The San Juan Bay Estuary Program (ESTUARIO) is seeking interested candidates that are currently affiliated as team member with local turtle conservation organizations to assist as Essential Habitat Coordinator for the management of sea turtle critical nestling habitat and sea turtle recovery plan in the San Juan Bay Estuary system. The benefits of a sea turtle recovery plan include increased protection of sea turtles, hatchlings, and nests which should contribute significantly to the recovery of leatherback and hawksbill turtles. Increased monitoring should facilitate enforcement activities. Data regarding population densities, dispersion patterns, and habitat preferences of the different sea turtle species will be obtained and made available to the public. Over the last two years, the ESTUARIO has worked with community-based and volunteer groups such as the Association for the Protection of the Leatherback Turtle (ATIPUR), the Student Chapter of the Marine Environment Society (CESAM), Siete Quillas and Pro-City Reefs on the issue of sea turtle nesting.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The Essential Habitat Coordinator will be in charge of activities related to identification of nesting areas, education campaigns, hatchling watch, and documentation of critical habitat for future conservation efforts. Specifically, the Essential Habitat Coordinator will perform the following tasks:
- Identify and report sea turtle nesting areas and critical habitat
- Share findings with task force in charge of establishing or expanding Marine Protected Area
- Perform one joint education and awareness campaign with stakeholder groups.
- Participate in sea turtle hatching watches and others related activities with the community
- Perform one virtual or in-person training for volunteers
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree
- Current affiliation with local turtle conservation organization
- Availability for approximately a three-month period
- Excellent written and spoken (English and Spanish) skills
- Excellent analytical and writing (English) skills
- Sound planning, time management and administrative skills
- Excellent computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PPT
- Experience working on interdisciplinary teams as well as independently
HOW TO APPLY
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume/CV by email no later than July 1, 2021 to: [email protected]. The email must be directed to [email protected], and must specify in the subject the title of the position, «Essential Habitat Coordinator».
Source of funding: EPA Grant CE99206926 (Critical Habitat Coordinator)
THE SAN JUAN BAY ESTUARY PROGRAM
The San Juan Bay Estuary Program (SJBEP) is part of the National Estuary Program (NEP), created under Section 320 of the Clean Water Act (CWA), and managed nationally by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Its mission is to improve the water quality of the San Juan Bay Estuary. Per Section 320 of the CWA, each of the 28 entities affiliated to the NEP must submit to EPA Administrator a Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) to guide the restoration efforts of the most important coastal ecosystems for the economy of the Nation. The main responsibility of each organization under the NEP is to coordinate and measure the implementation of the plan in partnership with the community, state, local, and federal governments and the Academia.
The Corporation for the Conservation of the SJBE provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or genetics.
