Continuing Education Coordinator - COASST

Participant Coordinator COASST (Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team; coasst.org)

Position Purpose

The Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) is a rigorous citizen science organization based in the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences at the University of Washington. Now 22 years old, COASST recruits and trains coastal citizens from northern California north to Kotzebue, Alaska to survey their local beach in a systematic, standardized fashion, returning data on a monthly basis about the number, identity, and condition of beached marine birds and, separately, marine debris. Additional data on the conditions on the beach are also collected. COASST experts independently verify all participant data (i.e., species identification), making the data immediately useful in science and resource management. At present, almost 800 participants collect data as part of the COASST program. All participants are trained in a 5-6 hour session, and given a set of data collection materials, including the relevant COASST Field Guide and written protocol. Once data collection starts, COASST interns and professional staff keep in close contact with each participant, making sure (s)he has adequate supplies and is continuing the survey at least monthly. Additional enrichment activities, including refresher trainings and evening public lectures on coastal natural history and conservation are also available to participants and their communities. 

The Participant Coordinator is the nexus point of participants, and of student interns, responsible for the coordination of and communication with all COASST participants, including, but not limited to training. 

Responsibilities

• Manage and improve the experience for COASST participants, from training to withdrawal, and assure COASST data collection sites are adequately covered. (50%)
• Manage the student intern program: quarterly recruitment of undergraduate student interns and senior interns; assuring retention and leadership development for all students. (25%) 
• Off-site training and enrichment programs for COASST participants and COASST interns. (15%)
• Contributing to grant proposals and reports, contribution to training materials, creation of materials and presentations for scientific and public audiences (10%)

Lead Responsibility

Manage and improve the experience for COASST participants, from training to withdrawal, and assure COASST data collection sites are adequately covered.

Experience Required

• Bachelors degree or higher in Marine Sciences or equivalent
• Demonstrated experience teaching, in a higher education or adult education setting for at least 2 years.
• Quantitative skills, including spreadsheet and database experience sufficient to remotely manage participant effort.
• Ability to work in a multi-tasking, fast-paced environment and respond to both short-term crises and long-term needs while maintaining a positive, interactive, and team-focused demeanor.
• Experience working in a field situation or alternate work site(s) for extended periods of time. 
• Communication skills, especially writing and production of outreach materials for the adult, public audiences; integration of graphics and text in well-designed outputs. 
• Experience working with volunteer or citizen science organizations. 
• Valid driver's license.

Experience Desired

• Oral communication skills, including experience teaching adult, non-professional audiences 
• Familiarity with web programming (HTML and content management systems such as Drupal or Wordpress)
• Professional interaction skills, including but not limited to email, phone, and in-person interaction with academic and senior scientists, students, and the general public 

Complexities

This position manages a corps of more than 800 citizen science participants as well as an undergraduate internship program that supports 10-15 students on a quarterly basis. The Participant Coordinator must work across the beached bird and marine debris data collection modules, assuring communication flow from a complex network of scientists, staff, and students to the program's participants.

Dimensions and Impact to the University

Citizen Science is a growing field, and the University of Washington has several well-recognized programs pairing scientists and professional staff with citizen data collectors and adult learners. This position could significantly advance the role of the university in terms of public interaction with science. At the same time, marine debris is an issue of high importance to state and federal management agencies with coastal oversight. This position will interface directly with key personnel at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Washington Department of Natural Resources, the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and will represent the University of Washington and the College of the Environment in those interactions.

Apply through UW's online portal UW Hires:

https://uwhires.admin.washington.edu/ENG/Candidates/default.cfm?szCategory=jobprofile&szOrderID=219042

Position is open until filled