Project Evaluator

The San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership (Estuario) is seeking a qualified professional services provider to document, evaluate, and narrate how Estuario implements key initiatives funded under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), including the Juan Méndez Creek Restoration Project, the Collaborative Water Quality Network, coastal resilience project, internal capacity building, and other related efforts. Through observation, interviews, qualitative diagnosis, and storytelling, the Project Evaluator will capture implementation approaches, achievements, challenges, and lessons learned. The resulting written report will serve as a blueprint for future initiatives and inform storytelling for the Resiliencia Tropical podcast.

Responsibilities:

The Project Evaluator will work under the supervision of the Executive Director, who is leading the development of the institutional blueprint publication, and coordinate with Estuario’s IIJA project, technical, administrative, and communications teams. Responsibilities across the initiatives under IIJA funding include:

• Observe and document how Estuario plans, organizes, coordinates, and executes its IIJA-funded initiatives, including relevant office, field, community-based, and internal capacity-building activities.
• Conduct interviews and collect firsthand accounts from staff, service providers, community representatives, and partners across the Juan Méndez Creek Restoration Project, Collaborative Water Quality Network, capacity-building activities, coastal resilience project and other related efforts.
• Evaluate and diagnose implementation progress, identifying enabling factors, obstacles, adaptations, achievements, and lessons learned without duplicating formal technical or compliance monitoring.
• Document and compare Estuario’s organizational practices, decision-making, partnerships, community engagement approaches, cross-project coordination, and methods for addressing implementation challenges.
• Develop a coherent storyline that connects the distinct initiatives and communicates their efforts, achievements, and documented or anticipated impact to diverse audiences.
• Translate technical information and project experiences into clear, engaging written narratives.
• Develop the comprehensive written report or book in close coordination with the Executive Director, who leads the effort and provides its institutional vision and strategic direction. Collaborate with the Executive Director to establish the publication’s conceptual framework, structure, themes, and narrative approach; research, draft, organize, and revise the manuscript using examples and lessons.
• Support Resiliencia Tropical by preparing story briefs, episode themes, interview questions, talking points, background research, and narrative material drawn from the IIJA initiatives; review factual accuracy in coordination with the communications team.
• Maintain organized source material, interview notes, drafts, and supporting documentation; respect confidentiality and obtain appropriate consent for use of personal stories.

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES

• Estuario “IIJA” Institutional Project Implementation Blueprint: a comprehensive written report developed in close collaboration with and under the strategic guidance of Estuario’s Executive Director. The publication will document how Estuario plans, coordinates, implements, adapts, and learns across the Juan Méndez Creek Restoration Project, Collaborative Water Quality Network, internal capacity building, and other related IIJA efforts, identifying transferable approaches and lessons. The contractor will research, draft, organize, and revise the manuscript incorporating the Executive Director’s direction and feedback.
• Estuario “IIJA” Storyline and Narrative Documentation Package: an evolving narrative connecting the initiatives, interviews, case stories, and accessible accounts of achievements and impact.
• Resiliencia Tropical Storytelling Support Package: episode concepts, interview briefs, talking points, narrative drafts, and background materials informed by the projects supported by IIJA.
• The Project Evaluator will not be responsible for technical environmental monitoring, formal performance-indicator tracking, or IIJA compliance reporting; these functions are assigned to the IIJA Project Officer. Specific delivery dates, and manuscript specifications will be established in the approved contract work plan.

Required Qualifications (Education and Experience):

• At least five years of experience in project documentation, institutional learning, evaluation, communications, or related work; experience with environmental or community-based initiatives preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in sociology, institutional development, communications, or a related field; master’s degree preferred.
• Demonstrated experience preparing clear, well-structured reports, articles, long-form narratives, or similar publications.
• Experience conducting qualitative interviews, documenting organizational processes, and synthesizing diverse perspectives.
• Experience in storytelling and developing content for public communication or multimedia projects.
• Ability to work with interdisciplinary teams and diverse communities and stakeholders.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to interpret complex environmental information and explain it accurately to non-specialist audiences.
• Strong analytical skills, sound judgment, and ability to identify implementation lessons and practical recommendations.
• Knowledge of Estuario’s mission and work, or ability to become familiar with it promptly.
• Ability to work independently, attend field activities as needed, and manage multiple writing and documentation assignments.
• Provide own equipment, software, transportation, business expenses, and assistants as needed; maintain required insurance and tax standing.

The contractor shall protect confidential information, manage project records ethically, and obtain appropriate authorization and consent before using interviews, photographs, or identifiable community stories in public-facing materials.

Start Date:

Anticipated Start Date: December 2026

Language Required:

Fully bilingual in English and Spanish.

How to apply:

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, CV, at least one relevant report to [email protected]. Address the application to Brenda Torres Barreto, Executive Director, and include “Project Evaluator” in the email subject line.

Application deadline: November 20, 2026. Anticipated start: December 2026.

Sources of funding:

4T-96213322-3

The Corporation for the Conservation of the San Juan Bay Estuary is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that operates the San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership. 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. MBE/WBE and other certified minorities and small businesses are encouraged to apply.