Marine Education Specialist

Background

The S.C. Sea Grant Consortium is seeking an experienced professional in environmental education and outreach to fill the position of Marine Education Specialist. The Specialist will provide technical expertise and a wide range of services to South Carolina coastal communities.

The Consortium is a state agency established to manage the Sea Grant College program for South Carolina and based in Charleston, S.C., optimizes the environmental, social, and economic potential of the coastal and marine resources of the state and region through the support and dissemination of high-quality research, extension, and education programming.

Responsibilities

The Marine Education Specialist will strengthen the agency’s capacity to effectively engage the growing number of coastal educators, students, and families in community-based learning and restoration activities, while also providing resources that enhance science literacy and workforce development.

The Specialist will contribute to the design, development, and implementation of education programming that is responsive to community needs and aligned with the Consortium’s five focus areas, healthy coastal ecosystems, weather and climate resilience, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, sustainable coastal development and economy, and scientific literacy and workforce development as well as current research priorities.

The Specialist will be supervised by the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium’s Education and Outreach Manager.

Specific Duties

• Implement and coordinate Consortium programs, including K–12 student programs and outreach, educator professional development opportunities, and community science and stewardship initiatives.
• Assist in the development of new education materials and the revision of existing educational products.
• Deliver formal and informal presentations on Consortium education programs and activities at state, regional, and national conferences, workshops, and outreach events.
• Support the development and dissemination of evaluation and assessment tools to identify the needs of the educational community and inform improvements to existing programs.
• Develop and/or contribute to grant proposal development for education and outreach initiatives.
• Participate in professional and skills development opportunities including but not limited to serving in leadership roles internal and external to the agency, which may include participation on advisory committees, boards, and work groups.
• Prepare performance-based program objectives, benchmarks, metrics, program evaluations, and other required programmatic reports for the Consortium.
• Supervise student assistants and interns and serve on graduate student committees, as appropriate.

Required Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in marine science, education, or a related field.
• Demonstrated work experience leading education and outreach programs.
• Demonstrated ability to build partnerships and communicate, collaborate, and work effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently and as a part of a team.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• A master’s degree in marine science, education, or a related field in combination with demonstrated work experience in education and outreach programming.
• Demonstrated proficiency in grant writing.
• Demonstrated proficiency in project and/or personnel management.