunity to work on many cooperative issues between Navy and NOAA. Previous fellows have also been involved in issues such as high level ocean policy development, Congressional liaison and testimony writing, data collection and release, ocean observing systems, NATO issues, public data release, and Law of the Sea issues. The Oceanographer of the Navy's main office is located at the Pentagon, but the staff has offices at the Naval Observatory as well. It is expected that the Knauss fellow will work out of the Naval Observatory, but frequent travel to the Pentagon will be required.
Expertise Desired Willingness to learn and an ability to communicate. Position is tailored to the strengths, weaknesses and goals of the individual Fellow. Since our office works a broad range of issues for Navy, this is usually fairly easy to do. Due to the need for the fellow to obtain an interim and final security clearance, our office can only accept US citizens and cannot accept US citizens with dual citizenship.
Travel within DC (days per month) 3-6 (depending on interest)
Travel outside DC (days per month) 2-3 (depending on interest) Position ID E18-10
Postion Title Marine and Coastal Resources Specialist
Agency US Fish and Wildlife Service
Office Coastal and Marine Program
Portfolio Summary The US Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) National Wildlife Refuge System is the largest and most diverse network of lands and waters dedicated to ensuring the long-term future of America’s rich fish and wildlife heritage. This position is housed within the National Wildlife Refuge System’s Coastal and Marine Program, located at the USFWS Headquarters Office in Falls Church, VA. The Coastal and Marine Program has a broad portfolio which includes a nationwide coastal habitat restoration program, as well as national-level coordination of over 180 coastal and marine national wildlife refuges and 5 marine national monuments.
This position offers an excellent opportunity for a Fellow to work with a small, passionate team on matters related to marine conservation and coastal habitat restoration. In addition to establishing a portfolio of regular duties, we will work with you to design a developmental assignment within our program’s focus areas, in order to provide you with the experience you are seeking.
Duties may include: •Aiding in development of policies and plans for the Coastal Program and Marine National Monuments; •Completing a comprehensive report profiling all coastal and marine national wildlife refuges; •Preparing diverse communication materials such as web content, stories for Interior’s, FWS, and Refuges’ newsletters and social media sites, developing briefing materials, pamphlets and other materials that enhance the Program’s visibility and awareness; •Attending national working groups and technical committees and coordinating Programmatic positions and responses to assignments; •Building relationships within Department of the Interior and with other federal agencies, especially NOAA and EPA and establishing relationships with hunting, sport fishing, marine and coastal organizations; •Assisting in organizing and planning Program meetings and events; •Supporting the National Wildlife Refuge System’s role in ocean policy from the national level to regional and local initiatives and programs; •Supporting other aspects of the National Wildlife Refuge System Headquarters office.
Expertise Desired Successful candidates should have strong analytic and communication skills, organizational skills, be able to work as a team member, and have an interest in broad ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes topics that include access, management, sustainable use, coastal restoration, and marine protected area management. GIS skills would be a plus, but are not required.
Travel within DC (days per month) 2-5 Travel outside DC (days per month) 1-3 times/year Position ID E18-11
Postion Title Special Assistant to the Assistant Deputy Director of Ecological Services
Agency US Fish and Wildlife Service
Office Ecological Services
Portfolio Summary We are excited to host a Sea Grant Fellow in the fast-paced world of Ecological Services (ES) within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. As a Special Assistant to the Deputy Assistant Director, the Fellow will support critical issues on behalf of the Deputy Assistant Director, her leadership team, and sometimes her supervisor, the Assistant Director. Under the leadership of the Deputy Assistant Director, the Fellow will coordinate work on new and changing policies, regulations, and initiatives for the ES Program ensuring alignment with current administration priorities. The Fellow will also coordinate and track the progress of Headquarters and Regional Ecological Services Federal Register packages to completion. It is an excellent opportunity to join a great team, be involved with complex issues, and influence conservation in our country. The position is a great opportunity for career advancement, learning about the FWS at a national level, and work on issues that have application across a broad scale.
The Ecological Services Program provides national leadership for the conservation of species and the habitats on which they depend, including species protected by the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Emergency Wetlands Resources Act, the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, the Coastal Barrier Resources Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, and the Clean Water Act. Through leadership in environmental restoration and response, environmental reviews of Federal projects, listing and recovery of candidate, threatened, and endangered species, and management of decision support and mapping tools, the Program works closely with our partners to meet the conservation challenges of today and tomorrow.
Staff within the Ecological Services Program at Headquarters are responsible for developing national policies and guidance to facilitate implementation of the ESA and other laws; preparing and reviewing rulemakings; coordinating litigation related to the program; conducting and reviewing environmental reviews with other Federal agencies; providing outreach and building partnerships to advance the Program's goals; coordination of the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund and its expenditures; preparing justifications for the budget; and allocation of the budget once it is received from Congress. There is an opportunity for the Fellow to become more deeply involved with one or two aspects that pique personal and/or professional interest at ES Headquarters.
Expertise Desired Required: Excellent collaboration skills; excellent organization skills; strong people skills; strong written and oral communications skills; ability to manage multiple tasks under deadline and to work independently if needed; ability to remain level-headed and flexible in a fast-paced and changing environment. Knowledge of the ESA is not required.
Desired: Interest in non-aquatic and aquatic species conservation strongly recommended; command of Google Suite strongly recommended; ability to creatively develop third alternative solutions; ability to proactively improve upon Program processes. Travel within DC (days per month) 1-5
Travel outside DC (days per month) 3-5 Position ID E18-12
Postion Title Ocean Exploration Fellow
Agency NOAA Office of Oceanic & Atmospheric Research
Office Office of Ocean Exploration and Research
Portfolio Summary NOAA's Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER) is the only federal program dedicated to exploring and characterizing the ocean systematically. OER works with partners around the nation to establish baselines for advancing science, identifying new habitats and species, identifying new resources, and stimulating interest and involvement in understanding the ocean. The results of exploration are critical for ocean resource management and to help citizens, businesses, and governments make smart choices to protect lives, property, and economic well-being. OER serves the nation's ocean exploration needs by exploring the unknown ocean, supporting teams of interdisciplinary scientists on ocean expeditions, developing and providing advanced undersea technologies, and sharing the excitement of discovery with the public.
OER seeks a Knauss Fellow to support the office's ocean exploration mission. Due to the diverse nature of the work and portfolio, the Fellow will be exposed to a wide range of NOAA and partner ocean exploration activities. The Fellow can expect to learn first-hand the complexities associated with operating a major national program from the leadership level. On a day-to-day basis, the Fellow will work directly with the OER Director and senior leadership team, and interface with senior leaders from OER partners in NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Ocean Service (NOS), as well as interagency (e.g. BOEM, USGS, NASA, US Navy), and non-governmental partners (e.g. Ocean Exploration Trust, Schmidt Ocean Institute, etc.).
The Fellow will be asked to provide policy advice, leading briefings on a variety of science and administrative topics, and staffing the OER Director and senior leadership team for internal and external meetings.The Fellow will learn how ocean exploration is conducted and have an opportunity to shape the future of NOAA and national ocean exploration endeavors.
Example fellow activities and responsibilities include: • Supporting the Ocean Exploration Advisory Board • Assisting with the planning of a National Forum on Ocean Exploration • Contributing to the OER annual grant review process • Participating in at-sea ocean exploration activities aboard NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer or partner vessels and/or through telepresence • Assisting in the development and publication of OER science products (e.g., data summaries and analyses, reports, publications, etc.) • Coordinating an ongoing or novel ocean exploration initiative that advances ocean exploration techniques, or allows for the characterization of new parameters relevant to understanding the deep ocean • Organizing a workshop, town hall, or conference session to get community input on OER priorities • Hosting scientists, student, VIPs, and others in the Silver Spring and other Exploration Command Centers • Participating in meetings with members of Congress on Capitol Hill • Supporting OER partnership activities (e.g., Marine Biodiversity Observation Network, Extended Continental Shelf Project, Deep Sea Coral Science and Technology Program Southeast Deep Coral Initiative, BOEM- USGS-NOAA Atlantic Canyons, etc)
This is an ideal position for an individual seeking to enhance management and leadership skills while gaining a high level appreciation for ocean exploration science and research in the federal service. The setting for this position is an executive office environment and the Fellow can expect to contribute significantly to the day to day operations in addition to leading special projects that are of interest to the Fellow.
Expertise Desired Background and expertise in marine science or related discipline (e.g. environmental science); Familiarity with ocean exploration, ocean mapping, ocean technology, or deep ocean science; Excellent written and oral communication, teamwork, interpersonal, analytical, and organizational skills; Ability to translate technical and scientific text into plain language for target audiences; Strong ability to work independently, as well as a member of an interdisciplinary team, and the self-confidence to ask questions and take on new challenges; Knowledge and ability to work with Microsoft Office software (Excel, PowerPoint, Word); Ability to prioritize workload and manage shifting priorities and multiple projects/tasks under deadline; High degree of judgment, imagination, enthusiasm, and ingenuity; Experience with GIS and Adobe products (such as Photoshop and InDesign) would be helpful; and a sense of humor and adventure is a must!
Travel within DC (days per month) 1-2 Travel outside DC (days per month) 2-5 Position ID E18-13
Postion Title Communications and Policy Analyst
Agency Marine Mammal Commission
Office Marine Mammal Commission
Portfolio Summary The Marine Mammal Commission (Commission) is an independent government agency charged by the Marine Mammal Protection Act to further the conservation of marine mammals and their environment. We work to ensure that marine mammal populations are restored and maintained as functioning elements of healthy marine ecosystems in the world's oceans. We meet our mission by providing independent, science-based oversight of domestic and international policies and actions of federal agencies addressing human impacts on marine mammals and their ecosystems. Our role is unique—we are the only government entity in the United States that provides comprehensive oversight of all science, policy, and management actions impacting marine mammals.
Because of our independent nature, we are on the cutting edge of marine science and conservation. We are in a unique position to affect the evolution of policy decisions and help develop consensus among competing interests on the most controversial issues surrounding marine mammal conservation. We respond quickly to emerging issues, without the bureaucracy and procedural roadblocks that sometimes impede larger agencies. At the same time, being a small agency with a big mission means our staff must be flexible and informed on all aspects of the Commission's business.
We seek a Sea Grant Fellow who is willing to be part of our dynamic team and be given a level of responsibility equivalent to an employee. As a Fellow at the Commission, you will benefit from exposure to a broad range of issues and be given the flexibility to become involved in projects of interest to you. In addition to learning a lot about the challenges facing marine mammals, you will gain leadership, policy, legislative and communication skills. You will create or contribute to valuable written reports, including reports to Congress and the White House, that are used to guide conservation efforts. You will directly interact with our senior leadership, our presidentially-appointed Commissioners, our Committee of Scientific Advisors, staff from other federal agencies, Congressional staff and representatives of non-governmental organizations on a variety of critical marine conservation issues. We are committed to you leaving the fellowship with a large network of contacts in the marine conservation community and a greater understanding of and appreciation for marine conservation issues on a global scale. We are able to pay for some of your travel if pertinent to your responsibilities.
A general list of Fellow project ideas is provided below. Final projects and responsibilities will be assigned based on your experience and interests.
Support Commission’s Strategic Objectives •Assist with analyzing agency actions under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act, developing Commission recommendations and drafting comment letters. •Support Commission in workshop planning, which includes preparing background materials, managing list of participants, and preparing draft reports. •Help organize and participate in the 2018 Commission Annual Meeting. This includes managing logistics of various speakers/panels, preparing summary notes of discussions and following up on action items. •Serve as lead author of the Commission’s quarterly electronic newsletter and assist with developing content for the Commission’s twitter account.
Support Commission’s Legislative Affairs Agenda •Attend Congressional briefings and help prepare Commission leadership and staff for interactions with Congress. Develop briefing summaries and keep track of Congressional requests and follow ups. •Take the lead on organizing an annual “Commission 101” with 2018 Knauss Legislative Fellows on Capitol Hill. Determine the date and venue in collaboration with Hill staff, set an agenda and provide support for other meeting logistics. •Support preparations for the Commissioners’ participation in Capitol Hill Oceans Week (CHOW). Schedule Hill briefings and interagency meetings, and provide general support for our participation in CHOW seminars. Establish CHOW schedule, coordinate preparation of background documents and prepare summaries of events.
Knauss Fellow Special Project •Select a marine mammal topic of particular interest to you that is relevant to the Marine Mammal Commission and prepare a report or an article suitable for submission to a scientific journal. Guidance and oversight by Commission staff will be provided based on the topic selected. •Topic could be related to science, policy, or law – or some combination. Project ideas include: addressing marine mammal bycatch in small-scale coastal gillnet fisheries; policy options to address cumulative impacts of sound on marine mammal populations; long-term policy strategies for saving domestic and/or foreign species (e.g., the vaquita, Cook Inlet belugas, freshwater cetaceans); and exploring legal and policy options for reducing duplicative seismic testing. Expertise Desired Mandatory Skills: Strong oral and written communication skills, including editing skills. Strong organizational skills and ability to take initiative and lead projects. You must work well both independently and in a team environment.
Desired Background Skills: Familiarity with science, policy and/or management issues related to marine mammals and/or their environment is a plus.
Travel within DC (days per month) 1-3 Days Per Month
Travel outside DC (days per month) 1-3 Days Per Month Position ID E18-14
Postion Title Policy Advisor to the Executive Director
Agency Maritime Administration
Office US Committee on the Marine Transportation System
Portfolio Summary This unique full-time position provides important professional expertise within the Executive Secretariat of the US Committee on the Marine Transportation System. (www.cmts.gov) The CMTS is an interdepartmental/interagency maritime policy coordinating committee directed in statute to report on the state of the maritime transportation system, coordinate maritime transportation policy, and align maritime transportation with other modes of transportation and the environment. You will be the professional staff lead with interagency initiatives related to the U.S. Arctic, alternative fuels and air emissions, and ocean and coastal management policy, as well as specialized CMTS projects appropriate to the Fellow’s expertise and interests. This position provides an unique opportunity to work and network with professionals from 25+ Federal Departments and agencies (including NOAA; U.S. Coast Guard; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Departments of Energy and Interior; EPA) and White House offices (including Office of Science and Technology Policy; National Ocean Council) to enhance Federal interagency policy development for the MTS. Working under the direct supervision of the Executive Director (Knauss Fellow '83) and senior staff, the Fellow will have an opportunity to draft, propose, and recommend actions that affect high-level Federal Government policy. The Fellow will have direct responsibility to manage 1-2 big projects and support CMTS operations. The Fellow will be encouraged to observe and report on Congressional hearings and briefings, attend high and mid-level policy meetings and industry activities, as appropriate. You won't be stuck in your cubicle! The knowledge gained from the experience will provide foundational skills and expertise which may assist in acquiring further employment in government and the private sector. The position is located at the Department of Transportation, a Gold LEED state-of-the-art Federal office building in SE Washington, across the street from the Navy Yard Metro station, and located a short distance to the U.S. Capitol, Nationals Stadium, Eastern Market, and the new SW "Wharf" Waterfront.
Expertise Desired Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications including WORD, Excel, Power Point and Outlook. Good communication and people skills, including the ability to lead teams in a collaborative and productive manner. Ability to do research and write papers and background briefs both independently and within a team for high- level Federal Government officials. Enthusiastic interest to learn more about the maritime transportation nexus with the marine and coastal environments, expand your knowledge of government processes and lead interagency teams.
Travel within DC (days per month) 2-5
Travel outside DC (days per month) Periodic travel throughout the year. Position ID E18-15
Postion Title Ocean Observing Fellow
Agency NOAA Office of Oceanic & Atmospheric Research
Office Climate Program Office/Ocean Observing and Monitoring Division
Portfolio Summary Feel like graduate school and your other experiences have made you a quick learner on a wide variety of topics? Can you work with a variety of audiences and communicate complex ideas in an accessible way? Are you okay working as part of a team on a larger mission? If so and if you want to continue to develop a diverse skill set that extends beyond pure science to actually facilitate a scientific program and make science actionable, then our office may be for you! We are essentially looking for a well-balanced jack of many trades that is interested in learning what it takes to manage and facilitate a multifaceted scientific program!
This position is being offered by the Ocean Observing and Monitoring Division (OOMD). OOMD supports NOAA mission-relevant atmospheric and oceanic climate observation and research activities at NOAA Laboratories, Cooperative Institutes, universities and other research institutions. OOMD is comprised of activities in three program areas: the Global Ocean Observation System; the Arctic Observing Network/Arctic Research Program; and Climate Monitoring.
The fellow’s responsibilities will fall within the Global Ocean Observation System portfolio. The portfolio’s main purpose is to support long-term, sustained global open ocean observations, This includes a variety of platforms such as moorings, global drifters, buoys, Argo floats, among others. Sustaining these long-term records is vital to monitoring the climate record, improving predictive capabilities in weather and climate models, and understanding decadal trends (i.e ENSO, AMOC). To help facilitate understanding of this portfolio, the fellow will go to Ocean Sciences Meeting in February to meet with several of our funded scientists and learn about their work. The fellow will also have the opportunity to go on a research cruise to see how some of our platforms are deployed and maintained.
The main focus of the fellow’s responsibilities would be in support of the Tropical Pacific Observing System- 2020 Project (http://tpos2020.org/). TPOS2020 is a high profile activity that is working to update a 30 year old observing network in the tropical Pacific. This network was originally designed in response to the 1982-83 El Nino Event and has revolutionized observational understanding of the tropical Pacific and El Nino- Southern Oscillation (ENSO) dynamics and set the tone for real-time data availability and routine seasonal forecasts. The fellow will be working to support efforts across NOAA for TPOS2020 as the Working Group moves towards implementing their plan. This includes bringing groups together to write implementation processes; identifying new avenues of cooperation to advance the project; and engaging multiple line offices to implement this plan. There will also be a TPOS Steering Team meeting in Oct. 2018 that the fellow will attend to continue supporting these activities.
Another part of the fellow’s responsibilities will be to help develop new ways (e.g. metrics) and appropriate materials and communications to stakeholders about the program. These focused communications materials (e.g. developing website content, stories, briefing materials, etc.) will help describe the impact and relevance of OOMD’s observing programs to other NOAA Line Offices.
This office is an experienced host of Sea Grant Fellows for several years running. It is a very supportive environment where fellows are given autonomy to complete the assigned tasks. Finalists with policy and/or scientific backgrounds including atmospheric, oceanographic or physical sciences are encouraged to apply.
Expertise Desired 1) Ability and willingness to work on multiple, simultaneous tasks, sometimes with short-term deadlines 2) Ability to work effectively individually and in diverse teams encompassing a variety of backgrounds and responsibilities 3) An interest in physical oceanography including: sustained ocean observing (i.e. Moorings, global drifters, Argo) and connection of ocean observing and climate issues to policymakers.
Travel within DC (days per month) 1-3
Travel outside DC (days per month) 1-3 **including a research cruise Position ID E18-16
Postion Title International Liaison: Ocean Acidification Coordination and Capacity Building
Agency NOAA Office of Oceanic & Atmospheric Research
Office Ocean Acidification Program
Portfolio Summary OAA’s Ocean Acidification Program seeks a Sea Grant fellow to advance international capacity efforts and stakeholder engagement in support of the Office of Ocean and Atmospheric Research in Silver Spring, MD. NOAA’s Ocean Acidification Program has helped lead the establishment of a Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network, which is composed of international researchers and policymakers working to build an integrated global observing network capable of identifying hot-spots for ocean acidification and create an early warning system for vulnerable communities around the globe. Ocean acidification stakeholders are diverse and include the aquaculture and fisheries industries, marine and coastal managers, government and academic scientists, non-governmental organizations, and others. The fellow will work to facilitate engagement and promote the further development of GOA-ON Regional Hubs, which allow for more localized organizing efforts. The fellow will also be involved in sustained capacity building, by overseeing Pier2Peer, an international scientific mentorship program matching senior marine researchers with junior scientists or those new to the OA field. In addition, the fellow will also provide general scientific, programmatic, and administrative support for the program office in Silver Spring, MD. Other areas of focus could include projects with the Department of State, the Ocean Acidification International Coordination Center, and participation in bilateral meetings with other countries. The fellow will be a valuable addition to the team in supporting the office Director and Deputy Director in management of a diverse research portfolio, interaction with international scientists, and engagement with stakeholders. The candidate will have the opportunity to develop an independent project specific to their interests that supports these program efforts.
Expertise Desired Strong written and oral communication skills and the ability to work as part of a team. While not an absolute requirement, a knowledge of biogeochemistry, marine chemistry, and/or species response to ocean acidification will be helpful.
Travel within DC (days per month) Up to 10 days/month
Travel outside DC (days per month) Up to 10 days/month Position ID E18-17
Postion Title Policy Analyst
Agency NOAA National Ocean Service
Office Office for Coastal Management
Portfolio Summary Coastal management refers to actions taken along the coast to keep residents safe, the economy sound, and natural resources functioning. This is accomplished with federal and state partnership programs. Federal legislation provides the overarching mandates; NOAA's Office for Coastal Management oversees implementation and provides technical assistance.
Four major programs make up the Office for Coastal Management (OCM) and the Fellow will support our activities in managing all four programs as part of the Policy, Planning, and Communications team.
National Coastal Zone Management Program – A unique federal and state partnership that provides the most direct implementation of coastal management policy. Thirty-four states have federally approved coastal management programs.
National Estuarine Research Reserves – Leading the nation’s estuary science efforts, this program produces groundbreaking research and provides environmental health data. The network of 29 protected areas also contributes local, science-based training and education programs and provides unique recreational and place- based learning opportunities.
NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program – Provides the sound science and management needed to preserve, sustain, and restore coral reef ecosystems.
Digital Coast – This website is the go-to source for the coastal management data, tools, and training most needed by communities. This initiative takes it a step further, however, by bringing various user groups together (the Digital Coast Partnership) to address coastal issues.
This will be a dynamic year for the Office for Coastal Management and the Fellow will provide valuable support for the Office’s policy initiatives. The Fellow will have many opportunities for interactions with leadership and partners outside of NOAA, in state and local governments, and academia. Because of the many different programs and activities in the Office, the Fellow will have latitude to develop projects in areas of interest.
The Fellow will be engaged in several activities, including:
Congressional Strategy: the Fellow will work with NOAA’s legislative and policy staff on our Congressional strategy, including preparing materials for Office leadership to conduct Hill briefings and meetings, as well as working with staff throughout the country to coordinate messages for District-level Congressional outreach. A key activity will be tracking legislative activity around reauthorizing the Coastal Zone Management Act and Coral Reef Conservation Act, both of which will likely be introduced in Congress in 2018, and the Digital Coast Act, introduced in 2017.
Policy Development and Analysis: Support several ongoing coastal zone management policy initiatives, including an expansion strategy for the National Estuarine Research Reserve System and developing the Office’s strategic vision.
Communications Support: As the Office rolls out new initiatives, the Fellow will work with staff to elevate and provide visibility for these important efforts. This includes development of plans to highlight key messages to be shared with the media, Congressional, and partner audiences, an approach and timeline for reaching those audiences, and the NOAA and OCM leads that are best equipped to deliver the information. The Fellow will also work with Communications staff to identify stories and accomplishments from OCM and partners for use in messaging and communications materials.
Coastal Resilience Grant Program: This program provides grants to coastal states, local governments, and other organizations within a region to advance community resilience at the local and regional scales. NOAA awarded 12 grants in 2015-16 and 19 grants in 2017. The Fellow will assist with highlighting the results of the current projects, building connections among grant recipients, and planning for a possible next round of competition.
Expertise Desired Desired Background Skills: This position provides an excellent opportunity for Fellows with a policy or legal background, or with some science experience, to gain exposure to the national coastal and ocean policy arena. Fellows with a science, policy, or legal background are encouraged to apply. Strong verbal and written communication skills are essential. The Fellow should be comfortable working independently and as part of a team of professional staff from all levels within the Office.
Travel within DC (days per month) 2-5
Travel outside DC (days per month) less than 5 Position ID E18-18
Postion Title Ocean and Coastal Policy Analyst
Agency NOAA National Ocean Service Headquarters National Ocean Service
Office Policy and Constituent Affairs Division
Portfolio Summary Coastal communities, economies and ecosystems are facing unprecedented changes and challenges ranging from more severe storms and sea level rise to oil spills and harmful algal blooms. We need the best minds -- your mind -- to join the dynamic policy team in the headquarters of NOAA’s National Ocean Service (NOS), where you will assist NOS leadership in addressing complex coastal challenges and support our engagement with Congress, the White House, other federal and state agencies, and constituents.
We are seeking a Fellow to support our engagement on the future of National Ocean Policy and with NOAA’s Ocean and Coastal Council. The Fellow will have opportunities to organize and support activities at conferences, including Capitol Hill Oceans Week and Restore America’s Estuaries biennial conference. The fellow will be our “go to” person for managing incoming requests from Congress, the White House, and external organizations. This position will provide a broad perspective on how NOAA programs fit into broader ocean and coastal policy discussions and activities. Because of our diverse portfolio, we are open and flexible to developing a portfolio to accommodate your interests.
The National Ocean Service (NOS) is one of NOAA’s major branches and houses the agency’s most diverse missions and programs. NOS programs include Coastal Zone Management, National Marine Sanctuaries and Marine Protected Areas, coral reef conservation, coastal resiliency and adaptation planning, oil spill response, marine debris, harmful algal blooms and hypoxia, and ocean and coastal science. NOS is also the nation’s provider of coastal navigation, observing, and geographic information systems and services, including production of the nation’s nautical charts and the authoritative source for sea levels and tides.
The Policy and Constituent Affairs Division within NOS headquarters is a small, highly motivated group that supports NOS leadership on this diverse range of issues. We are committed to providing a diverse and meaningful experience that advances NOS missions, while accommodating the interests of the Fellow. The Policy and Constituent Affairs Division is led by Glenn Boledovich (a former Sea Grant fellow).
Expertise Desired A team player with excellent oral and written communications skills, organizational skills, and a good sense of humor. This position provides an excellent opportunity for Fellows with a predominantly science background to get exposure to the policy arena. Fellows with either a science, policy, or legal background are welcome.
Travel within DC (days per month) Travel to meetings and events in the DC area will vary between 2-19 days per month Travel outside DC (days per month) No requirement, but opportunity for 3-5 trips outside DC over the year. Position ID E18-19
Postion Title Marine Ecologist
Agency NOAA | Ocean Service National Ocean Service
Office National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science
Portfolio Summary The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), Marine Spatial Ecology (MSE) Division is an interdisciplinary research program that is nationally recognized for developing information and analytical capabilities that improve ecosystem-based management. The MSE Division is comprised of four branches with most staff located in the NCCOS facilities in Silver Spring, MD, Charleston, SC, Oxford, MD, Beaufort, NC, and Kasitsna Bay, AK. Many of the projects across the Division focus on the mapping, ecological modeling, and monitoring of spatial distributions of marine organisms and habitats, as well as related human activities and community connections to marine resources. MSE analyses typically support management decisions such as marine protected area (MPA) network and boundary design, ecosystem based management, and Coastal and Marine Planning. The division also supports cross- cutting NCCOS research priorities in coastal change and social science.
Over the next 2 years, projects will include assessments of the Northeast Ecological Corridor in Puerto Rico (http://sierraclub.typepad.com/planet/2013/04/victory-in-puerto-rico-northeast-ecological-corridor-protected. html), integrated ecosystem assessments in the Hawaiian Islands (http://coastalscience.noaa. gov/projects/detail?key=163), an assessment of offshore seafloor and biological surveys to support marine planning off Washington State (http://coastalscience.noaa.gov/projects/detail?key=167), and an assessment of the social values surrounding alternative energy planning in the coastal zone, among others.
Combining multiple data sets in creative analytical approaches is a common thread in most projects. All of our work products (maps, models, digital products, reports, etc.) are posted on our website and are freely available to the public (see http://coastalscience.noaa.gov/). MSE Division personnel commonly work with other groups within NOAA, such as the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and Regional National Marine Fisheries Service science Centers, as well as with outside agencies (e.g. National Park Service, Bureau of Ocean Energy & Management), academia (e.g., University of Miami and University of Puerto Rico), State and Territorial agencies (e.g., NY Ocean and Great Lakes Program and Washington State Marine Spatial Planning Program), and non-profit and private sector partners. The Division often hosts or attends workshops on benthic mapping, predictive modeling, spatial analysis, monitoring ecosystem service valuation, and MPA design. Specific projects that the fellow will work on depend on the overlap between their interests and experience and the needs of the Division. Tasks and duties that are common to many projects include: conducting statistical analyses, analysis of diverse data types, researching data availability and published literature, writing reports, developing GIS databases, representing the Division’s Branches at meetings with project partners, and field work. Regardless of the specific projects, the fellow will gain a better understanding of marine biogeography, quantitative spatial analysis, ecological data, and their application to management of coastal regions. If involved with the field component of our ecological and biological work, the fellow would likely become a NOAA Scientific Diver if they possess a strong diving background and are proficient in identifying coral reef organisms (fish, coral, algae, etc.). MSE engages in social and economic data collections, presenting an opportunity to participate in primary socioeconomic research. The Division frequently publishes completed research (~15 publications per year) and past Fellows have co-authored articles in peer-reviewed journals. Other deliverables that Fellows have helped produce include presentations, technical reports, statistical code, and web databases.
A possible project a Fellow may on is to assist in the development of an integrated ecosystem assessment for Kachemak Bay Alaska. The Division’s Kasitna Bay lab is located on Kachemak Bay, and is poised to lead a partnership-based project to conduct the assessment. Kachemak Bay supports recreational, subsistence, and commercial fishing, marine transportation, and tourism, as well as threatened and endangered marine species. The bay contains all the estuarine and coastal habitat types found in the Gulf of Alaska, including rich mudflats, rocky intertidal fjords, and braided glacial riverbeds, with kelp forests, seagrass beds and salt marshes providing habitat for fish, shellfish, marine mammals and seabirds. Kachemak Bay is a state- designated critical habitat area, a National Estuarine Research Reserve, a NOAA Habitat Focus Area. While the bay has rich marine resources, there have been significant declines in shellfish (crab clam) and fish populations and fishery closures, and there are current threats from harmful algal blooms, oil and gas development, ocean acidification and invasive species. NCCOS researchers and partners, especially the Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, and other National Ocean Service and National Marine Fisheries Service offices have considerable geospatial (bathymetry, benthic and shoreline habitat maps, aerial imagery, ocean circulation model) and observing (oceanographic, HAB, contaminant, camera, ocean acidification) data for the Bay, but this data has not yet been integrated in a consistent analytical framework.
Expertise Desired To conduct the type of research to support biogeographic and integrated ecosystem assessments we describe below some of the skills that are be desired in a 2018 Fellow to support NCCOS/MSE Division’s assessment studies. We are looking for someone who can have fun working in a team environment! Ideally, we'd like someone with a few of the following: a background in marine science, ecological modeling, fisheries, quantitative ecology or environmental sociology, well-developed analytical abilities, a solid grasp on statistics, experience with GIS, a propensity for critical thinking, and clear communication skills. More importantly, we need a person who's sharp and eager to learn. Basic computer skills are important (i.e. MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), and experience with the following software would be very useful: ArcGIS, R, Matlab, JMP and/or SAS (or other statistical software).
Travel within DC (days per month) 1-3
Travel outside DC (days per month) 1-3 Position ID E18-20
Postion Title EPA National Nutrient Criteria Program Fellow
Agency Environmental Protection Agency
Office Office of Water, Office of Science and Technology, Ecological and Health Processes Branch - Nutrients Team
Portfolio Summary So, you just spent a bunch of years of your life in school and want to put your hard earned scientific knowledge to further use to protect water resources? Well, we have the fit for you. The National Nutrient Criteria Program’s core mission is to provide scientific support to help states, tribes, and territories derive scientifically-defensible regulatory pollution limits, known as numeric nutrient criteria, to protect the nation’s waters from the effects of nutrient pollution (primarily an excess of nitrogen and phosphorus). To help develop these criteria, our program relies on a diverse knowledge of science, risk management, and environmental law and policy, as well as collaboration with a wide variety of scientists and experts both inside and outside of government.
This fellowship position provides a great opportunity to connect your scientific knowledge to the policies and regulations that promote environmental protection. We are open to tailoring this experience to your skillset and interests, while providing the ability to build on and refine those skills by working on existing projects. You will contribute as a team member, as well as build leadership skills by managing your own project(s). Examples of projects you could work on include: •Determining how to best characterize the condition of biological communities to understand the overall environmental health of estuarine, near coastal, and coral reef environments •Planning and participating in three large US regional meetings to highlight regional issues and discuss the latest scientific developments and information gaps •Conducting pilot studies to determine protective nutrient concentrations in estuaries and streams •Conducting a literature review to understand ecosystem recovery from nutrient pollution •Exploring the use of eDNA as a tool to support biological assessments of aquatic ecosystems •Determining how best to evaluate the effects of changes in nutrients, pH, temperature and/or DO on aquatic and aquatic-dependent endangered species and their habitat
Your portfolio may also include additional opportunities, such as: •participating in EPA’s Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Team •coordinating with other EPA headquarters and regional offices and labs •reviewing and providing input on state water quality standards packages
Although some of this may sound like a typical day in grad school, it’s not. Your science background is the foundation of the work you’ll do, but you won’t necessarily be practicing hard science (coding, stats, modeling, etc.). Much of what you’ll be doing is: •communicating scientific principles •developing science policy with co-regulators •building partnerships with state and federal agencies, as well as stakeholders •creating innovative solutions to protect our environment
You will also be encouraged to take advantage of professional training opportunities provided by EPA (e.g., EPA’s Clean Water Act course, Watershed Academy, and Water Quality Standards Academy), to pursue outside professional development opportunities, and to attend relevant professional scientific meetings.
These and other projects will provide you excellent opportunities to learn how to apply the best, most up-to-date scientific information to influence and establish environmental policy. While doing this, you will also build a strong network by interacting with a wide array of scientists and policy makers.
Expertise Desired We seek a fellow who likes to laugh while working in a complex and challenging regulatory environment. This position is well-suited for someone who has good time management skills, a good sense of humor, and takes initiative. Strong oral and written communication skills will also be helpful. The ideal fellow will have a strong scientific background, with a working knowledge of freshwater or estuarine ecology, statistics, or modeling. The fellow’s existing skills will serve as the base to help her or him create scientifically supported policies.
Travel within DC (days per month) 0-3
Travel outside DC (days per month) 0-2 Position ID E18-21
Postion Title Recreational Fishing and International Biodiversity Policy Specialist
Agency U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Office National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center
Portfolio Summary This position entails two primary assignments: (1) Assist a team of research scientists to improve reporting recreational fishing statistics, nationally and internationally, while working closely with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
(2) Support U.S. Government delegation activities on international biodiversity, including the Convention on Biological Diversity Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical, and Technological Advice and/or the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Working Party on Biodiversity, Water, and Ecosystems.
Additional secondary projects can be identified by the Fellow within National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center programmatic priorities.
The most recent fellow served as a co-PI on a grant to study sustainable inland fisheries in Myanmar, coordinated a programmatic strategic science plan, organized a communications strategy for the global inland fisheries group 'InFish,' developed a board game to teach science campers about climate change impacts, and attended conferences and meetings domestically and abroad.
Expertise Desired Mandatory skills: Ability to work effectively in a team setting; experience or interest in climate change and aquatic systems; strong organizational skills; excellent verbal and written communication; cultural awareness and sensitivity. Desired skills: M.S. or Ph.D. in fisheries or aquatic sciences; coursework or job experience in climate science; familiarity with recreational fishing.
Travel within DC (days per month) 1-2
Travel outside DC (days per month) 3-5 Position ID E18-22
Postion Title Fishery Management Specialist
Agency NOAA/NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service
Office OSF/Highly Migratory Species Mgmt. Div.
Portfolio Summary The Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Management Division is responsible for the domestic management of Atlantic tuna, swordfish, billfish, and shark fisheries, including implementation of international agreements. HMS fisheries issues are often controversial, high profile, and representative of the challenges facing NOAA Fisheries agency-wide. These issues range from data collection programs and scientific analyses to fishing regulations to international trade. Given the wide range of HMS fisheries management issues, a Fellow would be able to select from any number of projects of interest.
A Fellow would be a full member of the Division and would work on projects of interest in which the Fellow could either be the lead staff person or be part of a team. Opportunities to visit regional offices, attend/hold meetings, and work on their thesis/dissertation would also be available.
In the upcoming year, the HMS Management Division will be working on several actions, including: - Rules and/or Fishery Management Plan amendments for HMS to implement recent national actions including National Standard 1, Ecosystem Based Fishery Management, and Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology; - Rules and/or Fishery Management Plan amendments for various HMS and HMS issues as a result of negotiations at the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas annual meeting (held in Nov. 2017); - Continued implementation of Individual Bluefin Tuna Quota system and other bluefin tuna management measures; - Rulemaking resulting from shark stock assessments including sandbar shark (expected completion Dec 2017) and Gulf of Mexico blacktip shark (expected completion July 2018); - Rulemaking resulting from new biological opinion(s) on various HMS fisheries; - Addressing recreational fisheries and bycatch issues; and - Creation of tools to better enable constituents to understand HMS fisheries and management.
In the HMS Management Division, a Fellow can expect to gain: - In-depth knowledge of the fishery management process (both domestic and international), objectives, and current issues; - Experience in identifying and estimating the ecological and socioeconomic impacts of proposed fishery management actions; - Understanding on how regulations are written and the requirements of the rulemaking process; - Improved written and oral communication skills; - Contacts with other NOAA Fisheries offices/regions/centers; and - Contacts with State, recreational, commercial, and environmental constituents.
In the HMS Management Division, a Fellow can expect to produce documents supporting rulemaking (environmental assessment, environmental impact statement, regulatory impact reviews, regulatory flexibility analyses) as well as publication of outreach materials (pamphlets, brochures, apps, webpage, social media). Expertise Desired - Strong written and oral communication skills - Some familiarity with analyzing ecological and/or socioeconomic data (e.g., SAS, ArcGIS, Excel, R) - Ability to work in a team setting
Travel within DC (days per month) 0-2
Travel outside DC (days per month) 0-2 Position ID E18-23
Postion Title Fishery Policy Analyst
Agency NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service
Office Sustainable Fisheries, Domestic Fisheries Div
Portfolio Summary With the number of stocks on the overfishing and overfished lists near all-time lows, the United States is considered a world leader for sustainable fisheries. The Domestic Fisheries Division works at the heart of these issues in developing national fisheries policy, guidance, and regulations to interpret the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation Act and other statutes. Under the umbrella of sustainable and resilient fisheries and fishing communities, this position offers you an exciting opportunity to influence sustainable fisheries management at the national level and in coordination with state and regional partners. As a Fellow within Domestic Fisheries, you can expect to lead an independent project related to Division priorities, as well as participate on larger team projects. Potential projects include: •Develop technical guidance to help implement National Standard 1 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Update guidance on the design and use of catch share programs. •Support climate in fisheries team by developing a compilation of scenario planning case studies. •Support bycatch reduction initiatives by developing a webinar series on funded bycatch reduction projects, assisting in developing a performance metric to assess the applicability of bycatch reduction research, and leading the drafting of the annual and required bycatch Report to Congress. •Work with the FishWatch.gov team to develop outreach and sustainability messaging products and new species profiles for the website. We will work with you to identify specific projects that increase your skills while you work on our pressing national fishery management issues. You will have opportunities to work with NOAA Fisheries staff across the country. While not required, some domestic travel is possible. We encourage Fellows to take part in meetings that are both relevant to our needs and of interest to you.
Expertise Desired The Fellow should have strong analytic and communication skills and be able to work as a team member or leader to meet the team objectives. An ideal candidate would have strong skills in marine or environmental policy or economics, fisheries, natural resource management or a related field.
Travel within DC (days per month) 0
Travel outside DC (days per month) 0 Position ID E18-24
Postion Title International Activities Fellow
Agency NOAA Office of Oceanic & Atmospheric Research
Office OAR International Activities Office
Portfolio Summary Located in NOAA’s Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) headquarter office in Silver Spring, Maryland, the International Activities Office (IA) serves as the focal point and principal staff office to the OAR Assistant Administrator (AA) on international policy and science program matters, facilitates international collaboration and partnerships, serves as an interface between the policy and research community, and works with OAR Senior Leadership, laboratories, divisions, programs and NOAA headquarters to identify and act on the international science needs in OAR and NOAA.
Duties of the Fellow will include:
•Serving as the office staff lead for programmatic matters involving environmental science and research activities covering Australia, New Zealand, China, and the Arctic; •Representing OAR/NOAA program interests and positions at US interagency and international meetings; •Providing presentations (generally non-technical) on OAR research programs and interests at formal and informal international meetings; •Reviewing, analyzing and synthesizing information from a variety of sources into reports, correspondence, strategic and other documents for review by OAR senior management; •Preparing briefing materials, position papers, and talking points for OAR and NOAA senior leadership in support of their participation in international meetings; •Providing completed staff work on all substantive and logistical preparations/plans and follow-up for international meetings and events that OAR participates in; •Networking/liaising with relevant representatives from the national and international science/policy community, international organizations, and embassies; •Sharing/coordinating information throughout NOAA, as well as with the national and international counterparts community to advance NOAA priorities in oceanic, atmospheric and climate research.
The Fellow will report to Rene Eppi, Director of the OAR International Activities Office, but will work closely with other IA staff members.
Expertise Desired IA is seeking a Fellow with a background in environmental policy or research. International experience and ability to communicate in another language is welcomed, but not required. Incumbent will be required to work in a fast-paced office environment, should be able to juggle multiple priorities at one time, work well in team setting, possess strong communication skills (both orally and in writing) to carry out assignments, and able to effectively interact with a broad range of professionals and agencies both domestically and overseas.
Travel within DC (days per month) 1-3 Travel outside DC (days per month) 0-6 Position ID E18-25
Postion Title NOAA Research - Strategic Planning and Policy Analyst
Agency NOAA Office of Oceanic & Atmospheric Research
Office Office of Policy Planning and Evaluation
Portfolio Summary Broadly speaking a Fellow, selected for this post, will be a central member of the Strategic Planning team within the Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation (PPE) and will work across the entire Oceanic and Atmospheric Research Line Office (OAR) enterprise to support the strategic planning process at all levels of the organization. Our intent is to provide a systematic way for OAR, and all of its components, to express its vision, describe its values, articulate its mission, develop and accomplish short- and longterm goals, identify strengths and weaknesses, set goals and timelines, and track overall progress. Specific examples of that work include: 1) Direct support for the various OAR Labs and Programs to identify local priorities, establish goals and objectives for achieving those priorities, and ensuring they align with NOAA and Dept. of Commerce plans and guidance, 2) Identifying best practices and lessons learned to inform the development of effective guidance products, program management tools, and educational materials, 3) Conducting data collection and research to identify performance trends, assess potential impacts on OAR, NOAA, and Department of Commerce (DoC) mission objectives, and proposing recommendations for improving organizations performance, 4) Conducting research and analyses to improve the transition of research and development (R&D) results to useful applications, 5) Daily and direct engagement with a wide cross-section of OAR stakeholders to represent the organization and advocate for specific positions.
Expertise Desired It is important to note, that while OAR is primarily a Research and Development organization, the focus of the Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation (PPE) is on the intersection between Science and Administration. To that end, a successful Fellow should: 1) Have an interest in public administration, organizational development, and strategic planning; 2) Have some experience with qualitative research methods like survey design, interview techniques, and group facilitation; 3) Have the ability to plan corporate events like workshops, conferences, and seminars; 4) Have some experience with public speaking and effectively communicating complex, sometimes controversial, information to a diverse audiences; 5) Have well developed writing skills.
Travel within DC (days per month) 2-4 days per month
Travel outside DC (days per month) 2-4 times per year Position ID E18-26
Postion Title Research and Development Advancement Specialist
Agency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Oceanic & Atmospheric Research
Office Office of Labs and Cooperative Institutes (LCI)
Portfolio Summary As a Research and Development (R&D) Advancement Specialist for Labs and Cooperative Institutes (LCI), the Fellow will coordinate collaboration between NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) laboratories, programs, and university partners. The incumbent Fellow will develop an understanding of the diverse scientific activities at OAR’s federal labs with regard to physical, chemical, and biological oceanography and limnology, as well as atmospheric and climate sciences. In so doing, the Fellow will focus her/his effort on two tasks within LCI: (1) Contribute to the management and acceleration of the transition of R&D at OAR labs and cooperative institutes; (2) Coordinate and assist in policy implementation and communication between OAR Headquarters and the OAR labs and Cooperative Institutes.
The fellow will develop analytical and communication skills by working with scientists and teams across OAR, and will be part of a team assuring that OAR R&D has the greatest potential impact. The incumbent will lead projects to determine implications of national and NOAA policies on OAR science. The fellow will also strengthen her/his communication skills by regularly presenting the results of their projects to OAR and NOAA leadership to inform management decisions. Overall, there is flexibility and opportunity to define the Fellow’s duties in such a way as to capitalize on her/his knowledge, experiences, and interests. The Fellow will be expected to execute assignments with creativity, skill, and independence.
OAR’s seven laboratories and 16 Cooperative Institutes conduct a wide range of R&D to improve the understanding and prediction of Earth’s atmosphere, ocean and Great Lakes.
Expertise Desired - Experience in a laboratory or field research environment; - Independence, creativity, and flexibility - Comfort operating common office and technical software applications; - Ability to work in a fast paced team environment; - A sincere interest in helping scientists from multiple disciplines work to improve the overall quality of R&D within NOAA.
Travel within DC (days per month) 1-3
Travel outside DC (days per month) 1-3 Position ID E18-27
Postion Title Senior Scientist
Agency NOAA National Ocean Service
Office Monitoring and Assessment Branch
Portfolio Summary The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), Stressor Detection and Impacts (SDI) Division is an interdisciplinary research program that is nationally recognized for conducting research, monitoring, and assessment of coastal and Great Lakes systems. The SDI Division is comprised of five branches with staff located in the NCCOS facilities in Silver Spring, MD; Charleston, SC; and Beaufort, NC. Stressors are factors that alter the biological performance or state of an ecosystem and for SDI these primarily include: harmful algal blooms, chemical contaminants, nutrients, and pathogens. SDI develops information and baseline condition of stressors through research, monitoring, and assessment. On an annual basis, the SDI Division conducts about 20 projects including the National Status and Trends (NS&T) Program led by the Division’s Monitoring and Assessment Branch located in Silver Spring, MD.
Annually since 2009, NOAA’s Mussel Watch Project (part of the NS&T Program) has been a principle contributor in support of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. This is a coordinated multi federal agency effort that includes partners from NOAA, EPA, USGS, FWS, and USACE.. New in 2018, Great Lakes Mussel Watch will be adding a microplastic pollution pilot project supported by NOAA’s Marine Debris Program. The Great Lakes are the largest freshwater system on Earth, nearly a tenth of the U.S. population lives in the Great Lakes basin and more than 35 million people rely on the Great Lakes for drinking water.
Each year, 3-13 million tons of plastic enter the oceans. 60% of plastic ever produced – 5 billion tons – still remains in landfills or dispersed in the environment today. This is equivalent to 10 times the biomass of all humans on Earth. The highest concentration of microplastics measured anywhere in the world was found in the Great Lakes. Plastic in water can “soak up” chemical pollutants. In a University of Michigan study one-quarter of all Great Lakes fishes and one-third of bivalves examined contained plastic fiber in their stomachs. The implications of microplastic ingestion has not been explored. In the wake of these discoveries, the United Nations has declared plastic pollution among the most critical emerging environmental issues of our time.
A Fellow would be a full member of the NOAA’s Great Lakes Restoration effort in the Monitoring and Assessment Branch and would work on projects of interest in which the Fellow could be either the lead staff person or be part of a team. Opportunities to visit regional laboratories/offices, attend/hold meetings, and work on their thesis would also be available.
In the coming year, Great Lakes Mussel Watch will be working on several actions, including: •Design and execution of a placed-based assessment for chemical and microplastic contamination, and biological health, using caged and in situ bivalves; •Visit with laboratory managers to learn about quantifying these metrics, in water and bivalves; • Work with the data (its management and analysis), including chemical contaminant concentrations in biota, water, and passive integrative water samplers, and biological heath data e.g. metabolomics; •Assist Great Lakes regional coordinators with outreach and policy on chemical and microplastic issues.
From this experience the Fellow can expect to gain: •An in-depth knowledge of chemical and microplastic pollution with relevance to both Great Lakes, marine, and estuarine environs; •Practical experience in summarizing chemicals in biological data for oral and written presentation; •Practical experience in managing logistical challenges in the execution of complex field studies; •Contacts with other NOAA offices/regions/centers including those concerned with management and policy implications of plastic.
Expertise Desired We are looking for someone who can have fun working in a team environment! Ideally, we'd like someone with a few of the following: a background in environmental science, chemistry, toxicology, or fisheries, well- developed analytical abilities, a solid grasp on statistics, a propensity for critical thinking, and clear communication skills.
Expertise Desired: •Strong written and oral communication skills. •Some familiarity with analyzing chemical and biological data (e.g. R, JMP and/or SAS or similar data management and analysis software, ArcGIS, Matlab); basic computer skills are assumed (MW Word, Excel, PowerPoint). •Desire for some field work (4-7 day mission); small boat, shore support, lifting 50lbs. •Ability to work in a team setting.
Travel within DC (days per month) 1-3
Travel outside DC (days per month) 1-3 Position ID E18-28
Postion Title Foreign Affairs Specialist
Agency NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service National Marine Fisheries Service
Office International Affairs and Seafood Inspection
Portfolio Summary Position is located in the International Fisheries Division, Office of International Affairs and Seafood Inspection, although assignments elsewhere in the Office are possible (Commerce and Certification Division). The Foreign Affairs Fellow will: coordinate international issues within NMFS, between NMFS and NOAA, DOS, and with foreign contacts; liaise with NOAA International Affairs Office and the Line Office International Affairs Offices to identify issues of mutual concern and to receive and coordinate requests for information and assistance; prepare background and policy papers for international meetings; maintain and disseminate information regarding international activities; schedule, develop agendas, and prepare background materials and report on meetings of Headquarters and field Directors and staff to discuss international affairs policy issues. Deliverables will include a variety of international communication and reporting products (e.g., demarche cables and meeting reports); briefing books and background papers; policy papers; and talking points for use by negotiators in various international and domestic meetings. It is anticipated that the fellow will be assigned several activities in work areas such as: support inter-office teams assigned to one or more regional fishery management organizations; support the identification/certification process regarding foreign fishing vessels engaging in illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing, unacceptable levels of bycatch, or unsustainable shark conservation practices; support the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora Program; and update the information content of "International Agreements Concerning Living Marine Resources of Interest to NOAA Fisheries."
Expertise Desired Marine Resource Policy or Marine Biology. Strong written and oral communication skills. Ability to analyze and evaluate information and make informed recommendations. Willingness to engage in multiple tasks with short- term deadlines. Ability to work cooperatively with other staff. Ability/willingness to travel domestically and abroad, as necessary. Language skills a plus.
Travel within DC (days per month) 1-3
Travel outside DC (days per month) 1-3 Position ID E18-29
Postion Title NOAA Research – Research and Development Data Specialist
Agency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Oceanic & Atmospheric Research
Office Office of Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes
Portfolio Summary Seeking a Knauss Fellow to also be a part of our dynamic NOAA-wide Research and Development Database (NRDD) Team to provide: Project Management Train users and communicate NRDD implementation results Plan for NRDD improvements and enhancements Help desk support to current and new users Respond to NRDD data requests As an NRDD Team member you will work across NOAA’s offices to develop opportunities to increase the reach of the NRDD. The Knauss Fellow will be expected to build and develop relationships with NOAA offices. Opportunities will also be available to explore and work on headquarters projects that contribute to NOAA’s mission.
As a Research and Development (R&D) Data Specialist for Labs and Cooperative Institutes (LCI), the fellow will work to facilitate collaboration and coordination between NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research’s (OAR) laboratories, programs, and university partners. OAR’s seven laboratories conduct an integrated program of research, technology development, and services to improve the understanding of earth’s atmosphere, oceans and inland waters. The labs and their field stations are located across the country and around the world.
Expertise Desired Experience running virtual meeting software (e.g. GoToMeeting, Polycom VTC, etc.) and operating a website content management system. Experience with scheduling software is useful, but not required. Experience working in and with a team. Sincere interests in helping scientists from multiple disciplines identify common points of interest within their work to improve the overall quality of Research within the OAR enterprise. Preferred working styles include: Self-starter Flexibility Strong communication skills Strong organizational abilities Available for direct mentoring by the Host Office The candidate's interest, motivation and ability to adapt to and participate in a broad suite of activities are more important than an exact educational track.
Travel within DC (days per month) 1-3 days per month Travel outside DC (days per month) 1-3 days per month Position ID E18-30
Postion Title Habitat Focus Area Program Specialist
Agency NOAA Fisheries National Marine Fisheries Service
Office Office of Habitat Conservation
Portfolio Summary This position is based in NOAA Fisheries, Office of Habitat Conservation, Habitat Protection Division. The Habitat Protection Division promotes stewardship of coastal and marine habitat to support our nation’s fisheries for future generations. Our vision is healthy and sustainable habitat that provides a range of benefits for abundant fish and wildlife, commercial and recreational opportunities, and resilient coastal communities that can withstand hurricanes, flooding, and other threats. The division works on a wide variety of topics including: shallow and deep-sea coral, wetlands, estuaries, rivers, Essential Fish Habitat which is designated by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and national policy pertaining to coastal and marine habitats.
Protecting our natural infrastructure—our global life support systems—is vital to protecting our communities and their economies as well as fisheries and recreational opportunities along our coasts. With continued widespread loss and deterioration of coastal and marine habitats, we are in danger of losing this infrastructure. As a strategy to combat this loss, NOAA has identified 10 Habitat Focus Areas (HFA) to increase the effectiveness of NOAA’s habitat conservation science and management efforts. The HFAs are places where NOAA offices work collaboratively and with partners to meet multiple priority habitat conservation objectives on a watershed scale.
The HFA Initiative has garnered significant excitement, receiving positive attention and support from NOAA Leadership and from regional partners. With this initial success, program management opportunities and challenges abound. The Fellow will assist the Habitat Focus Area Program Coordinator in coordinating the Habitat Focus Area Implementation Process, including participating in the National Habitat Focus Area Effectiveness Reviews during spring 2018. This review process will assess the successes and challenges of the original 10 HFAs and develop recommendations for the implementation of potential new HFAs in the future. Coordination roles also include helping to ensure meaningful and productive collaboration between the Office of Habitat Conservation and all Line Offices in NOAA, supporting the 10 Habitat Focus Areas in meeting their objectives by implementing a funding strategy and analyzing opportunities to leverage non-NOAA funding from other federal agencies or partners. The Fellow can also expect to help ensure stakeholders are kept informed of the purpose, objectives, and status of the Habitat Focus Areas through the development of communications products, web stories, and social media. The Fellow will also have the opportunity to work with regional staff and headquarters staff to communicate status and milestones to NOAA leadership and stakeholders on a regular basis.
The Fellow will work directly with the Habitat Focus Area Program Coordinator, but will also work with staff from various Line Offices within NOAA both in Silver Spring and in Regional Offices and Science Centers.
The Fellow will gain experience in:
•Implementing program evaluation processes to assess progress, inform future funding decisions, and identify current and future resource needs or gaps. •Coordinating a national, place-based approach to habitat conservation that encompasses a wide range of habitats. •Developing strategies to advance project funding and staffing and make recommendations for internal funding. •Developing and advancing partnerships with Federal agencies and non-governmental organizations. •Developing communication products. •Improving community engagement to increase the diversity and empower stakeholders.
The Fellow will have the opportunity to establish contacts, pursue program related interests, develop new skills, and become familiar with coastal and living marine resource conservation planning and implementation processes. Both travel and training opportunities will be available.
Expertise Desired Skills desired: 1.Strong interpersonal, communication, and coordination skills. 2.Strong organizational and creative problem solving skills. 3.Strong initiative, independence, and task management skills. 4.Understanding of coastal ecology, fisheries management and science, or habitat restoration and science. 5.Interest in program management and partnerships.
An ideal candidate will be an individual with an environmental policy and science background interested in applying those skills to advancing coastal and marine habitat conservation. Knowledge of, or experience in, partnership building, on the ground conservation, or program management is highly desired. Ability to communicate both verbally and in writing is also a plus.
Travel within DC (days per month) 1-3 days per month
Travel outside DC (days per month) 2-3 trips per year Position ID E18-31
Postion Title Knauss Fellow, Biological Oceanography Program, Division of Ocean Sciences
Agency National Science Foundation
Office Biological Oceanography Program, Division of Ocean Sciences
Portfolio Summary At the National Science Foundation (NSF), you’ll enjoy a front row seat to the Nation’s latest scientific discoveries. As a Knauss Fellow with NSF’s Division of Ocean Sciences (OCE), you will join a team of PhD- level scientists, engineers, and educators tasked with supporting exciting and innovative research, infrastructure, and education to advance understanding of all aspects of the global oceans and ocean basins.
OCE works with the U.S. ocean sciences academic community to direct funding towards advancing the frontiers of knowledge, developing the next generation of researchers, and enhancing the public’s understanding of ocean sciences. The Division represents this community in the Federal context, coordinates with other Federal agencies and with international partners on research funding and infrastructure management, and participates in the development of policy through national and international forums and programs. These activities provide knowledge critical to addressing many of our Nation’s most pressing challenges involving ocean processes.
OCE’s Biological Oceanography Program supports basic research in marine ecology broadly defined: relationships among aquatic organisms and their interactions with ocean or Great Lakes environments. The Program supports research and educational activities directed at understanding all types of marine organisms, from marine microbes to upper trophic level taxa, and participates in interdisciplinary activities encompassing coastal and ocean interactions with people and the integrated Earth system.
OCE and the Biological Oceanography Program have a long history of hosting Knauss Fellows, working to match the expertise and interests of Fellows with office priorities for the fellowship year. In the upcoming year, the Knauss Fellow will contribute to a range of activities in the Biological Oceanography Program. These may include facilitation of peer review and award recommendations for proposals submitted to the Program, communication with the research community, analysis of community input on proposed projects, and identification and articulation of the merits of research that warrants support. S/he may also help develop workshops and participate in community activities to develop new areas of oceanographic research.
In addition to contributions to the core Biological Oceanography Program as described above, we anticipate opportunities for a Fellow to participate in a range of activities focused on data management, data sharing policies, and developing cyberinfrastructure to support "big data" approaches to earth system sciences. In the coming year, we will be planning a 40-year review of the Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Program and a Fellow could become involved in this effort. Depending on interests, Fellows can also participate in interagency activities to develop and implement national research priorities and engage in other cross- foundational activities within OCE.
In terms of your own professional development, you may also: attend talks and distinguished lectures given by international luminaries from all fields of scientific inquiry; participate in the broad suite of personal development training programs offered at the Foundation; increase your breadth of knowledge by reading and reviewing proposals in and outside your area of expertise; gain intense learning experiences through observing peer review panels where leading and upcoming researchers engage in dialogue about cutting-edge science; broaden interdisciplinary understanding through participation in the development of new solicitations and the initiation of new programmatic emphases; and interact with the scientific community at national meetings and workshops.
OCE and the Biological Oceanography Program look forward to discussing interests and experience of the potential Fellows. This position will have numerous opportunities for the Fellow to explore topics of their own interests and learn from experts in their desired fields.
Expertise Desired Background in marine science and/or ecology preferred.
Travel within DC (days per month) 1-3 Days/Month
Travel outside DC (days per month) Variable Position ID E18-32
Postion Title Ocean Sciences Policy Fellow
Agency National Science Foundation
Office Ocean Sciences Division
Portfolio Summary The Ocean Sciences Policy Fellow will provide ocean policy, governance, and operational support to the NSF Division of Ocean Sciences, interagency committees within the Executive Office of the President, and community advisory entities. The Fellow will learn from and work collaboratively with NSF’s Ocean Policy Specialist within the Ocean Sciences Division. Through this position, the Fellow will gain experience in the development of policy positions and recommendations, and the preparation and analysis of policy-related documents, supporting interagency committees and advisory entities (such as the National Science and Technology Council’s Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology), contributing to ocean science and technology aspects of ocean policy implementation, and providing general support for the NSF Division of Ocean Sciences in managing, coordinating, or responding to ocean policy, governance, or related activities. NSF’s ocean policy specialist who will also be directly supervising this position, looks forward to discussing specific interests and experience of the potential Fellows. Apart from the specific duties mentioned below, the position will have numerous opportunities for the Fellow to explore topics of their own interests and learn from experts in their desired fields. Specific duties include: •Supports high-level ocean science and technology interagency committees and community advisory entities, including but not limited to: oCoordinates committee leadership and membership meetings, including but not limited to record keeping and scheduling; oContributes to and assists in efficient and effective progress toward committee strategic direction; oTracks and assists with completion of committee actions, including mandates from Administration policy and Congressional statute; oAssists with special projects and preparation of reports, policy documents, memos, and publications; oAssists with interagency communication and connectivity, including developing and participating in collaborative projects within the ocean science and technology policy field; and oAssists with tracking and implementing national-level ocean policy actions. •Supports NSF leadership on ocean policy and governance matters, including but not limited to: oAssists with developing policy options, recommendations, and NSF positions; and oAssists with NSF representation on interagency entities; oAssists with NSF planning, research, and analysis of documents and activities related to ocean policy and governance; oContributes to ocean science and technology aspects of interagency ocean policy and governance planning and implementation. oSupports interagency ocean policy, governance, or related projects; oProvides general support for the NSF Division of Ocean Sciences in managing, coordinating, or responding to ocean policy, governance, or related activities; oProvides support across the needs of the research and education enterprise through program, division, directorate, Foundation, or interagency activities; oProvides policy and governance input for other programs in NSF, including international and cross-directorate programs as assigned (this includes exposure to international maritime law and environmental agreements) oParticipates in staff, committee, and other meetings, providing input relevant to program area and/or division; oPrepares and disseminate a variety of informational documents; oEstablishes contacts and maintains active involvement in programs and related areas through participation in professional activities; oMaintains familiarity with salient current research and policy developments.
Expertise Desired Ideally, the Ocean Sciences Policy Fellow will have at least basic knowledge of ocean or ocean-related science and technology fields and issues; understanding of or interest in ocean or ocean-related science and technology policy and governance, ocean or ocean-related policy analysis, development, and/or implementation; familiarity with the interplay between science and policy and the desire to learn skills to communicate across these areas; exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to coordinate and track multiple, simultaneous activities; and skill in technical writing.
Travel within DC (days per month) Frequent/variable Travel outside DC (days per month) variable Position ID E18-33
Postion Title Program Analyst in Budget Formulation
Agency NOAA Office of Oceanic & Atmospheric Research
Office OAR CFO Formulation and Congressional Analysis Division (FCA)
Portfolio Summary The Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) is the line office within NOAA primarily responsible for research and development. Formulation and Congressional Analysis (FCA) is a division under the OAR Chief Financial Officer. FCA is responsible for all aspects of the strategic formulation of the budget and for managing OAR’s communications with Congress.
FCA is looking for a fellow to be part of the budget formulation team. In this position, the fellow will get to participate in the federal budgeting process from start to finish - from aligning the money planned for NOAA's research programs with the needs of the nation, to delivering and defending the budget to congress, and answering questions for congressional briefings and hearings. “Budget Formulation” is not just numbers and spreadsheets, but is a communication tool that provides descriptions of NOAA’s research programs and products and why they are important to the American people. A key aspect of this job is communication - the ability to describe NOAA's research programs to a non-scientific audience, and to articulate why the money we request for our programs is important. This job serves a direct role in both aiding the development of research priorities and helping our scientists get the funding they need to carry out their work.
The fellow will work with others in FCA to ensure effective representation of OAR’s research, programs, roles, policies, and interests in budget materials delivered to Congress. The fellow will work closely and serve as a point of contact between OAR’s scientists and subject matter experts (learning about research portfolios that span climate, weather, and ocean research), OAR’s senior management, and the NOAA Headquarters’ Budget Office. Roles and responsibilities include: develop and defend OAR's budget; collaborate with planning groups to develop the future year budget; interpret congressional appropriation actions; and respond to questions from Congress.
As a member of FCA, the fellow will gain an excellent understanding of the legislative, budgetary, and decision- making processes within Congress, NOAA, and the wider Executive Branch. In cooperation with NOAA’s Office of Legislative Affairs and NOAA's Budget Office, the fellow will have an opportunity to support OAR scientists and senior management at hearings and briefings on Capitol Hill. The fellow will learn to translate scientific information for delivery to a congressional audience as well as learn to interpret congressional action for a scientific audience. The fellow may receive the opportunity to travel to some of OAR’s labs located across the country to meet with scientists and subject matter experts. The fellow will also gain management skills, as she/he will learn to coordinate many individuals to receive, interpret, and clear information within tight deadlines. The fellow will have the opportunity to work at the senior level on a range of issues relating to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems; climate; weather; and air quality research. We will work with the Fellow to tailor duties to best fit his/her interests and future career goals.
Expertise Desired Mandatory Skills: 1) Strong writing and editing skills to revise scientific information into clear, non-technical text 2) Strong communication skills and interpersonal skills 3) Knowledge of Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, Excel.
Desired Background Skills: 1) Ability to work in a team and practice give-and-take as needed with workloads and assignments 2) An interest in working at the intersection of science, policy, and budget 3) Ability to learn quickly with an interest in issues that cut across the fields of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems; climate; weather; and air quality research (the fellow will frequently work on a number of issues simultaneously)
Travel within DC (days per month) 3-5
Travel outside DC (days per month) 1-3 Position ID E18-34
Postion Title Climate Program Analyst
Agency NOAA Office of Oceanic & Atmospheric Research
Office Climate Program Office
Portfolio Summary The Climate Variability and Predictability (CVP) Program, within NOAA's Climate Program Office (CPO, www. cpo.noaa.gov), is a competitive grants program focused on interdisciplinary Earth system science research that will expand the scientific understanding of climate and weather phenomena. Current research priorities include understanding the Madden-Julian Oscillation in the tropical Indian Ocean, circulation of the Atlantic Ocean, sea level rise, El Niño, the rapid decline in Arctic sea ice and its regional impacts,and the connection between weather and climate. CVP maintains a broad network of collaborators within CPO and across NOAA, notably including the OAR Labs and Cooperative Institutes, as well as with universities and other research entities. It is expected that the fellow will sustain and grow these connections by visiting some of these centers and by attending scientific coordination meetings with agency program managers from NSF, NASA, DOE, and the Office of Naval Research (ONR) for developing and prioritizing research initiatives. The fellow will also see first- hand how large field campaigns such as the Years of the Maritime Continent and ONR’s PISTON campaign are orchestrated from the perspective of a program office. The fellow will develop a broad understanding of the important role of NOAA in supporting mission-driven climate research.
The fellow will be an integral part of a team and will assist in the development, promotion, and management of the CVP program, which is currently focused on managing new projects that will participate in the joint ONR- NOAA PISTON Field Campaign and a research cruise aboard the R/V Ron Brown, which are parts of the Years of the Maritime Continent. The CVP program is looking for a person coordinate program activities such as planning a series of webinar meetings next year, assisting with panels reviews, and leading CVP communication activities like developing articles for a newsletter, and assisting with website updates. Some of the fellow's duties include analysis, background research and reporting on CVP research areas, international, national, and regional climate issues, congressional activities, and participation in the US Climate Variability and Predictability Research Program (US CLIVAR). The fellow may also work with the CVP program manager on program development and strategic planning which capitalizes on NOAA's unique strengths. The fellow will participate in activities with CPO's planning as well as across NOAA's research laboratories.
The fellow will gain an in-depth understanding of NOAA’s climate capabilities and its grants program. The fellow will have an opportunity to participate in workshops, conferences, interagency meetings, and NOAA Laboratory visits as well as study the policy implications of scientific research supported by CVP. This position is open to finalists who would like to gain experience in the inner workings of a Federal science and service agency, its relationship to Congress, other Executive Branch Agencies, and the relationship of climate science and policy activities of the administration. The fellow will interact with high-level NOAA staff and world-class climate experts on a variety of climate issues. Through their work in the Climate Program Office, the fellow will gain a strong background in climate-related science and policy issues that will be useful for his/her career beyond the fellowship. This office is an experienced host of Sea Grant Fellows for several years running. Finalists with policy and/or scientific backgrounds including geophysical sciences are encouraged to apply.
Expertise Desired 1) Ability and willingness to work on several simultaneous tasks, sometimes with short-term deadlines 2) Ability to work effectively individually and in teams with diverse people and organizations 3) Knowledge of Microsoft Office and Google Apps 4) An interest in a range of climate-related issues (climate science, connection of climate issues to policymakers, climate information in support of decision-making)
Travel within DC (days per month) 1-3 days/month
Travel outside DC (days per month) 1-3 days/month Position ID E18-35
Postion Title Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation Division Communication Fellow
Agency NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service
Office Office of Protected Resources
Portfolio Summary The Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP) in the Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation Division in the NMFS Office of Protected Resources is a fast-paced, exciting program combining emergency response to marine mammal health emergencies and overarching national coordination on marine mammal health and stranding issues. The program consists of several components: biomonitoring and research, response capabilities such as the National Marine Mammal Stranding Network, the Large Whale Disentanglement Network, John H. Prescott Rescue Assistance Grant Program, and Marine Mammal Unusual Mortality Event investigations. Other programs within the Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation Division include the Large Whale Recovery and Sea Turtle Conservation programs. This year a major focus of this fellowship will be to develop processes to enhance the Division’s external communications, to highlight the value of, and challenges surrounding, marine animal health and emergency response to marine mammal and sea turtle health crises, including Unusual Mortality Events, mass strandings, cold stun events, and euthanasia. The specific responsibilities of the position can be tailored to match the interests of the Fellow, but several communication needs are already apparent. Current communication methods used by the Program include webpages, social media, and targeted, online outreach. The webpages of the Office of Protected Resources are consistently the most popular web content within the NOAA Fisheries domain; the MMHSRP and sea turtle pages and stories are frequently visited. In addition, social media posts about stranded or distressed marine mammals are popular. Past targeted outreach has included working with the NMFS Communications office during special theme weeks, such as Whale Week, that reached over 325,000 people, as well as Sea Turtle Week, which has regularly been one of the most popularly social media outreach events of the year. These communication efforts have been successful, but are currently fairly limited and there is significant room for our Program to improve with the help of the 2018 Fellow. Occasions to assist with field activities in emergency responses or wild animal health investigations are also available. Additionally, there are a number of opportunities for policy and guidance document preparation, both related to communications and more generally on other marine mammal issues. Finally, the Fellow could also work on issues for the sea turtle team, sea turtle website, NMFS’ sea turtle week, and/or other programs within the Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation Division such as the large whale recovery program, depending on opportunities, interest and experience. All of these responsibilities will involve working closely with headquarters Program staff, marine mammal stranding coordinators in the regions, and marine mammal response organizations across the U.S. and offer the 2018 Fellow the opportunity to make connections with regional marine mammal stranding networks and regional offices. The program works with a large number of constituents and there are numerous opportunities for enhancing our internal and external partnerships, including with the media and on social media. Duties may include: • Preparing diverse communication materials such as web content, developing monthly web stories highlighting both our work and the work of our partners, improving the use of social media to effectively convey our messages to the public, as well as briefing materials, pamphlets, factsheets and other materials that support visibility and awareness about marine mammal issues; • Working with the OPR Communications lead, F/Communications and the relevant programs to prepare the delivery of Whale Week and Sea Turtle week • Supporting staff with development of marine mammal policy and guidance documents; and • Participating in marine mammal emergency response or field activities. We will work with the Fellow to determine other projects based upon existing opportunities/needs and their skills and interests, to maximize their success in this position.
Expertise Desired Specific projects will vary depending upon expertise of the Fellow and the high priority needs of these emergency management programs. In general, the Fellow should have a background in biology/animal sciences, communication, or policy; while prior experience with marine mammal or sea turtles would be a plus, it is not a prerequisite. The Fellow should have excellent writing skills, good oral communication skills, be well suited to working in a team environment in unpredictable, fast-paced programs; be fluent in Word, Excel, and Powerpoint; and have experience with social media platforms.
Travel within DC (days per month) 1 Travel outside DC (days per month) variable; 2-4 trips expected over the year Position ID E18-37
Postion Title Senior Adviser, Environment
Agency National Science Foundation
Office Office of Polar Programs
Portfolio Summary The Fellow would participate in the development of marine and terrestrial protected area management plans and in the development of policy positions on environmental protection in Antarctica, including marine areas. Projects would also include reviewing environmental impact assessments for U.S. science and operational activities in Antarctica, reviewing Antarctic Conservation Act permits and helping to manage a newly implemented permitting system. Some work would involve environmental assessments of science activities in the Arctic. The skills gained would include an understanding of interagency and international governance within the context of the Antarctic Treaty system, understanding of a federal permitting process under the Antarctic Conservation Act, familiarity with aspects of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, Endangered Species Act and NEPA as they relate to work in the Antarctic, understanding the relationship between marine and terrestrial components of complex ecosystems, proficiency in environmental impact assessment process and in the development and preparation of management plans. Ultimately the Fellow would gain an understanding of a broad range of environmental protection activities and their interrelationship with scientific research and operational activities in Antarctica. The deliverables will include position papers for senior management on a range of environmental, ecosystem management, and protection issues within the Antarctic Treaty system. Work would involve interagency activities related to the Antarctic Treaty System, the Protocol on Environmental Protection and the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources.
Expertise Desired A background in ecosystem science, environmental science, interdisciplinary studies, or environmental policy would be useful. Field experience would be a plus. The work style of Polar Programs is collaborative and interactive and involves working with scientists and engineers, as well as with environment, safety and logistics experts.
Travel within DC (days per month) 1 or 2
Travel outside DC (days per month) variable, up to 45 Position ID E18-38
Postion Title Marine Policy Fellow, OPC
Agency NOAA/NWS/NCEP National Weather Service
Office Ocean Prediction Center
Portfolio Summary The National Weather Service (NWS) National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) is “where America’s climate and weather services begin.” Located at the NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction (NCWCP) in College Park, MD, NCEP oversees the 9 national centers that deliver national and global weather, water, climate, and space weather guidance, forecasts, warnings and analysis to a broad range of users and partners. These products and services respond to user needs to protect life and property, enhance the Nation’s economy, and support the Nation’s growing need for environmental information. NCEP plays an essential role in building a “Weather-Ready Nation”— building community resilience in the face of increasing vulnerability to extreme weather and water events.
The Fellow will work primarily with the Ocean Prediction Center (OPC). OPC provides marine weather forecasts and hazardous marine weather warnings and forecasts crucial for safe navigation in offshore waters and the high seas while meeting U.S. obligations under the international Safety of Life at Sea Convention.
The OPC Director is also the NOAA Vice-Chair to the US Group on Earth Observations (GEO), under the National Science and Technology Council, Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP); NWS representative to the NOAA's RESTORE Act Science Program Executive Oversight Board; the lead NWS representative to NOAA-Navy Arctic Working Group, and is heavily involved in activities of the Joint World Meteorological Organization/Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Technical Committee on Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM). The Fellow will directly support the OPC Director in these roles.
Working in OPC will provide the Fellow the opportunity work on a variety of marine weather, Arctic, and ocean related policy issues, while gaining the perspective of an operational forecasting center. The Fellow will interact with a wide range of programs, subject matter experts, and senior management and will gain insight into how decisions are made in international bodies as well as within OSTP, NOAA, NWS, and NCEP.
Duties may also include: -- Developing a legislative strategy and plan for NCEP. The Fellow will learn the congressional and legislative process, and be responsible for tracking legislation, attending hearings, assisting in the preparation for congressional visits and briefings, and reviewing congressional correspondence. The Fellow will serve as a liaison to NWS HQ and NOAA HQ congressional affairs.
-- Coordinating changes to an interagency agreement on the operation of the National Ice Center (NIC). NIC is a Navy-NOAA-Coast Guard multi-agency operational center which provides provide global to tactical scale ice and snow products, ice forecasting, and other environmental intelligence services for the United States government. NWS will be joining NIC as a NOAA partner, and a substantial amount of inter-line office and interagency coordination will be required.
-- Developing plans and inputs to the NWS annual operating planning, to implement OPC’s new Strategic Plan, 2017-2021.
-- Developing a robust customer outreach plan for OPC, to provide guidance and focus for outreach and communication efforts.
-- Preparing, editing, and reviewing policy documents, briefings, and presentations.
OPC is flexible in designing this position to accommodate the Fellow’s interests, which could include legislative affairs, communications, public affairs, education and outreach, international issues, and NOAA cross-line office collaboration. There will be opportunities for the Fellow to visit Centers outside of College Park. By the end of the fellowship, the individual will develop/strengthen policy and communication skills and gain knowledge on NOAA products and services and how those are being used to improve the Nation’s readiness, responsiveness, and overall resilience against extreme weather, water, and climate events.
Expertise Desired Mandatory Skills: Excellent written and oral communication skills, strong interpersonal skills, excellent organizational skills, ability to translate technical information to a variety of audiences, and strong attention to detail are required.
Desired background skills: the ideal candidate will be an individual with a marine science or policy background interested in applying policy work to operational forecasting missions;, ability to work independently, and take on initiative. An educational background in meteorology or climate science is not required.
Travel within DC (days per month) 5-10
Travel outside DC (days per month) TBD, 1-2 Position ID E18-39
Postion Title Evaluations Fellow
Agency NOAA Research Office of Oceanic & Atmospheric Research
Office Policy, Planning & Evaluation
Portfolio Summary The fellow will co-manage 1-2 Federal Lab reviews, 1 federal Program Evaluation, annual Operations and Management reviews, and author evaluation papers, implementation guidelines and other aligned documents as directed.
Expertise Desired Successful fellows in this position have had strong writing skills, including the ability to synthesize information from a variety of sources; they possess an ability to deliver products and customer/stakeholder support with minimal direction; they are willing to tackle assignments outside of their comfort zone/expertise; they recognize that as a headquarters office, PPE interacts with the entire portfolio of OAR and are interested in and willing to learn about and support that portfolio.
Travel within DC (days per month) 1-2
Travel outside DC (days per month) travel outside of the office for official business may amount to 15 days per year but in segments of 3-5 days. Position ID E18-40
Postion Title Science Communications Specialist
Agency NOAA Office of Oceanic & Atmospheric Research
Office National Sea Grant Office
Portfolio Summary The Sea Grant Science Communication Specialist will sit at the center of the complex and important transfer of information that exists between research to policy, research and management, and perhaps most importantly, between research and every day use. Sea Grant is a unique federal-university partnership program. It is not solely a federal program. Rather, it’s a network of university-based scientists and outreach specialists located within the coastal communities they assist. Communicating about Sea Grant’s work requires an understanding of the connections and information paths between university-based research, community needs, government partnerships, and science-based policy. It requires one to become rooted in what marine and coastal science policy mean “on the ground” to individuals and communities. This fellowship experience will allow the Science Communication Specialist to gain a broad understanding of how these many entities work together for coastal communities while maintaining their important distinctions.
The Science Communication Specialist will use their science-based foundation to gain experience drilling down complex messages into a variety of formats to reach the many audiences of the National Sea Grant Office, including NOAA and executive branch leadership, Congress, federal and non-federal partners, community leaders, and the general public.
During this fellowship, the project subject matter will be as diverse as Sea Grant’s work. All projects will involve gathering information, condensing and summarizing information based on audience needs and product goals, developing products to highlight the information, delivering effective communication products, and tracking impact.
Assignments may include interviewing Sea Grant researchers and extension specialists on research to application efforts and then using the interviews for written stories and visual support products; researching and developing infographics to explain Sea Grant efforts related to aquaculture research and industry; and researching and developing video products on coastal community resilience. Skills and experiences will include:
•Science writing •Planning and delivering oral briefings to NOAA leadership and Sea Grant partners •Development of data visualization and digital animation products •Development of highly visual web content to supplement written content •Travel to interview Sea Grant professionals and partners •Operation of basic video and photography equipment to illustrate stories (Go Pro, smart phone, digital SLR) •Communication planning •Evaluation of communication efforts
The National Sea Grant Office is an interesting office environment with a highly experienced staff that is always eager to lend a hand. Close interaction with the 33 Sea Grant programs around the country make for an office atmosphere that is collegial, intellectually stimulating, flexible, grounded in the community good, and always focused on bringing the country's intellectual might to bear on the coasts' most pressing issues.
Expertise Desired Mandatory Skills: None.
Desired Background Skills: The Sea Grant Science Communication Fellow should have the ability to think and work across disciplines and issues. Excellent written and verbal communication and creative problem-solving skills are also valued. The Fellow must be a self-starter with strong interpersonal and organizational abilities and be comfortable interacting with high-level NOAA officials, other federal and state partners, and Sea Grant university-based researchers, extension staff, educators, and communicators. This position does not require any specific topical expertise. The Fellow should have a strong background in any of the following: biological, physical, environmental, meteorological, or social sciences; economics; resource management; or coastal and marine law and policy. Research or applied experience in issues related to fisheries, aquaculture, environmental or natural resource science, or environmental policy and education is desirable. Some understanding of data visualization methods and tools as well as GIS knowledge is preferred. An interest in learning video and photography techniques for science communication and in learning creative software used to develop communication products (i.e. Adobe Creative Cloud products) is desirable. Travel within DC (days per month) 1
Travel outside DC (days per month) 2 Position ID E18-41
Postion Title Education Policy Fellow
Agency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Headquarters Office
Office Office of Education
Portfolio Summary
NOAA Office of Education (OEd), with locations in downtown Washington D.C. and Silver Spring, M.D., is a Headquarters Staff Office within the Office of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. OEd has three areas of emphasis: education leadership and coordination; higher education student opportunities; and competitive education grants and partnerships. The Office is charged with ensuring that NOAA’s education programs and activities are well coordinated, serve constituents’ needs, and support the agency’s mission. OEd seeks a Sea Grant fellow to fulfill the position of Education Policy Fellow in the Washington, D.C. office. The fellow will have a diverse and flexible portfolio, which will include tasks such as providing support to OEd’s efforts in the following areas:
● Partnerships: The fellow will have the opportunity to work at the nexus of NOAA, a science-mission agency, and innovative educational institutions such as the Exploratorium, the Science On a Sphere Users Network, and the Coastal Ecosystems Learning Centers network to translate NOAA’s science into the programs of these organizations. The fellow will also have the opportunity to work directly with NOAA’s Science On a Sphere exhibit in Silver Spring, M.D.
● NOAA Education Council: The Council serves as a forum in NOAA for the discussion of ideas and proposals for NOAA-wide education and outreach activities and priorities and makes recommendations to NOAA leadership on all aspects of NOAA’s educational activities. The fellow will have an opportunity to work with the Executive Secretary and the Chair of the NOAA Education Council to support Council activities and advance NOAA’s education priorities. Duties may include: working with NOAA’s lead educators to improve intra-agency programmatic coordination, planning and executing meetings and events related to the Education Council, supporting the implementation of the NOAA Education Strategic Plan, and designing and editing the annual NOAA Education Accomplishments Report.
● Interagency efforts: Office of Education represents NOAA in several interagency activities (e.g., Federal Committee on STEM Education, National Ocean Policy’s Interagency Working Group on Ocean Education). The fellow will have the opportunity to support the Office Director and Deputy Director in these efforts by drafting agendas, attending meetings, and determining best approaches for representing NOAA’s interests effectively in such fora.
● Competitive grants: The fellow will have the opportunity to support the Environmental Literacy and Bay- Watershed Education and Training programs. These programs provide national and regional grants to organizations that create, implement, and/or evaluate programs that address NOAA’s educational goals for formal and informal education audiences. Specific duties may include: assisting with grants processing and programmatic planning, interacting with external partners and grantees, planning annual workshops and monthly meetings, and representing OEd at meetings and conferences. The fellow benefits by gaining an insider’s perspective on how federal grant competitions are managed while supporting NOAA’s efforts to build public engagement and understanding.
The fellow will also have the opportunity to support other efforts and projects in OEd as they relate to the fellow’ s background and specific interests. These opportunities may include: providing support to the OEd Director and Deputy Director and interacting with NOAA leadership, assisting with education-related outreach events and communication efforts, developing content or presentations for Science On a Sphere, and preparing and assisting the OEd Director with Congressional visits. Through these duties, the fellow will learn about federal grantmaking and management, have opportunities for networking with future partners and potential employers, and work across NOAA Line Offices in support of education.
Expertise Desired The fellow should possess the following skills and abilities: application of fact finding and investigative techniques; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to thrive in a highly collaborative and dynamic workplace; excellent written and oral communication skills; demonstrated organization skills; attention to detail; and, experience with MS Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). Also, it is desirable that the fellow possesses the following: degree, experience, or enthusiasm in education or educational outreach; experience and interest in translating science and policy for general audiences; experience with grant writing or proposal submission process; and, knowledge of, or prior involvement with, environmental or science education programs and activities. Travel within DC (days per month) 3-6
Travel outside DC (days per month) 1-3 Note: NESDIS plans to fund one position, therefore E18-42 and E18-44 have been combined. NESDIS will be using their interview time to talk to fellows about one or both positions, depending on the interests of the fellow. Please see below for descriptions of both possible positions. Position ID E18-42
Position Title Ocean Satellite Product Development Scientist
Agency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service
Office NOAA CoastWatch/OceanWatch
Portfolio Summary The NOAA CoastWatch/OceanWatch Program (CoastWatch) provides access to global and regional satellite data products for use in understanding, managing and protecting ocean and coastal resources and for assessing impacts of environmental change in ecosystems, weather, and climate. Satellite remote sensing observations for several physical and biogeochemical ocean parameters (e.g., sea surface temperature, sea surface height, ocean color, sea ice, ocean winds, etc.) are now robust and routine and ready to be used operationally, that is, used on a sustained and routine basis in the service of operational applications. However, “value-added” satellite products are needed to reduce the barriers between the remotely-sensed physical retrievals and the incorporation of these observations into applications and information as needed for environmental management and decision-making. CoastWatch seeks a Knauss fellow to identify a particular environmental management topic of interest that would benefit from satellite ocean (including coastal areas and US Great Lakes) observations and develop a value-added satellite product that would be useful to resource managers (users can be either within or external to NOAA). This project would cover investigation of the needs of resources managers, conceptual design of a product that would meet their needs, initial development of that product, and sharing and iterating product development with constituent users until there is a good indication as to whether this product idea should be developed for operations or dropped (i.e., no consensus on usefulness). Beyond these initial steps, and depending upon the fellow’s strengths and interests, progress could continue either vertically and/or horizontally. Vertically, meaning if the product developed in the early stage shows promise, then continuing to develop that product in order to bring it to experimental routine production (validation of the product, automation of production, documentation, etc.). Horizontally, meaning the investigation and early design and iteration of another value-added product. A showcase example of satellite remote sensing based value-added products comes from NOAA Coral Reef Watch where satellite sea surface temperature observations form the basis of a series of products, including a “bleaching and heat stress gauge” that provide guidance to coral reef resource managers. Some suggested areas of development could include products especially useful for NOAA line offices, such as integrated ecosystem management of fisheries stocks (NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service) or ocean acidification (NOAA/Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research), or might include reaching outside of NOAA to serve other federal or local agency needs, for example water quality at Maryland Department of Natural Resources. However, the fellow is encouraged to independently identify other areas where value-added ocean satellite products could help reduce barriers to using these observations. This project will provide the opportunity to interact with resource managers and decision-makers as well as satellite scientists. The fellow will gain valuable perspective on the practical aspects of policy implementation. A primary mentor is assigned. Additional collaborators/mentors may be identified depending on the direction of the fellow’s project.
Expertise Desired The fellow should have an interest in supporting environmental resource management challenges through the use of satellite remotely sensed ocean/aquatic parameters. This project will involve communication with resource managers, so excellent communications skills (speaking, writing, participating in groups, presentations, etc.) are required. A good scientific understanding of the environmental resource of focus is essential. Some understanding of resource management and/or policies that guide the management are desirable (to relate to management criteria, strategy, challenges, etc.). Technical skills desired include at least being comfortable with manipulating large data sets and basic programming. Applicants with stronger quantitative and computational skills will have an advantage if the interest is to vertically develop a project to experimental production.
Travel within DC (days per month) 5
Travel outside DC (days per month) 0 Position ID E18-44
Postion Title NOAA CoastWatch Outreach and Education Specialist
Agency NOAA National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service
Office Center for Satellite Applications and Research, Satellite Oceanography and Climatology Division
Portfolio Summary The NOAA CoastWatch/OceanWatch program provides access to global and regional satellite data products for use in understanding, managing and protecting ocean and coastal resources and for assessing impacts of environmental change in ecosystems, weather, and climate. The program is working to increase engagement with users and product outreach and educational materials to support users and inform non-experts about the utility of satellite data for oceanographic research and applications. The fellow in this office will develop outreach and education materials for the NOAA CoastWatch/OceanWatch program. Outreach activities will include production of “meet our scientist” videos, blog posts on satellite oceanography and management of social media content. Educational activities will include production of online tutorials and training materials. The fellow will be menorted work with the CoastWatch/OceanWatch Outreach and Education Coordinator and will work closely with NOAA scientists in the Satellite Oceanography and Climatology Division and NOAA CoastWatch/OceanWatch regional nodes.
Expertise Desired The fellow should have an interest in satellite oceanography and translating science for non-experts. The fellow should enjoy taking initiative on projects and be interested in outreach and communications. Expertise in satellite oceanography is desired but not required.
Travel within DC (days per month) 0-1
Travel outside DC (days per month) 0-7 Position ID E18-43
Postion Title Aquaculture Program Fellow
Agency NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service
Office Office of Aquaculture
Portfolio Summary The Sea Grant Fellow will work in the National Marine Fisheries Service's (NMFS) Office of Aquaculture (OAQ) but will also interact frequently with our regional and science center staff, as well as the other two headquarters offices that comprise NOAA's Aquaculture Program (see below). The Fellow may work with on a variety of projects including: -Develop innovative communications and outreach products -Support aquaculture efforts at the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) -Work with NOAA scientists to better translate and communicate their research -Support work to analyze the impact of research completed through federal grants
Generally, we anticipate the Aquaculture Program Sea Grant Fellow to spend time working in our communications and international science fora. However, if our fellow has specific skills or interests in other areas, we can work with him/her to develop suitable projects.
Background Currently, over 90% of the seafood Americans consume is imported and half of that is farmed. That imbalance has led to an annual seafood trade deficit of $14 billion. A robust domestic aquaculture industry - as a complement to wild harvest fisheries – will help to support U.S. jobs, maintain working waterfronts, provide a domestic alternative to increased dependence on imported seafood, and maintain healthy oceans. Aquaculture is also used as a tool to restore or enhance wild stocks, endangered species, and habitats (e.g., salmon hatcheries and oyster reef restoration). Our mission is to provide science, services, and policies to support the significant expansion and sustainability of U.S. marine aquaculture. We work with other federal and state agencies to make the aquaculture regulatory process more efficient within the context of the agency’s stewardship missions. We support research on innovative aquaculture practices such as developing more sustainable aquaculture feeds, spatial planning, and developing ways to predict and avoid environmental effects. We also have a strong outreach focus to inform the public about marine aquaculture topics.
About the Program The NOAA Aquaculture Program leads NOAA’s efforts to support development of sustainable marine aquaculture. The Program includes activities in three NOAA line offices - National Marine Fisheries Service, National Ocean Service, and Oceanic & Atmospheric Research - each with distinct and complementary roles.
NMFS Office of Aquaculture NMFS focuses on addressing the regulatory, technical, and scientific barriers to domestic marine aquaculture development. The headquarters office and regional aquaculture coordinators address regulatory bottlenecks by implementing permitting efficiencies around the nation. NMFS also comprises the majority of NOAA’s in-house aquaculture research, with activities at Science Centers in Milford, CT; Manchester, WA; and La Jolla, CA. Research and development efforts focus on developing science-based tools for management to assess and minimize potential environmental impacts and developing new culture techniques and technologies.
Oceanic & Atmospheric Research (OAR) Sea Grant Program OAR’s Sea Grant Program integrates aquaculture research, extension and education through the national office and 33 state Sea Grant programs across the U.S. coasts and Great Lakes. Sea Grant manages NOAA’s primary extramural grant competition for aquaculture industry development. These grants support research and extension activities at universities, industry, and environmental organizations. Sea Grant extension agents live and work in coastal communities, providing science-based information to local governments and citizen groups, and transferring technologies to industry.
National Ocean Service (NOS) National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) NOS’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) supports coastal managers and the aquaculture industry by developing coastal planning and management tools and services, including assessing potential environmental impacts of aquaculture. These efforts provide the scientific intelligence required for proper siting of marine aquaculture while maintaining healthy and resilient marine ecosystems.
Expertise Desired We are looking for a high energy team-player, who is ready to hit the ground running. The work will be a mix of quick turnaround actions and longer-term projects, so flexibility is a must. Our fellow will have full responsibility for some projects and tasks, so we expect someone who can work independently, be organized and meet deadlines. Our fellow must have excellent communication skills and a propensity for critical thinking and analysis.
Additionally, experience in marine resource science, policy and/or communications is important.
Travel within DC (days per month) 2-4
Travel outside DC (days per month) 2-4 (These tend to come as a at a time, a few times a year) Position ID E18-44
Postion Title NOAA CoastWatch Outreach and Education Specialist
Agency NOAA National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service
Office Center for Satellite Applications and Research, Satellite Oceanography and Climatology Division
Portfolio Summary The NOAA CoastWatch/OceanWatch program provides access to global and regional satellite data products for use in understanding, managing and protecting ocean and coastal resources and for assessing impacts of environmental change in ecosystems, weather, and climate. The program is working to increase engagement with users and product outreach and educational materials to support users and inform non-experts about the utility of satellite data for oceanographic research and applications. The fellow in this office will develop outreach and education materials for the NOAA CoastWatch/OceanWatch program. Outreach activities will include production of “meet our scientist” videos, blog posts on satellite oceanography and management of social media content. Educational activities will include production of online tutorials and training materials. The fellow will be menorted work with the CoastWatch/OceanWatch Outreach and Education Coordinator and will work closely with NOAA scientists in the Satellite Oceanography and Climatology Division and NOAA CoastWatch/OceanWatch regional nodes.
Expertise Desired The fellow should have an interest in satellite oceanography and translating science for non-experts. The fellow should enjoy taking initiative on projects and be interested in outreach and communications. Expertise in satellite oceanography is desired but not required.
Travel within DC (days per month) 0-1
Travel outside DC (days per month) 0-7 Position ID E18-45
Postion Title DOE Water Power Office - Marine Science Analyst and Interagency Coordinator
Agency U.S. Department of Energy
Office Water Power Technologies Office
Portfolio Summary Marine and hydrokinetic technologies (MHK) harness renewable, carbon-free energy from the power of waves, tides, ocean currents, and ocean thermal energy. The MHK Team within the Water Power Technologies Office works to facilitate the development and deployment of these technologies in an environmentally-sound and cost-effective way through focused research and development, stakeholder collaboration, and funding opportunities to overcome technology and deployment barriers. As a member of the MHK Team, Fellows will have the unique opportunity to work at the intersection of marine science, policy, environmental sustainability, and renewable energy. Energy policy and rapidly developing new technologies are key determinants of marine environmental policy; through engagement on issues related to renewable energy deployment in coastal waters, fellows can expect to actively affect a wide variety of issues critical to environmental policy in the oceans. Fellows also will be afforded the opportunity to work on emerging marine policy issues, including work with the National Ocean Council regarding the newly adopted National Ocean Policy and on the associated efforts of Regional Planning Bodies (the MHK Team serves as the DOE point-of-contact for all of these groups). Additionally, the fellow will have the opportunity gain direct project management experience. The MHK Team, with an annual average appropriated research budget of roughly $40 million, works constantly to scope new research opportunities for private companies, universities, DOE national laboratories and NGOs to address the highest priority needs for new foundational research and technology development within the nascent MHK industry. The current portfolio of more than three-dozen ongoing research projects covers the spectrum from oceanographic research and data collection to better characterize high-energy MHK resources, component engineering and system development / testing of new prototype systems at-sea, new high-performance environmental monitoring instrumentation development and associated research to characterize potential environmental risks from the deployment of MHK technologies, and data synthesis and dissemination to multiple users (including federal and state regulatory agencies, policy-makers, researchers, and technology developers).
Work for previous Fellows have been tailored to the interests and experience of the individual given the breadth of work within the portfolio, but duties will likely include assisting in the management and execution of environmental research, policy, and regulatory initiatives regarding marine renewable energy. There will also be opportunities for a Fellow to provide management and oversight for individual new and/or ongoing research projects if desired. The fellow may also have the opportunity to help determine programmatic research priorities and develop future R&D and policy efforts. Depending on the final assignments, the position would report to the Program Manager for MHK R&D (Tim Ramsey) and/or the Program Manager for Strategic Planning and Analysis (Hoyt Battey), who both report directly to the Office Director. Specific responsibilities may include: •Working in a dynamic team setting to understand key technological, ecological, regulatory and socio-economic issues and best practices for environmentally sustainable MHK development •Providing policy support for DOE’s work under the National Ocean Council on marine spatial planning for renewable ocean energy (including supporting representation on three Regional Planning Bodies in the West Coast, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions) •Developing recommendations for addressing barriers to testing and deployment of MHK devices and work with regulatory agencies to help address data needs and perceptions of risk that lead to permitting challenges for new technologies •Assessing proposed legislation for relevance to marine renewable energy development •Interacting with industry and environmental groups to determine highest priorities for future research •Providing support and analysis to the DOE-led Federal Offshore Renewable Energy Working Group •Other duties as required.
Expertise Desired The MHK Team's portfolio of activities are broad, covering a wide variety of marine science and policy areas. Expertise in any of the following areas would be desired and immediately relevant.
•Background in physical oceanography, data collection, and/or modeling of wave and currents •Marine mammal or fish biology, with any focus on impacts assessment, monitoring or research into potential environmental effects of human uses of the oceans to sensitive species desired •Any relevant experience / familiarity with offshore renewable energy technologies, including offshore wind, wave energy, ocean thermal energy, tidal/current energy, or newly proposed marine bio-algal aquaculture systems •Marine engineering or instrumentation design •Policy work or experience regarding commercial/industrial uses of ocean space, including but not limited to offshore oil/gas development, offshore renewable energy development, aquaculture development, other deep- sea mining or minerals extraction, or testing of military hardware in coastal waters
Travel within DC (days per month) 2-3
Travel outside DC (days per month) 1-2 Position ID E18-46
Postion Title International Policy Fellow
Agency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service
Office Office of Law Enforcement
Portfolio Summary The NOAA Office of Law Enforcement (NOAA OLE) protects marine wildlife and habitat by enforcing domestic laws and international treaty requirements designed to ensure these global resources are available for future generations. NOAA OLE is seeking a Sea Grant Fellow to work with us in coordinating efforts in our International Fisheries Enforcement Program. This Program works with various international organizations in the protection and conservation of global marine resources, providing the Fellow with the opportunity to build a diverse international network. Assignments will help the Fellow gain an understanding of the range of enforcement issues in NOAA's portfolio and the overall efforts of NOAA to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and the trafficking of marine species. The Fellow will also gain exposure to other areas of NOAA OLE including work with our State and Territorial partners through our Cooperative Enforcement Agreement Program.
The International Policy Fellow will have a diverse and flexible portfolio, which may include tasks such as: •Working closely with NOAA law enforcement personnel on a range of fisheries enforcement issues including bilateral and multilateral agreements, international cooperation, technical assistance to developing nations, and domestic regulations that implement international fisheries obligations related to combating IUU fishing; •Serving as a liaison with other NOAA offices, offering the Fellow exposure to a wide range of NOAA international fisheries issues; •Assisting develop policies to implement U.S. fisheries enforcement obligations under various international laws and treaties; •Preparing background papers for international meetings and training materials for international technical assistance projects; •Coordinating, planning and participating in fisheries enforcement capacity building projects such as training workshops and joint operations in developing countries; and •Helping coordinate reports and analysis of fisheries-related intelligence to identify IUU fishing trends and help coordinate enforcement responses.
NOAA OLE expects that the Fellowship may include some domestic and/or international travel. This position is located in Silver Spring, MD, in the NOAA OLE headquarters office. Our headquarters staff includes career staff, contractors and sworn Law Enforcement Officers, all of whom are dedicated to protecting and conserving the resources of our oceans.
Expertise Desired U.S. citizen; current passport (or ability to obtain a passport) for international travel as needed. Excellent verbal and written communication skills are a must. Language skills other than English beneficial but not required. Knowledge of or experience with international fisheries issues also beneficial but not required.
Travel within DC (days per month) 1-3 Days Days/Month Travel outside DC (days per month) 1-3 Days Days/Month Position ID E18-47
Postion Title Ocean Research and Policy Analyst
Agency Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)
Office Office of Environmental Programs (OEP)
Portfolio Summary The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) Office of Environmental Programs (OEP) brings scientific research and environmental assessment together to inform environmentally responsible energy and mineral resource development on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. OEP is committed to excellence in both its research and environmental assessment functions and is pioneering a comprehensive initiative to evaluate and potentially improve the integration and effectiveness of these major functions.
The Fellow will study the use of BOEM’s Environmental Studies Program (ESP) research in environmental assessment documents, consultations, and decisions. The Fellow will study the intra- and extra-mural use of ESP research. The incumbent will also study how the program uses environmental assessments to identify knowledge gaps and/or information needs and how these inform research priorities and policy outcomes. The Fellow will work with OEP managers, program and regional scientists, and other external experts to conduct this study. The Fellow will be expected to engage the BOEM-sponsored, National Academy of Sciences Committee on Ocean Science and Assessment.
There will be some flexibility in design and scope, and the Fellow is expected to bring ingenuity and curiosity to this endeavor. The Fellow will also be expected to help support OEP’s National OCS Program (i.e., major assessment effort) and the ESP’s studies development process. The duty station will be split, between the US Department of Interior (DC) and BOEM’s Office in Sterling, VA (approximately a 3 to 2 day split/week with some flexibility). The supervisory manager will be Mr. Geoff Wikel, while Dr. Kate Segarra and Mrs. Megan Davidson will serve as mentors.
Expertise Desired Mandatory Skills: Strong communication (verbal and written) and analytical skills; proven ability to lead and work well with others; self-motivated with an ability to keep a project on schedule.
Desired Background Skills: Science and/or policy background with an interest in program evaluation, research to operations, science-informed policy making, knowledge transfer, or information use would be ideal.
Travel within DC (days per month) 1 to 2 days per month
Travel outside DC (days per month) 1 to 3 trips per year Position ID E18-48
Postion Title Data Policy Fellow
Agency NOAA Headquarters Office
Office Chief Data Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer
Portfolio Summary The position will focus on exploring options for public-private partnerships to improve data dissemination, reduce agency costs, and increase the Nation's return on investment in NOAA data. •The Knauss Fellow will report to Dr. Ed Kearns, NOAA's Chief Data Officer, and will work with staff from all the NOAA Line Offices, private industry, and leadership. •The Fellow will be expected to provide both strategic and tactical analysis, engage scientific and data experts across the agency, as well as private industry, and participate in meetings with NOAA leadership. •Duties include significant travel and the ability to work in a fast-paced, developmental atmosphere. •A background in data analytics is not required or needed; however, strong written and oral communications, including the ability to speak in front of small and large groups are desired.
Expertise Desired The Fellow should possess the following skills and abilities: •Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to speak in front of small and large groups; •Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, highly collaborative, and dynamic developmental atmosphere; •Strong written and oral communication skills; •Demonstrated organizational skills and attention to detail; and •Interest in NOAA’s missions and the benefit they provide to the Nation. •A background in data analytics may be helpful, but is not required or necessary.
Travel within DC (days per month) Fifteen to 20 days per month.
Travel outside DC (days per month) Ten to 12 days per month. Position ID E18-49
Postion Title Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation Division Fellow
Agency NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service
Office Office of Protected Resources
Portfolio Summary The Office of Protected Resources (OPR) is a headquarters program office of NOAA Fisheries with responsibility for protecting marine mammals and endangered/threatened marine life. We work to conserve, protect, and recover species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) in conjunction with our Regional Offices, Science Centers, and various partners. This position will focus predominantly on addressing human-caused threats to marine mammals and sea turtles, such as bycatch and ship strikes.
After a nearly 20-year period of relatively steady population growth, recent analysis suggests the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale population has not increased in recent years and may, in fact, be declining. The reversal in the population trajectory appears to be a result of increasing mortality from lethal entanglements and declines in fecundity and health. Additionally, since June 2017, a total of 16 confirmed dead stranded whales (12 in Canada; 4 in the U.S.), and five live whale entanglements in Canada have been documented to date. Therefore, we are urgently undertaking an extensive evaluation of our science and management efforts, including those related to abundance estimation, habitat and distribution, health, effectiveness of management measures, and emerging threats. The fellow would assist in convening experts in the fields of marine mammal biology, spatial/habitat/ population modeling, management strategy evaluation, and other technical fields, to assess our current efforts and identify more appropriate and/or efficient analytical methods and frameworks as needed to fill gaps in understanding. NOAA Fisheries will use this input to guide future science and management efforts to recover right whales. This project involves collaboration with many NOAA Fisheries regional offices, science centers, and other headquarters offices and as such affords opportunities to develop relationships and network with leading experts both within NOAA and outside the agency. The scope of this project is wide enough to allow some flexibility given a fellow’s individual interests.
OPR is involved in various bycatch reduction initiatives both domestically and internationally for sea turtles and marine mammals. NOAA Fisheries recently finalized a National Bycatch Reduction Strategy and is in the process of developing a plan with specific activities to implement the objectives within the strategy. The fellow would assist in OPR’s efforts to implement the strategy and potentially lead specific projects identified in the action plan, such as improving post-interaction handling requirements for protected species and best practices into management measures. The fellow would also serve as the lead on recreational fisheries interactions and serve as the protected species representative to the national working group. Additionally, the fellow would help in preparing for regional fisheries management organization (e.g., International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas) and other international meetings (e.g., Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles) by researching and developing policy briefing documents.
The fellow can expect to gain enhanced writing, coordination, planning, and problem solving skills and exposure to cutting-edge science and management issues.
Expertise Desired Outstanding writing, verbal, and interpersonal skills. Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects under tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment. Strong personal initiative, problem-solving skills, creativity, and ability to work independently as well as a member of a team. Skilled with Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. A positive attitude and a sense of humor are a plus!
Travel within DC (days per month) 1-2
Travel outside DC (days per month) 2-3 Position ID E18-50
Postion Title Special Assistant
Agency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Oceanic & Atmospheric Research
Office Office of the Assistant Administrator
Portfolio Summary Looking for an opportunity to work at the intersections of science, policy and management? Eager to build on your scientific knowledge and put your skills to use in an applied way? Want to better understand how federal science and research organizations work and the strategies that are used to ensure that they produce mission- relevant research that both advances scientific understanding and delivers societal benefits? If so, this is the ideal position for you.
The Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) Line Office or “NOAA Research” conducts and sponsors cutting-edge science in support of NOAA’s mission under the broad themes of oceans and coasts, climate, and weather. OAR consists of seven federal research laboratories around the country, seven program offices, sixteen Cooperative Institutes, and 33 university based Sea Grant programs. Due to the diverse nature of the work and portfolio, the Fellow will experience a wide range of topics related to NOAA's science and technology enterprise. The Fellow will work directly with OAR’s Assistant Administrator (AA), Deputy Assistant Administrators (DAAs), and Chief of Staff (CoS), and can expect to learn first-hand the complexities associated with operating a large science organization from the leadership level. They will provide policy advice, lead briefings on a variety of science and administrative topics, and staff the AA at important meetings and select travel. The Fellow will learn how decisions are made at several levels of government (Line Office, agency, federal government, Capitol Hill), and have an opportunity to contribute to those decisions.
This is an ideal position for those seeking to enhance their management and leadership skills while gaining a high level appreciation for science and research in the federal service. The Fellow will be uniquely positioned in OAR’s executive office suite and will have the opportunity to lead special projects that are of interest to the Fellow.
Examples of special projects lead by previous Fellows:
Working with attorneys from the Office of General Council on NEPA compliance issues for marine research
Leading a team to transition OAR to a new scientific publication tracking system
Supporting NOAA’s efforts to implement the National Ocean Policy
Serving as guest editor on a NOAA special edition of the Marine Technology Society Journal
Facilitating meetings on the U.S. Government response to major environmental disasters
Analyzing the preservation of historic marine sites through the development of legal theories
Participating in meetings with members of Congress on Capitol Hill
Facilitating the development of incentive prizes with the XPRIZE Foundation
Coordinating an international Workshop on Ocean Acidification
Supporting the official U.S. Delegation to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), the United Nation’s organization for marine science
Serving as OAR's Executive Secretariat on NOAA's Ocean and Coastal Council (NOCC), a principal advisory body to NOAA’s Office of the Under Secretary
Expertise Desired This fast-paced position requires the Fellow to be organized and flexible, manage time well, prioritize tasks, and problem solve. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are a must. You must be adept at gathering, organizing and editing written information and working independently on short deadlines. The Special Assistant needs to be a team-player and quickly integrate into OAR’s Front Office team. Travel within DC (days per month) 3-5
Travel outside DC (days per month) 3-5 Position ID E18-51
Postion Title Fisheries Management Specialist
Agency DOC-NOAA- National Marine Fisheries Service National Marine Fisheries Service
Office Office of Sustainable Fisheries
Portfolio Summary Saltwater recreational anglers are NOAA Fisheries’ largest single constituency. In 2015 anglers took 60 million fishing trips, generated $63 Billion in sales impacts, and supported 439,000 jobs - that's more jobs than Starbucks, Apple, and Google combined. This is your chance to help shape the future of this flourishing American sport and industry. The Domestic Fisheries Division within the Office of Sustainable Fisheries works on national policy and management issues pertaining to fisheries occurring in U.S. federal waters. Within the Division, you will be a part of a dynamic team charged with improving management of recreational fisheries and strengthening external relations by engaging with fishermen, States, and councils across the nation. As a part of the RecFish team you will assist NOAA Fisheries in delivering on its commitments including supporting the 2018 National Recreational Fisheries Summit. You may also have the opportunity to pursue additional domestic fisheries projects depending on availability.
Potential projects include: • Support the 2018 National Recreational Fisheries Summit • Work with regional staff to summarize and report Agency progress in fulfilling NOAA Fisheries’ Regional Recreational Fisheries Implementation Plans. • Investigate international recreational fisheries management approaches and data collection systems to inform potential future application in the U.S. • Lead development and execution of a two-day meeting for NMFS’ regional recreational coordinators from across the nation. • Assist with strategic planning and budgeting for the Recreational Fisheries Initiative. • Participate in recreational fisheries constituent meetings and tradeshows. • Monitor Agency progress in fulfilling the National Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Implementation Plan and produce a status report for distribution. • Monitor and analyze legislation related to recreational fisheries and/or Magnuson Stevens Act re- authorization. • Strengthen communication and engagement with anglers through a variety of media. • Brief NOAA Fisheries leadership on recreational fisheries issues.
You will work on projects with staff throughout NOAA Fisheries, our partners, and anglers from across the country. This position will provide the opportunity to develop an expert level understanding of domestic fisheries management. We will work with you to find projects that sharpen critical skill sets, while helping us address priority needs. Domestic travel is possible, we often get out of the office and engage directly with recreational anglers. We understand this is a year for growth and learning and we will work to support you however we can.
Expertise Desired An ideal candidate would have strong skills in marine or environmental policy or fisheries, natural resource management or a related field; A team player with excellent oral and written communications skills. We are looking for someone who is comfortable with quick project deadlines, as well as strategic planning ability and long-term vision. You should also be adaptable, manage multiple projects and have a good sense of humor.
Travel within DC (days per month) Minimal
Travel outside DC (days per month) Possible Position ID E18-52
Postion Title Science Communications and Education Specialist
Agency NOAA Fisheries National Marine Fisheries Service
Office Office of Science and Technology
Portfolio Summary The Office of Science and Technology (ST) drives the NOAA Fisheries scientific enterprise. It is the primary interface between NOAA Fisheries science and other agencies and international organizations. ST covers a wide range of science topics including: fisheries population dynamics, habitat science, climate science, ecosystem science as well as statistics on and the study of economics related to commercial and recreational fisheries. With over 15 former fellows as part of the staff and regular interactions with all 6 regional science centers and laboratories, ST provides a fellow with an ideal environment to grow and stay in touch with his/her science background.
Position Overview: This position will provide a fellow with the unique opportunity to lead and develop activities and products to communicate cutting edge fisheries science and program efforts. This will include developing original web content (e.g., feature stories), newsletters, communications strategies, social media posts, and many other types of communications products. The position overall will allow the Fellow to develop content and gain marketable communication skills applicable to science, policy, and other career fields. This position provides broad exposure to emerging priority NOAA science and management efforts, and will allow the Fellow to gain experience in and perspectives from both NOAA Headquarters as well as from field personnel. The position is comprised of 1 core project with 2-3 side projects based on the interests of the fellow.
In addition, the position will provide opportunities in the areas of citizen science and education. NOAA has a vibrant citizen science community of practice of over 150 strong and there is increasing interest in how citizen science can be used to aid in fisheries science and management. Towards this end, the fellow will have an opportunity to help coordinate and advance some of NOAA Fisheries’ citizen science efforts. Finally, NOAA Fisheries has several education efforts underway to train the next generation of fisheries scientists and increase diversity in the field. The fellow would also have the opportunity to participate in and develop unique new opportunities to reach students at different levels depending on interest, ranging from K-12 level to post- secondary.
1. Written Communications (70%): When NOAA Fisheries develops a new science technique, makes a unique discovery, or creates a report with noteworthy findings - how is that information communicated? What if the findings are controversial – how is the messaging developed? What if the agency wants to spread the word to many different audiences – how is this achieved? The Fellow will learn the answer to these questions and many more as he/she will be directly involved in all stages of the communications process that follows with the release of all NOAA Fisheries Office of Science and Technology 2018 high priority science reports, scientific tools, and information. The fellow will work directly with scientific experts to understand the content, develop the messaging for the appropriate audience, and help lead outreach efforts for designated projects. Tasks would include; developing a higher-education newsletter, creating web stories, coordinating a science-based webinar series, helping NOAA transition to a new dynamic web platform, crafting communication strategies and developing various printed outreach materials. Original content developed by the fellow would shape the way the public perceives this work.
2. Citizen Science (20%): With the recent Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Act (enacted 2017), there is increasing interest in how citizen science can be used to aid in fisheries science and management. Fishermen, recreational divers, and many others are seeking to understand how they can collect data, and in particular, data with the potential to be useful to managers. The fellow will have the opportunity to participate in cutting edge efforts associated with the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s ground breaking efforts to develop a citizen science program and potentially be a co-author on a publication summarizing citizen science efforts used to support fishery management.
3. Education (10%): The Office of Science and Technology has several education efforts where the fellow could participate and potentially develop new and innovative activities for one or both programs. These programs include:
NOAA Enrichment in Marine sciences and Oceanography (NEMO) Program: The Office of Science and Technology coordinates an education program with Washington, D.C.’s public schools to promote ocean literacy. The fellow would have an opportunity to work directly with students and teachers and potentially develop new student activities.
NOAA Fisheries Quantitative Ecology and Socioeconomics Training (QUEST) Program: The QUEST program aims to bring NOAA Fisheries scientists together with leading academics to develop and enhance higher education and training opportunities that will support the next generation of stock assessment, ecosystem scientists, and economists central to NOAA Fisheries’ mission. This past September, QUEST and the International Council for Exploration of the Seas (ICES), partnered for the first time to offer a training on Management Strategy Evaluation. The fellow could investigate future partnerships to provide training opportunities with ICES (e.g., at their next Annual Science Conference) or other organizations that advance mutual goals. Additional opportunities exist to better evaluate NOAA Fisheries future scientific workforce needs. Expertise Desired Ability to communicate technical and scientific material to a variety of audiences concisely, in person and in writing. The candidate’s interest, motivation and ability to adapt to and participate in a broad suite of activities are more important than an exact educational track. However, the more relevant disciplines include fisheries biology, oceanography, marine ecosystem science and management, and marine policy. This position is designed to offer a Fellow a diverse mix of assignments with broad intra/inter-agency exposure. The Fellow can expect to gain enhanced writing, coordination, planning and problem solving skills, and exposure to cutting- edge communications skills and science issues.
Travel within DC (days per month) 1 - 3
Travel outside DC (days per month) 1 week/year Position ID E18-53
Postion Title Marine Policy Analyst
Agency Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)
Office Office of Environmental Programs (OEP)
Portfolio Summary The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) mission is to manage development of U.S. Outer Continental Shelf energy and mineral resources in an environmentally and economically responsible way. The Office of Environmental Programs (OEP) provides timely environmental research and innovative environmental assessment to support this mission. The Fellow will work with senior leadership, managers and numerous subject matter experts to improve how the bureau identifies and applies environmental mitigation measures to offset impacts to a diversity of environmental resources. The Fellow will be charged with conceptualizing a pilot program to better explore and measure the efficacy and utility of mitigation measures.
This effort will involve independent research at headquarters and one or more regional offices and a comparative analysis with similar evaluative efforts. The Fellow will be exposed to the bureau’s major programs and offices, as well as cross-cutting work in BOEM’s sister bureau, the Bureau of Environmental Safety and Enforcement (BSEE). The Fellow will also be encouraged to participate in the development of the new National Oil and Gas Leasing Program, such as going to stakeholder meetings to discuss critical environmental issues and energy policy considerations.
OEP aims to engage the Fellow in a substantive and meaningful manner and offer a positive and highly enriching host environment. The Fellow will be asked to engage and support key bureau leaders, working in Washington D.C. and Sterling, VA. The duty station will be split, between the US Department of Interior (DC) and BOEM’s Office in Sterling, VA (approximately a 3 to 2 day split/week with some flexibility). The supervisory manager will be Mr. Geoff Wikel, while Ms. Mary Cody and Ms. Kimberly Bittler will serve as mentors.
Expertise Desired Expertise Desired: Strong oral, written and analytical skills Most importantly, a good sense of humor and the ability to be a team player in a dynamic environment while meeting competing deadlines
Desired Background: Fellows with an environmental science and policy background, or knowledge of environmental laws, energy policy, and other significant marine issues, may find this position especially rewarding
Travel within DC (days per month) 1 to 2 days per month
Travel outside DC (days per month) 1 to 3 times per year Position ID E18-54
Postion Title NOAA Fisheries Habitat and EBFM Science Fellow
Agency NOAA Fisheries National Marine Fisheries Service
Office Office of Science and Technology
Portfolio Summary The Office of Science and Technology (OST) develops the scientific information and tools required to support the NOAA Fisheries resource conservation and management programs. OST works to guard the integrity of NOAA Fisheries scientific activity and strives to maintain and improve its quality and creditability. OST is the primary HQ office that interfaces the Regional Science Centers, and other federal agencies and international organizations.
Position Overview: This position is located in the Office of Science and Technology Marine Ecosystems Division. The portfolio includes three core projects with an opportunity to participate in other ancillary projects (listed below), depending on the Fellow’s skills, interests, and fellowship objectives. This opportunity will provide broad exposure to NOAA Fisheries’ science and management needs, and allow a Fellow to gain experience in NOAA Fisheries HQ, including interactions with field personnel as well as gain experience in science policy and program development, and NOAA-wide coordination of ecosystem activities.
Core Project 1 of 2: Ecosystem and habitat Science
The science to support ecosystem-based fishery management (EBFM) and habitat conservation provides essential information to resource managers with respect to the status and conditions of marine ecosystems that marine species depend upon. The Knauss fellow will provide technical support for NOAA Fisheries science programs that support EBFM and the Office of Habitat Conservation (OHC). Currently NOAA Fisheries is implementing an EBFM policy (http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/op/pds/documents/01/01-120.pdf) and road map (https://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/Assets/ecosystems/ebfm/EBFM_Road_Map_final.pdf). In addition, the fellow will collaborate with the OHC and Regional Habitat science team to develop revisions to the Habitat Assessment Improvement Plan (HAIP), align efforts in the context of the EBFM implementation plans and take a leadership role with respect to a HAIP project selected by the fellow. The Fellow will participate in several activities led by the OST supporting and expanding the habitat science program, which may include:
• Assist in the implementation of the NOAA Fisheries Habitat Assessment Improvement Plan. This plan provides recommendations that advance our ability to conduct ecosystem-based management by reducing habitat-related uncertainty in science that supports fisheries management. These advances also improve our ability to identify Essential Fish Habitat and Habitat Areas of Particular Concern, and contribute to the developing concept of Integrated Ecosystem Assessments, a new approach to ecosystem-based management. The fellow will have an opportunity to join the team putting the Plan into action.
• Design and coordinate the National Habitat Assessment Workshop (NHAW) to address merging habitat information into EBFM
• Participate on OHC and Fishery Management Councils Coordination Committee Habitat Working Group efforts to strengthen and target habitat science
• Assist and participate in the evaluation of National Fish Habitat Partnership regional assessments.
• Participate on the steering committee of the NE Habitat Vulnerability Assessment project and lead specific tasks identified within the scope of work.
• Assist in planning and implementation of the 4th International Symposium on the Effects of Climate Change on the World’s Oceans, Washington D.C. June 2018. Work with the Symposium Organizing Committee on agenda, communications and final products such as the symposium proceedings, presentations and papers.
Core Project 2 of 2: Ecosystem Sciences and Management Working Group (ESMWG) coordinator
The NOAA Science Advisory Board (SAB) is an external group that provides advice and recommendations to NOAA. A working group on ecosystem sciences and management advises the SAB with respect to NOAA’s progress related to ecosystem science. Potential topics to be covered may include advising NOAA on its work to incorporate: 1) citizen science and 2) Implementing a Holistic Approach to Assessment of Healthy Ecosystem Status across NOAA.
The ESMWG is composed of 10-12 renowned scientists and leaders (outside of NOAA) with a broad interest in NOAA’s ecosystem related activities. The NOAA Fisheries Chief Science Advisor works closely with the ESMWG to provide support and guidance on NOAA’s ecosystem portfolio. The Fellow would have a unique opportunity to network with the nation’s top marine ecosystem scientists, develop an inside perspective on the direction ecosystem science activities are taking, and learn how top scientists provide guidance on marine policy. ESMWG meetings are held both via teleconference and in person outside of the DC metro area. The fellow would attend and provide support for up to two in-person meetings during the course of the fellowship. Responsibilities include meeting preparation, agenda development, and support for meeting output (e.g., reports). Opportunities to collaborate on written publications may be available. For additional information with respect to ESMWG visit: http://sab.noaa.gov/WorkingGroups/StandingWorkingGroups.aspx Expertise Desired The Fellow should have the ability to think and work across disciplines and issues. Excellent written and verbal communication and creative problem-solving skills are also valued. The Fellow must be a self-starter with strong interpersonal and organizational abilities and be comfortable interacting with high-level NOAA officials, other federal and state partners as well as balance several tasks and projects.
This position does not require any specific expertise, however it will be beneficial for the Fellow to be familiar with the following: marine ecosystem functions and services, fisheries management, marine conservation, natural resource management and/or other relevant/equivalent field; or marine policy or planning. Research or applied experience in issues related to fisheries, natural resource science, or environmental policy are desirable.
The Fellow can expect to gain enhanced writing, coordination, planning and problem solving skills, and exposure to cutting-edge marine and fisheries science issues.
Travel within DC (days per month) 1 - 3
Travel outside DC (days per month) 1 Position ID E18-55
Postion Title Ocean observing science and policy fellow
Agency NOAA National Ocean Service
Office Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS)
Portfolio Summary U.S. IOOS is a truly unique and dynamic program in the federal government and within NOAA. IOOS leads the nation in advancing ocean observing throughout the U.S. by connecting federal and non-federal partners at local, national, and global levels. By partnering with 17 federal agencies, 11 regional associations covering all the U.S. coastal and Great Lakes waters, and with industry, academia, and tribes, IOOS creates interactive, custom tailored tools that directly benefit the economy, public safety, and the environment. IOOS works at the intersection of public and private cooperation,leveraging and executing federal money, policies, and needs while facilitating delivery of critical technology and information. As a small and relatively new program, there is no shortage of ways to contribute to the office and the IOOS mission. Two topics, with considerable overlap, are timely opportunities for IOOS leadership. First, NOAA has articulated a vision for delivering water quantity and quality information for the 21st century (http://www.noaa.gov/explainers/noaa-water-initiative-vision-and- five-year-plan). IOOS is a stakeholder and partner in implementing this vision contributing information on coastal inundation, harmful algal blooms, and hypoxic conditions in the coastal waters. For many of these products, numerical circulation models of the ocean provide critical information. As IOOS contributes to the NOAA Water Initiative there will be important technical and policy challenges to address. You will be at the center of a team engaging with the public to assess their needs and ensure that the science based solutions we can deliver, are indeed what the public requires. You will be working on the role of commercial cloud computing providers in generating and disseminating this information to the public. And, you will be coordinating across several NOS offices as well as other NOAA line offices like the National Weather Service to ensure that our individual efforts are coordinated toward a common goal.
In addition to the NOAA Water Initiative, IOOS is engaged in several Blue Economy Initiatives aimed at understanding the size and strategy of the nascent marine related commercial enterprise. You may use lessons learned from Ocean Enterprise Study (https://ioos.noaa.gov/project/ocean-enterprise-study/) to develop private industry engagement opportunities in the area of observing technology, cloud computing, or development and delivery of information products.
You will have opportunities to work closely with the IOOS leadership team, learning how our program is managed, and observe different leadership styles. You will have the opportunity to visit and network with colleagues from NASA, the National Science Foundation, U.S. Coast Guard, Navy, Marine Mammal Commission, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and U.S. Geological Survey, among others. You will have the opportunity to work with local and regional observing partners to understand how IOOS is improving the safety and economy of local coastal communities facing significant challenges due to sea level rise and storms of increasing intensity and frequency. We want you to join us and bring your skills and interest to our team to help shape these activities. Help us build stronger coalitions with our diverse partners and stakeholders, both within and outside of NOAA.
Expertise Desired Strong written and oral communication skills; excellent collaboration and team building skills; enthusiasm and drive to engage and bring together stakeholders from diverse ocean observing communities. Desired but not required, an understanding of ocean observations and/or models and how they can be used.
Travel within DC (days per month) 3-5
Travel outside DC (days per month) 1-3 Position ID E18-56
Postion Title Knauss Coastal Management Fellow
Agency U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Office EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds
Portfolio Summary This fellowship is unique in that it is a joint fellowship opportunity between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Coastal States Organization (CSO). This will be one of two Knauss Fellows at the Ocean and Coastal Management Branch, located in EPA’s Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds. This fellowship will be placed at EPA Headquarters. The fellow will also have a desk at CSO offices near the U.S. Capitol.
The Knauss Coastal Management Fellow will play a critical role in an ongoing effort to more effectively integrate the work of EPA and the activities of the Coastal States Organization. Specifically, the Fellow will assist program staff in the EPA’s Ocean and Coastal Management Branch on specific activities that are part of its work plan and that would benefit from greater interaction and collaboration with state coastal zone managers. Issues or projects for EPA/CSO coordination could include the National Estuaries Program, Climate Ready Estuaries, coastal wetlands loss, coral reef protection, clean marinas, hazard mitigation planning and resilience, depending on the fellow’s interests and the needs of the Branch.
The EPA leads national programs to protect, restore, enhance, and maintain the nation’s wetlands, streams, marine waters, estuarine waters, and other special aquatic resource sites. EPA also implements international treaties to protect the marine environment and wetlands. The Ocean and Coastal Management Branch specifically is the focal point at EPA for leading programs to prevent and mitigate ocean and coastal acidification, regulate pollution from all vessels in freshwater and marine waters, protect coral reefs and their habitats, prevent land-based sources of marine litter from entering waterways, meeting the goal of “no net loss” of coastal wetlands, and providing climate resilience to estuaries of national significance. The goals are met by working collaboratively across EPA, with other federal agencies, state, tribal and local government, as well as non-governmental organizations, to support place-based projects, state-of-the art scientific research, collection and analysis of data, development of training and tools on complex program and policy issues. The Branch also works closely with EPA’s ten regional offices.
CSO was established in 1970 to represent the Governors of the nation’s coastal states, commonwealths and territories on legislative and policy issues relating to the sound management of coastal, Great Lakes and ocean resources. CSO is comprised of Governor-appointed delegates from each of the thirty-five state coastal zone management programs. These members are senior officials from environmental, natural resource, or planning agencies. CSO staff support their members by advancing coastal management needs through legislation, funding, and partnership with federal agencies. The fellow can expect to participate in CSO through the work of one or more CSO Work Groups, which organize CSO members around specific issues such as Climate Adaptation, Coastal Nonpoint Source Pollution, and Beach and Inlet Management. The fellow will also be participating in CSO’s Winter and Fall Meetings, which bring CSO members together in person to discuss administrative objectives, strategic priorities, and hear presentations from partner agencies and organizations.
Expertise Desired Knowledge and experience in coastal science and coastal management will be helpful. Experience working with state and local environmental managers will be helpful. In addition, facilitation, communication, and planning skills, and subject knowledge of coastal environments, are desired. Skills with conveying technical material both orally and in writing, for a variety of audiences, are valued. Fellows will need to take the lead on their principal projects, however other work will be more collaborative. It is a busy office setting in agency headquarters.
Travel within DC (days per month) EPA and CSO offices are located in relative proximity in Washington DC. The fellow will spend time in both offices each week. At times, the fellow will attend meetings in other locations accessible by walking, using the Metro or taxi in the area.
Travel outside DC (days per month) 0-5 Position ID E18-57
Postion Title Coastal Ecosystems and Resilience Specialist
Agency NOAA Office of Oceanic & Atmospheric Research
Office Sea Grant
Portfolio Summary The Coastal Ecosystems and Resilience Specialist will join the dynamic team in the National Sea Grant Office (NSGO) that supports the network of 33 Sea Grant Programs in coastal and Great Lakes states and territories. These programs help coastal Americans apply science to their daily lives through research, education, communication and extension. Sea Grant has focused its efforts in 2018-2021 into four strategic areas: Healthy Coastal Ecosystems; Resilient Communities and Economies; Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture; and Environmental Literacy and Workforce Development. This position will provide support primarily to advance the Healthy Coastal Ecosystems and Resilient Communities and Economies focus areas.
The Coastal Ecosystems and Resilience Specialist will assist in growing and enhancing the NSGO’s support for the Sea Grant network’s activities in habitat restoration in the Healthy Coastal Ecosystems focus area. Key objectives are to improve the connectivity of network personnel and funded researchers working on restoration; increase individual and collective network access to needed resources and information; and to build NSGO’s understanding of and ability to message the network’s restoration strengths, successes, and gaps.
The Specialist will also build upon the work of a 2017 Knauss Fellow to advance the disaster preparedness of programs in the Sea Grant network. The Specialist will help Sea Grant programs that have been recently impacted by disasters, including hurricanes, floods, and fires by sharing information, building partnerships, and supporting their work. The Specialist will also work with Sea Grant leadership to develop a National Sea Grant policy for responding to and recovering from disasters. This would include work to define how the NSGO prepares for disasters, supports our programs during disasters, and leverages Sea Grant’s scientific expertise to help serve the coast during the recovery process.
Additionally, the Specialist will support the National Sea Grant Resilience visioning efforts, which started in the fall of 2017. This is an ambitious process which is developing decadal visions for Sea Grant on ten critical topic areas: Integrated Seafood, Weather and Climate, Community Response to Flooding, Water Resources, Environmental Literacy, Diversity & Inclusion, Coastal Tourism, Citizen Science, and Aquaculture Communication. The Specialist will serve as a central hub in coordinating these teams of experts, and ensuring successful and nationally relevant outcomes.
The Coastal Ecosystems and Resilience Specialist will get exposure to day-to-day activities of a NOAA national program office, which, depending on their area of expertise and interests may include work on budget proposals, taskers, briefings, and communications.
Job Summary: Working with their NSGO mentor, the Coastal Ecosystems and Resilience Specialist will craft a portfolio of activities that may include: • Evaluating and synthesizing Sea Grant Network research and extension activities surrounding community and ecosystem resilience; • Developing a National Sea Grant Disaster Response and Recovery policy; • Representing the National Sea Grant Office at meetings, workshops, and conferences relevant to the national Sea Grant network; • Assessing the Sea Grant network’s strategic plans as well as past and current research portfolio to identify and communicate priorities and program strengths; • Developing outreach materials related to Sea Grant’s priorities and capacities; • Interacting with experts from the Sea Grant network on topical issues; • Developing and executing projects of the Specialist’s own initiative; • Fostering and participating in interagency and intergovernmental working groups, partnership efforts and collaborations; and • Participating as a member in Sea Grant’s National networks.
Expertise Desired The Sea Grant Fellow should have the ability to think and work across disciplines and issues. Excellent written and verbal communication and creative problem-solving skills are also valued. The Fellow must be a self- starter with strong time-management and organizational abilities. The Fellow also needs strong interpersonal skills and must be comfortable interacting with high-level NOAA officials, other federal and state partners, and Sea Grant university-based researchers, extension staff, educators, and communicators. Basic familiarity with the principles of coastal management, community and ecological resilience, and/or disaster preparedness and recovery will be useful. Candidates should have a strong background in any of the following: biological, environmental, or social sciences; resource management; or coastal and marine law and policy. Research or applied experience in issues related to environmental or natural resource management, community or disaster planning, community or ecological resilience, or environmental policy is desirable.
Travel within DC (days per month) 3-5
Travel outside DC (days per month) 1-3 Position ID E18-58
Postion Title Knauss Marine Pollution Fellow
Agency U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Office EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds
Portfolio Summary The EPA hopes to bring on two Knauss Fellows for its Ocean and Coastal Management Branch. The Branch is located in EPA’s Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds. Fellow A is the Knauss Coastal Management Fellow and is a joint posting with the Coastal States Organization. Fellow B (this posting) is the Knauss Marine Pollution Fellow.
The Knauss Marine Pollution will assist program staff in the EPA’s Ocean and Coastal Management Branch on specific activities that are part of its work plan, included but not limited to risk identification and responses to environmental change, with a particular eye on emerging and future risks, especially sea level rise, coastal wetlands loss, and coral reef protection, depending on the fellow’s interests and the needs of the Branch. In addition, the fellow will initiate a new liaison role with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Coastal and Marine Geology Program with the aim of informing EPA and USGS about each other’s work, and conveying EPA and stakeholder needs in coastal management to USGS leaders and scientists.
The EPA leads national programs to protect, restore, enhance, and maintain the nation’s wetlands, streams, marine waters, estuarine waters, and other special aquatic resource sites. EPA also implements international treaties to protect the marine environment and wetlands. The Ocean and Coastal Management Branch specifically is the focal point at EPA for leading programs to prevent and mitigate ocean and coastal acidification, regulate pollution from all vessels in freshwater and marine waters, protect coral reefs and their habitats, prevent land-based sources of marine litter from entering waterways, meeting the goal of “no net loss” of coastal wetlands, and providing climate resilience to estuaries of national significance. The goals are met by working collaboratively across EPA, with other federal agencies, state, tribal and local government, as well as non-governmental organizations, to support place-based projects, state-of-the art scientific research, collection and analysis of data, development of training and tools on complex program and policy issues. The Branch also works closely with EPA’s ten regional offices.
Expertise Desired Knowledge and experience in coastal science and coastal management will be helpful. Experience working with state and local environmental managers will be helpful. In addition, knowledge of coastal wetlands, coastal hazards and G.I.S., is desired. Skills with conveying technical material both orally and in writing, for a variety of audiences, are valued. Fellows will need to take the lead on their principal projects, however other work will be more collaborative. It is a busy office setting in agency headquarters.
Travel within DC (days per month) minimal
Travel outside DC (days per month) 0-5 Position ID E18-59
Postion Title Bycatch, Release Mortality, and Observer Program Specialist
Agency NOAA Fisheries National Marine Fisheries Service
Office Office of Science and Technology
Portfolio Summary This Fellowship opportunity is based in the NOAA Fisheries Office of Science & Technology’s National Observer Program (NOP). The NOP coordinates 14 regional observer programs that deploy approximately 800 trained biological scientists each year, who collect data critical to the mission of NOAA Fisheries, including data for stock assessments. NOAA Fisheries uses observer data to create a series of U.S. National Bycatch Reports, which are of great interest to U.S. environmental organizations and international organizations such as the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations.
The NOP also supports science related to the estimation of discard and release mortality. This mortality can occur in commercial and recreational fisheries due to a variety of factors, including how a fish is handled, how long it is exposed to air, and whether it is injured during the fishing process. In 2016, NOAA Fisheries issued an Action Plan for Fish Release Mortality Science, which identified 10 objectives to improve estimates of release mortality and incorporate improved estimates into stock assessments and management processes.
The Bycatch, Release Mortality, and Observer Program Specialist will help lead the following projects:
• Development of an online clearing house for release mortality estimation research and priorities, in collaboration with the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium.
• Co-authorship of a peer-reviewed journal article(s) and NOAA Fisheries website stories analyzing data from the most recent update of the U.S. National Bycatch Report.
• Coordination (e.g., agenda development) and administration (e.g., preparation of meeting minutes) of two national meetings of the National Observer Program Advisory Team (NOPAT), one of which is planned for Oregon in April 2018.
The Fellow may also:
• Help implement recommendations of an Observer Safety Program Review, which is of great interest to NOAA Fisheries leadership.
• Update the National Observer Program data bibliography.
• Develop web content for the National Observer Program.
• Edit a Technical Memorandum on observer recruitment and retention challenges based on a major 2016 observer survey.
In addition to the travel opportunities listed above, the Fellow will have opportunities to interact with senior NOAA Fisheries leadership, as well as travel to meetings in the Washington, DC area and various NOAA Fisheries Science Centers. The Fellow may also be able to assist in the organization of workshops and/or symposia at the 2018 American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting.
By the completion of the Fellowship, the Fellow will have developed a professional network and gained a firm understanding of NOAA Fisheries science programs, as well as contributed to NOAA Fisheries action plans and reports. Specifically, the Fellow will make meaningful connections with NOAA Fisheries scientists and observer program managers from around the United States through her or his involvement with the two NOPAT meetings.
The Fellow will be mentored by a NOAA Fisheries employee with 18 years of experience in fisheries management, with a focus on bycatch reduction and estimation. The Fellow’s mentor has served as a mentor to four previous Knauss Fellows who have gone on to successful careers at NOAA Fisheries and international resource management agencies.
Related websites: National Observer Program: http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/observer-home/index
Release Mortality Action Plan: http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/ecosystems/bycatch/discard-and-release-mortality
Observer Safety Program Review: http://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/stories/2016/10/observer-safety-review.html
Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium: http://www. andersoncabotcenterforoceanlife.org/about-us/ Expertise Desired Strong data analysis skills, including the ability to analyze and display data using Microsoft Excel; strong written and verbal communication skills; interest and enthusiasm about fisheries data collection and fisheries management; ability to work independently, as well as in a team setting.
Travel within DC (days per month) 3 - 5
Travel outside DC (days per month) 3 - 5 Position ID E18-60
Postion Title NOAA Fisheries Electronic Technologies Coordinator
Agency NOAA Fisheries National Marine Fisheries Service
Office Office of Science and Technology
Portfolio Summary The Office of Science and Technology strives to improve the accuracy, timeliness, and integration of fisheries catch data, while managing the costs of our programs. Emerging technologies such as electronic monitoring, which incorporates video cameras, sensors, and electronic reporting into a vessel’s fishing operations, can deliver the accurate, verifiable, and timely information critical for science and management. However, efforts to implement electronic monitoring and reporting require close coordination with the Office of Sustainable Fisheries and our Regional Offices and Sciences Centers. Additionally, we work with the eight Fishery Management Councils, non-governmental organizations, fishing industry groups, and other partners to ensure new technologies are available and can meet the management and scientific needs of our stakeholders. Our internal and external coordination efforts require an understanding of the technical, policy, and communication challenges across commercial and recreational fisheries, each with unique requirements and needs, while ensuring we are utilizing limited resources appropriately and effectively.
The Fellow will have an opportunity to interact with NOAA Fisheries leadership and have responsibilities in the Office of Science and Technology towards modernizing our Nation’s fisheries-dependent data collection programs. Based on the Fellow’s skills, interests, and fellowship objectives, he/she can choose to lead one or more of the projects listed below. We will expect that a final report, white paper, or other keystone product will be completed based upon the project(s) he/she chooses to lead.
(1). Lead our effort to develop new regional electronic technology implementation plans that identify, evaluate, and prioritize electronic technologies around the country. These plans are required by each of our five regions and the Highly Migratory Species Division, and will be developed in sync with a forthcoming national data modernization strategy.
(2). Develop policies on video data storage and retention requirements, video confidentiality, and industry- funded electronic monitoring programs. These policies will help shape ongoing and future development of electronic monitoring will require coordination with the Office of Sustainable Fisheries, our national electronic technologies working groups, and other Agency programs.
(3). Lead the planning and coordination of the 3rd National Electronic Monitoring Workshop. This will require budget development, coordination with internal and external partners, and publishing a workshop report on lessons learned and next steps.
(4). Assist with leading our national electronic technologies working group by developing webinars, budget planning, and coordinating our internal and external communications on electronic monitoring and reporting. This will include opportunities to brief NMFS leadership on regional successes and challenges of our programs.
(5). Lead our efforts to develop technical standards for electronic monitoring hardware, software, and video review automation. This will require regional coordination and developing a partnership(s) with technical and regulatory experts to strategize how we foster a national data strategy, yet allow for some regional autonomy. Expertise Desired The Fellow needs to have strong interpersonal communication skills, be able to learn quickly, and work on a diverse range of programs and fisheries. He/she must be able to work in a team environment and on working groups, as well as work independently. The position requires an appreciation for many points of view and concerns, such as the perspectives between commercial and recreational fisheries, non-governmental organizations and researchers, and the responsibilities and goals of local, State, and Federal agencies. He/she must be able to synthesize very technical information, grasp the “big picture”, and understand how decisions and actions in one Region may affect others.
Travel within DC (days per month) Travel to meetings is common with attendance several days each month.
Travel outside DC (days per month) The Fellow will have at least 6-8 travel opportunities relevant to electronic monitoring, electronic reporting, and data integration efforts, including national working group meetings, conferences, and Fishery Management Council meetings. Most travel will be within the United States, there may be some International travel. Position ID E18-61
Postion Title Policy/Program Analyst
Agency NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service
Office Office of Habitat Conservation / Restoration Center
Portfolio Summary This position is based in NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Habitat Conservation (OHC), Restoration Center (RC). One of the key mandates of the RC is to implement habitat restoration projects that benefit the recovery of listed species and contribute to building sustainable fisheries. Since 1992, the RC has carried out more than 3,300 habitat restoration projects within coastal watersheds throughout the country and has restored almost 130,000 acres of habitat. RC projects have opened 6,000 miles of rivers and streams so that fish can reach their habitat. Through the Natural Resources Damage Assessment (NRDA) process, NOAA’s Damage Assessment, Remediation, and Restoration Program (DARRP) has recovered more than $10.3 billion from the parties responsible for ecological disasters, to protect and restore migratory fish, marine mammals, and coastal habitats.
The fellow will serve as a policy and program analyst on the RC’s Policy, Planning, and Communications (PPC) team. A key responsibility of this position is evaluating proposed legislation, directives, and Agency policy affecting NOAA habitat restoration activities. Additionally, the fellow will assist in developing and implementing RC policy and guidance across a wide variety of RC programs including the Damage Assessment, Remediation, and Restoration Program, Deepwater Horizon Program, and Fisheries Restoration Programs. The fellow will serve as an RC representative on various NOAA science policy working groups (including ecosystem-based fisheries management, coastal blue carbon, and natural and nature-based infrastructure).
Through this opportunity, the fellow will establish nationwide contacts, pursue program related interests, develop new skills, and become familiar with coastal habitat restoration planning, management, and implementation processes. The fellow will work with OHC and RC senior leadership and approximately 100 staff across Headquarters in Silver Spring, MD, Northeast/Great Lakes, Southeast/Caribbean, Southwest/Pacific Islands, and Northwest/Alaska regional offices, and will gain insight to habitat restoration programs and relevant policy issues. This position allows flexibility for the fellow to take on additional projects to gain relevant experience (e.g., previous fellow served as a grant proposal reviewer, helped evaluate ecosystem services of restoration projects, and helped facilitate internal communications).
Expertise Desired Mandatory Skills 1. Strong interpersonal, communication, and coordination skills. 2. Strong organizational and creative problem solving skills. 3. Strong initiative, independence, and task management skills. 4. Understanding of coastal ecology, fisheries management and science, or habitat restoration and science. 5. Interest in program management and partnerships.
Desired Skills An ideal candidate will be an individual with an environmental policy and science background interested in applying those skills to advancing coastal and marine habitat conservation. Knowledge of, or experience in, partnership building, on the ground conservation, or program management is highly desired. Ability to communicate concisely both verbally and in writing is also a plus.
Travel within DC (days per month) 5-10 days
Travel outside DC (days per month) Up to 5 days Position ID E18-62
Postion Title Marine Ecologist
Agency NOAA Fisheries National Marine Fisheries Service
Office Office of Science and Technology
Portfolio Summary 8.The mission of the Protected Species Science Branch is to advocate for protected species science within and outside NOAA Fisheries by investing in research and development efforts and to communicate and coordinate agency science in support of species conservation and recovery. Protected species includes marine organisms within NOAA Fisheries jurisdiction protected under a variety of US environmental statutes (e.g. Marine Mammal Protection Act, Endangered Species Act, and Migratory Bird Treaty Act). The Branch advocates the use of peer-reviewed science to make protected species management decisions. The PSSB is housed with the Office of Science and Technology’s (ST) Assessment and Monitoring Division. We are dedicated to advancing the science on living marine resources and fostering an environment where new ideas develop to realize NOAA’s mandates as technologies evolve and new challenges emerge. The Branch functions are principally guided by the office and senior NOAA Fisheries leadership and executive science and management boards. The core functions of the branch are focused on ocean acoustics, coral recovery, sea turtle and marine mammal assessments, and climate and ecosystem impacts.
Task 1: The fellow will be tasked with developing and compiling standard NMFS research methods and mitigation for conducting research on sea turtles. This will lead to the publication of a NOAA Fisheries technical memorandum on these approved sea turtle research methods and will be used for conducting NMFS Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) application reviews and eventually, for issuance of NMFS scientific research permits. The task would involve potential travel to Science Centers that conduct sea turtle research and work closely with sea turtle researchers to obtain, develop, and compile protocols. The fellow will also coordinate with Headquarters and regional management offices in planning and consolidating research methods.
Task 2: NOAA Fisheries is conducting vulnerability assessments to identify which marine protected species are vulnerable to climate change and what makes them vulnerable. These vulnerability assessments use existing life history information and expert judgement to assess exposure, sensitivity, and capacity to adapt to changing conditions. The Sea Turtle Climate Vulnerability Assessment uses species narratives that describe the current state of knowledge about sea turtle species' life history traits to inform expert scores according to a defined vulnerability assessment process. This process includes a period of expert discussion and deliberation at a workshop and the associated analysis of expert scores. Specifically, the fellow will: 1) Develop climate vulnerability assessment species narratives working with ST, Science Center, and Regional Office staff. This would involve collecting and organizing sea turtle life history data, 2) Assist in climate vulnerability assessment results analysis using a variety of quantitative and qualitative methods, examine and interpret data generated from the climate vulnerability assessment implementation. This will result in graphical and textual summaries of results, and 3) Support climate vulnerability assessment scoring workshop and help with taking detailed notes and assist with facilitation at Sea Turtle Climate Vulnerability Assessment scoring workshop and contribute content to and review the workshop report.
Task 3: Serve as the Lead for coordinating a NMFS Protected Species Toolbox Initiative – a long-term Research and Development (R&D) investment in develop, evaluate, and disseminate analytical products and applications to improve protected species assessments in support of management priorities. This would involve: 1) Organizing and chairing a mini-symposium in March 2017 in Seattle to showcase research results from FY15-18 toolbox initiatives and produce a symposium summary in the form of a NOAA Technical Memorandum, and 2) Coordinating the implementation and monitoring of FY18-20 toolbox initiatives. The Fellow is encouraged to apply for grants, publish papers, or collaborate with researchers on topics that overlap with the branch's or NOAA Fisheries priorities. The fellow is also encouraged to participate in one to two field projects led by NOAA researchers to learn more about taxa-specific data collection and applications that support NOAA’s mission and priorities. Fellows will have plenty of opportunities to network with scientists, policy makers, and senior leadership internal and external to NOAA Fisheries, as well as participate in different professional development opportunities.
Expertise Desired 1.Good writing skills 2.Independent worker, proactive, solution-oriented, diligent, detail-oriented, and responsive to tasks 3.Creative thinker 4.Good grasp of basic ecological theory 5.Passion for science 6.Optional Quantitative skills (e.g., statistical modeling/analysis, R or Matlab coding) Travel within DC (days per month) 1 - 3
Travel outside DC (days per month) 1 per month Position ID E18-63
Postion Title Knauss Fellow, Marine Geology and Geophysics Program, Division of Ocean Sciences
Agency National Science Foundation
Office Marine Geology and Geophysics Program, Division of Ocean Sciences
Portfolio Summary At the National Science Foundation (NSF), you’ll enjoy a front row seat to the Nation’s latest scientific discoveries. As a Knauss Fellow with NSF’s Division of Ocean Sciences (OCE), you will join a team of PhD- level scientists, engineers, and educators who support exciting and innovative research, infrastructure, and education to advance understanding of all aspects of the global oceans and ocean basins.
OCE works with the U.S. ocean sciences academic community to direct funding towards advancing the frontiers of knowledge, developing the next generation of researchers, and enhancing the public’s understanding of ocean sciences. The Division represents this community in the Federal context, coordinates with other Federal agencies and with international partners on research funding and infrastructure management, and participates in the development of policy through national and international forums and programs. These activities provide knowledge critical to addressing many of our Nation’s most pressing challenges involving ocean processes.
OCE’s Marine Geology and Geophysics (MG&G) Program supports research on all aspects of the geology and geophysics of the ocean basins and margins. The Program has a broad research portfolio that spans topics from plate tectonics to past climate change, and from the deep ocean trenches to volcanic islands and the coasts. MG&G-supported research also sheds light on the fundamental processes controlling catastrophic geohazards (e.g., earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis). The Program is interested in supporting new ideas and cutting-edge research and the Knauss Fellow would be part of this, joining a team of five Program Officers and a Science Assistant.
In the upcoming year, the Knauss Fellow would contribute to a range of activities in the MG&G Program. These might include facilitation of peer review and award recommendations for proposals submitted to the Program, communication with the research community, analysis of community input on proposed projects, and identification and articulation of the merits of research that warrants support. The Fellow would also have the opportunity to collaborate with Program Officers in other NSF units such as the Division of Earth Sciences, Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences, and the Office of Polar Programs, on interdisciplinary topics of mutual interest.
In addition to contributions to the core MG&G Program as described above, the Fellow would participate in an exciting new effort - Advancing Frontiers in Seafloor Science and Engineering Research – developed jointly with the Engineering Directorate. The seafloor environment is a harsh and dynamic place because of its high pressure, its corrosive composition, cold temperature, and opaqueness to most electromagnetic radiation including light and radio communication. These conditions make it challenging to obtain data to characterize geological, physical, chemical, and biological processes. The goal of the effort is to define the technology gaps and engineering challenges as well as innovative new directions in technology development to enable seafloor science in the least-invasive manner and with a minimal environmental footprint. Through this program, a Fellow would have opportunities to help coordinate workshops of cross disciplinary group and facilitate potential interagency activities to develop and implement cutting edge science and technology.
In terms of professional development, the Knauss Fellow could also: attend talks and distinguished lectures given by international luminaries from all fields of scientific inquiry; participate in the broad suite of personal development training programs offered at the Foundation; increase breadth of knowledge by reading and reviewing proposals in and outside the Fellow’s area of expertise; gain intense learning experiences through observing peer review panels where leading and upcoming researchers talk about cutting-edge science; broaden interdisciplinary understanding through participation in the development of new solicitations; and interact with the scientific community at national meetings and workshops.
Expertise Desired Prospective Fellows with all areas of interest and expertise are welcome to apply.
Travel within DC (days per month) 1-3 days/month
Travel outside DC (days per month) Variable Position ID E18-64
Postion Title NOAA Fisheries Advanced Sampling Technology Coordinator
Agency NOAA Fisheries National Marine Fisheries Service
Office Office of Science and Technology
Portfolio Summary The Office of Science and Technology strives to strengthen the integrity and credibility of the NOAA Fisheries scientific activities among its NOAA Fisheries Science Centers and collaborative partners. There is increasing demand to improve the quality and timeliness of scientific information through enhanced survey operations and integrated ocean observations using advanced sampling technologies. Advanced sampling technologies include remote sensing technologies such as underwater acoustic and optical systems, alternative or autonomous sampling platforms, and improved data processing tools like automated image recognition for underwater survey applications. Implementation of innovative sampling technologies by the Office of Science and Technology is required to assure the next generation surveys provide the best scientific information available for policy decisions on the sustainability of living marine resources and healthy oceans.
This Fellow position will be provided with broad exposure to NOAA Fisheries’ science and management needs, and experience with inter-organizational collaborations among interdisciplinary scientists. Depending on the Fellow’s skills, interests, and fellowship objectives, this Fellow position will have the opportunity to focus on one or more of the following core projects:
(1). Develop and coauthor a national strategic report that provides metrics and recommendations for technology investments to improve scientific information for the sustainability of marine resources and healthy oceans.
(2). Organize and participate in the 5th International Marine Conservation Congress’s Optical Technology Symposium to be held in Kuchling, Sarawak, Malaysia during June 24-29, 2018, including coauthor a technical report from the symposium proceedings.
(3). Organize and participate in the 71th Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute’s Optical Technology Symposium and Training Workshop to be held in the Dominican Republic during November 4-9, 2018, including coauthor a technical report on the best practices for conducting optical technology operations for improving reef fish ecosystem surveys.
(4). Develop social digital media to highlight recent advances and achievements using advanced sampling technologies, including the accomplishments from the Office of Science and Technology’s three national technology working groups (i.e., Advanced Sampling Technology WG, Untrawlable Habitat Strategic Initiative, and Automated Image Analysis Strategic Initiative).
Furthermore, the Fellow is encouraged to collaborate with NOAA line offices and on other projects, give presentations at conferences, and coauthor technical reports and manuscripts relevant to advanced sampling technologies.
Expertise Desired Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to work in a team environment and independently on interdisciplinary science. Ability to synthesize technical information and grasp “big picture” concepts with creative thinking. The intent is to provide the Fellow with diverse assignments relevant to cutting-edge marine technology and fisheries science issues, to enhance communication and inter- organizational coordination skills, and provide exposure to policy decisions by senior level leadership.
Travel within DC (days per month) Travel to meetings is common with attendance several days each month.
Travel outside DC (days per month) The Fellow will attend about 3-8 national working group meetings and international conferences relevant to advanced sampling technologies for improving fisheries and marine science. Position ID E18-65
Postion Title Policy Analyst
Agency U.S. Department of Treasury
Office Office of Gulf Coast Restoration
Portfolio Summary The fellow will work in the Department of Treasury’s Office of Gulf Coast Restoration (OGCR) as a member of a team responsible for implementing grant programs under the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act), and report to the Program Director. In the aftermath of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Congress passed the RESTORE Act which established the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund in the U.S. Department of Treasury. The Office of Gulf Coast Restoration was established in early 2014 and is responsible for implementing two grant programs for projects and activities that restore and protect the ecosystem and economy of the Gulf Coast region. Grantees include the 5 Gulf Coast states, 20 Louisiana parishes, and 23 Florida counties. As a relatively new office, there are many opportunities to help build and enhance the RESTORE Act programs and policies. New policy issues arise periodically, and OGCR must provide clarification, interpretation, and answers to frequently asked questions, often involving Treasury’s regulation and program guidance. In addition to helping resolve policy questions, the fellow will assist OGCR in coordinating with the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Steering Committee (Council), an independent federal agency comprised of representatives of five Gulf Coast States and six federal agencies, and with its staff. The fellow also will have opportunities to coordinate with other Gulf Coast funding programs (i.e., NOAA RESTORE Science Program, National Academies of Science Gulf Research Program, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund, etc.) and work with state and local government grantees. In particular, the fellow will help FL counties and LA parishes improve performance measures for funded projects and meet environmental compliance responsibilities. Additionally, the fellow will assist with communicating and coordinating with the Office of Legislative Affairs regarding new projects funded with RESTORE Act dollars and addressing questions raised by members of Congress. This position would be ideal for a fellow with a background or strong interest in public policy or law. The primary responsibilities of the fellow include: •supporting coordination, communication, and policy development with the Council Steering Committee and staff; •assisting with the implementation of and policy issues associated with Treasury’s RESTORE Act regulation; •assisting with Congressional notifications and other communications in coordination with the Office of Legislative Affairs; •helping OGCR implement improved performance metrics for states, counties, and parishes to measure the success of funded projects and make project information more publicly accessible; •helping FL counties and LA parishes to understand and meet environmental compliance responsibilities.
Expertise Desired The successful candidate will be a team player with excellent communication, analytical, and organizational skills. Experience or interest in coastal policy development, ecosystem restoration, and/or performance measurement is desirable. Experience working on the Gulf Coast is helpful, but not required.
Travel within DC (days per month) 1-2 days/month
Travel outside DC (days per month) 2-3 days every 2-3 months Position ID E18-66
Postion Title OMC Knauss Sea Grant Fellow
Agency U.S. Dept. of State
Office Office of Marine Conservation
Portfolio Summary During 2018, a Sea Grant Fellow serving as a foreign affairs officer in OES/OMC would provide professional staff support in a number of areas. Specific assignments will vary depending on the needs of the office and taking into account personal interests of the individual. The following is an illustrative list of the type of activities in which the Fellow might be involved in: Multilateral negotiations and discussions in conjunction with annual and intersessional meetings of regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements (RFMOs); bilateral meetings with key fishing nations, such as Canada, Norway, the European Union, Japan, China, and Russia; supporting ongoing negotiations and development of international guidance and criteria for assessing flag State performance; trade and environment issues, including seafood traceability, eco-labeling, the role of subsidies, and the use of market-based measures and to achieve environmental objectives; implementation of international plans of action adopted by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (managing fishing capacity; reducing seabird bycatch in longline fisheries; managing sharks; deterring illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing activity; and the improvement of the status and trends of reporting); and working collaboratively with other U.S. government agencies on marine debris-related issues.
Expertise Desired No particular background is required, though knowledge of international fisheries would be a benefit. Good judgment, initiative and a collaborative style are welcome characteristics. Fellow must be able to receive a security clearance at the "secret" level (this typically precludes foreign nationals or dual citizens).
Travel within DC (days per month) 3
Travel outside DC (days per month) 2 Position ID E18-67
Postion Title Incidental Take Program Improvement Analyst
Agency NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service
Office Protected Resources
Portfolio Summary The Office of Protected Resource’s Division of Permits and Conservation processes requests for Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) incidental take authorizations, the issuance of which requires NMFS make certain population-level findings and identify appropriate mitigation and monitoring measures. Several Executive Orders issued in 2017 focus on reducing regulatory burden on the public and facilitating energy development, which has created the need for improvements and modifications in the execution of the Incidental Take Program. The fellow will assist the Division Chief and staff with the development and implementation of program improvements and streamlining measures to address the Executive Orders. The Fellow would also process some incidental take authorizations, which will assist the program and enhance the Fellow’s ability to contribute to program improvements.
Expertise Desired Applicant must have knowledge and/or experience in biology and natural resource protection. Applicant must have strong written and oral communication skills and should be comfortable engaging with a diversity of stakeholders. Applicant should have good critical thinking and analytical skills. Applicant should be organized and detail-oriented.
Travel within DC (days per month) 1-2
Travel outside DC (days per month) 0-1 Position ID E18-68
Postion Title Deepwater Horizon Restoration: Programmatic Evaluation Coordinator
Agency NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service
Office Office of Habitat Conservation
Portfolio Summary This position is based in NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Habitat Conservation (OHC), Restoration Center (RC), Deepwater Horizon (DWH) Program. One of the key mandates of the RC is to implement habitat restoration projects that benefit the recovery of listed species and contribute to building sustainable fisheries. Through the Natural Resources Damage Assessment (NRDA) process, NOAA’s Damage Assessment, Remediation, and Restoration Program (DARRP) has recovered more than $10.3 billion from the parties responsible for ecological disasters, to protect and restore migratory fish, marine mammals, and coastal habitats. The fellow will serve as a marine habitat resource specialist on the RC’s Deepwater Horizon Program (DWH) team, reporting to the Monitoring and Adaptive Management Team Lead and the DWH Program Manager. A key responsibility of this position is work with the DWH state and federal natural resource trustees to develop a programmatic evaluation to meet the Monitoring and Adaptive Management goals and objectives established in the 2016 DWH programmatic restoration plan. The work involves the application of monitoring and science data and analytical skills for restoration progress at an ecosystem level, and for a set of defined restoration types (e. g., marine mammals, coastal habitats, fish, sea turtles). Additionally, the fellow will assist in developing and implementing related restoration monitoring standards, data management standards, and have an opportunity to bring science and analytical procedures into focus for this ecosystem level restoration program. The fellow may serve as an RC representative on various NOAA science policy working groups. Through this opportunity, the fellow will establish strong and collaborative relationships with science leads in the 5 Gulf states and 4 co-trustee federal agencies, building partnership with academia, agencies, and non- governmental organizations. The fellow will work closely with the monitoring and data analysis of coastal habitat and living coastal and marine resource restoration, extending from shoreline restoration to deep benthic communities of the Gulf of Mexico. The fellow will work with OHC and RC senior leadership and support RC’s work with other NMFS offices, particularly protected resource, sustainable fisheries, and science centers. This position allows flexibility for the fellow to take on additional projects to gain relevant experience. Specifically, the fellow will: -Work collaboratively with a team consisting of the other Deepwater Horizon state and federal NRDA Trustees to develop a general approach to programmatic evaluation that can be applied to each of the Restoration Types covered by the DWH NRDA restoration program -Coordinate input of other NOAA offices into the development of the DWH NRDA programmatic evaluation approaches; serve as the main POC and coordinator for NOAA’s experts supporting the programmatic evaluation effort -Participate in a pilot study to work through the process of programmatic evaluation for the wetlands, coastal, and nearshore habitats restoration type. Assist with the aggregation and analysis of existing project monitoring data and development of metrics and indices for evaluating restoration progress for coastal habitats. Identify additional monitoring and/or other information needed to contribute to the restoration type evaluation for coastal habitats. -Assist with the incorporation of content related to restoration type and programmatic evaluation in the DWH NRDA Trustee Council Monitoring and Adaptive Management Procedures and Guidelines Manual (MAM Manual). Potential additional work the fellow may support includes: : -Assist with development of additional project-level monitoring guidance for specific restoration approaches for the MAM Manual -Provide support to individual state TIGs on development of MAM projects and MAM plans for restoration projects (as needed).
Expertise Desired Desired experience includes: 1.Strong interpersonal, communication, and coordination skills. 2. Strong scientific monitoring and monitoring data analysis skills, with experience or interest in practical application of monitoring data to evaluate and adaptively manage natural resource restoration. 3. Initiative, independence, and strong motivation to identify creative solutions to novel data analysis issues. 4. An ability to work with a wide group of partners collaboratively, and to apply conflict resolution skills to facilitate outcomes. 5. Interest in developing a science-based programmatic evaluation of a large-scale, complex, multi-billion dollar restoration program. Additional experience of an ideal candidate: 1. Strong background in science-based monitoring and data analysis of large and complex data sets, 2. An interest in improving, devising and integrating data management procedures for a large-scale, multi-agency program. 3. Experience in translating complex scientific evaluation to publicly-accessible information. 4. Experience working with diverse groups to achieve outcomes. Travel within DC (days per month) 1
Travel outside DC (days per month) 0 to 2 Position ID E18-69
Postion Title Policy Analyst
Agency White House Office of Management and Budget
Office Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
Portfolio Summary Who in the Federal government is responsible for ensuring that all regulations are compatible with those of other agencies, analyze alternatives, and propose the one that imposes the least burden on society while maximizing net societal benefits? The answer is an office of roughly 50 people housed within the Office of Information and Management Affairs (OIRA).
OIRA is a fast-paced work environment where each analyst is responsible for providing oversight for a large portion of the federal government’s regulatory activity. Agencies are continuously working with OIRA analysts to determine which rules are submitted for review under Executive Order (EO) 12866 and, once submitted, coordinating during the review process. During review, analysts are responsible for ensuring the rule is consistent with the principles of regulation in EO 12866 while also leading interagency negotiations. When disagreements cannot be resolved at the career staff level, analysts support the OIRA Administrator in their conversations with other policy officials. Analysts will also meet with industry and interest groups to listen to their concerns and recommendations.
This position is within the Natural Resources and Environment branch, and will specifically be responsible for NOAA. Past reviews include rules affecting the importation of seafood, designation of critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and fisheries management actions. In the next year, anticipated reviews include rules to authorize the take of marine mammals by oil and gas exploration in the Gulf of Mexico, designation critical habitat for listed species, and revision of policies that implement the ESA.
OIRA is also charged with implementing EO 13771, Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs. The analyst will work with the Department of Commerce (DOC) and NOAA to identify opportunities to reduce regulatory and paperwork burden as well as track compliance with DOC’s annual regulatory cost allowance.
Expertise Desired A great OIRA analyst is part economist, part lawyer, and part scientist, because all three skill sets are useful in conducting regulatory review. However, you can still be successful with a strong background in one area and motivation to learn. Strong interpersonal skills are important, as is the ability to handle non-public information with the sensitivity it requires. There is little formal training, but the analysts and branch chiefs are collegial and won’t hesitate to help you throughout the year.
Travel within DC (days per month) 0
Travel outside DC (days per month) 0 Position ID E18-70
Postion Title Water Mission Fellow
Agency USGS
Office Office of Program and Planning, Water Mission Area
Portfolio Summary The USGS, Water Mission Area provides information and science without charge, its value can only be estimated using nonmarket valuation techniques. The value of water science and information to the public has been a subject of interest to the Water Mission Area for many years and there is a demand for our science and information by the scientific community, stakeholders, and the general public. A few of the most significant examples are our streamgage and groundwater monitoring information, water quantity and quality assessments, process simulation models, and hydrologic scientific reports. Each of these products having a very diverse set of users and uses.
It is, however, a challenge to quantify the value of our science and information. We do have a handful of examples such the worldwide use of MODFLOW (groundwater flow simulation model), use of SPARROW (nutrients in the Mississippi) to estimate the origin and fate of contaminants, and compiling and dissemination of the nation’s water use data.
Work Portfolio: Activities and work to estimate the value of USGS Water Mission Area science and information:
1. Identify one or more high value science data or information products from each of the 4 Water Programs in the Mission Area for evaluation;
2. Elicit information on use, users, and benefits of scientific information (for each Program in the Mission Area) from expert scientists, economists, and decision maker/ data users;
3. Analyze the contribution of scientific information for a subset of applications for each type of scientific information being evaluated;
4. Estimate the magnitude of economic and/or societal impacts associated with issues; and
5. Quantify the economic and/or societal benefits of USGS Water scientific and information products being available versus not being available.
Expertise Desired Scientific and economic background.
Travel within DC (days per month) 5
Travel outside DC (days per month) 5 Position ID E18-71
Position Title Ocean Policy Fellow
Agency White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
Office
Portfolio Summary Office of Science and Technology Policy In 1976, Congress established the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to provide the President and others within the Executive Office of the President with advice on the scientific, engineering, and technological aspects of the economy, national security, homeland security, health, foreign relations, the environment, and the technological recovery and use of resources, among other topics. OSTP also leads interagency science and technology policy coordination efforts, assists the Office of Management and Budget with an annual review and analysis of Federal research and development in budgets, and serves as a source of scientific and technological analysis and judgment for the President with respect to major policies, plans, and programs of the Federal Government.
OSTP’s Division of Energy and Environment, where OSTP ocean policy staff sit and the Fellow will work, provides subject matter expertise on disciplines including ocean policy, disaster resilience, water management, climate, space weather, nuclear technology, physical science, technology, and others. The Fellow will primarily support OSTP’s ocean policy work, but will have the opportunity to engage in other components of OSTP’s portfolio that may be of interests to him or her through projects of opportunity and participation with OSTP co- chairs in the operation of National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) subcommittees.
OSTP and Ocean Policy Ocean policy is currently addressed in part through the National Ocean Council, which was established in 2010 by Presidential Executive Order. The Council is a Cabinet-level body that represents the 27 executive agencies and offices with ocean-related equities; it is co-chaired by the Director of OSTP and the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). The Co-Chairs are staffed by an office that includes a Director, an Ocean Policy Advisor on detail from the U.S. Navy, and an Ocean Policy Analyst on detail from the U.S. Coast Guard. The Office is administratively housed within OSTP.
Ocean policy staff provide strategic guidance to Federal agencies engaged in implementing completed regional ocean plans in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions and to agencies engaged in on-going coastal and ocean management and planning efforts in the Pacific, West Coast, and Caribbean regions. The Office interacts with Federal agency staff through such related entities as the Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology, under the NSTC, in the in the development of work plans, reports, projects of opportunity, and other materials; with Federal agency staff on various initiatives and as directed by OSTP and CEQ leadership; and with external coastal and ocean stakeholders.
Expected Duties The Fellow will: 1) assist in developing policy guidance and other materials related to implementation of Administration ocean policy; 2) participate in the development and/or implementation of new and/or ongoing ocean policy-related initiatives, which may include such issues as illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing; aquaculture; new ways to present ocean spatial data; ocean exploration; and others; 3) serve as the primary contact with Federal agency staff in managing the review of reports, work plans, and other ocean science and policy-related materials; 4) participate as directed by OSTP in and provide support for subject matter relevant to ocean policy addressed by subcommittees of the NSTC such as disaster resilience, water management, ocean science and technology, arctic research, and others; 5) research, analyze, and develop written materials (briefings, memos, slide decks) on various ocean-related topics as needed; 6) support ocean policy staff as needed by serving as a ‘plus one’ for internal and external meetings and in administration of the Office; and 7) participate in Office and OSTP-specific initiatives as needed. We expect and encourage the Fellow to engage in material, activities, and initiatives specific to his or her subject matter expertise and particular interest.
Expertise Desired Capable of working independently and as a member of a team in a deadline-oriented environment; excellent writing and verbal communication skills; life experience in the coastal or ocean realm through work or study; demonstrated intellectual curiosity and a broad range of interests.
Travel within DC (days per month) 3-5 Travel outside DC (days per month) Nominal, but may be requested to participate in regional meetings; may be opportunity subject to resources and other considerations to attend at least one national meeting.