The San Juan Bay Estuary Program (Estuario) is seeking highly motivated, flexible and creative thinker to join Estuario’s efforts in green infrastructure and community-based ecosystem restoration and reforestation.
The San Juan Bay Estuary Program (Estuario) is a private non-profit organization that designs, implements, and provides restorative maintenance in order to improve the water quality and ecosystems within its eight municipalities. Estuario’s mission is to restore and conserve the water quality in the Estuario de la Bahía de San Juan ecosystem as a sustainable hub of social and economic development.
Estuario is the only tropical estuary in the National Estuary Program, providing not only environmental and resiliency programs, but also educational and recreational activities that support thriving communities.
The Estuario’s work is guided by the development and implementation of the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP). In collaboration with local, state, and federal agencies, NGOs, academic, and business leaders, the Estuario works to restore and conserve water quality in the San Juan Bay Estuary ecosystem. The Estuario works to build partnerships and leverage federal funding for regional-scale restoration, water quality improvement, and resilience-building projects.
Estuario will be supporting the municipalities that are part of the San Juan Bay Estuary watershed to make substantial upgrades to its storm sewer systems through green infrastructure projects. Specific projects will be guided by a Green Infrastructure Master Plan in the SJBE watershed. The Green Infrastructure Master Plan will evaluate regional needs and proposes natural infrastructure projects to effectively address several issues, including but not limited to, deforestation, heat island effect, land uses, land cover, vacant/environmental liability sites, carbon sources/sinks, ecosystem connectivity, and water pollution hotspots. The plan will implement a comprehensive public participatory process where municipalities, state agencies, policy makers, professional guilds, academia, communities, and cross sector stakeholders may significantly contribute to defining a comprehensive green infrastructure strategy at different scales and identifies capacity-building needs.
The Green Infrastructure Coordinator will implement green infrastructure and reforestation initiatives in collaboration with community leaders through the Estuario’s Resilient Community Hubs, Water Community Network, the Urban Forest Network and community/urban gardens. The candidate will be working directly with the Estuario’s multidisciplinary team, conducting workshops, promoting community participation and implementing actions related to green infrastructure and reforestation.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Support community projects within the SJBE watershed related to climate resiliency, coastal restoration, access to green space and waterways, and immediate reforestation.
- Inform, educate, and engage the public around green infrastructure and restoration efforts
- Identify, coordinate, and carry out activities that would advance green infrastructure and immediate reforestation efforts
- Develop and share educational material for various audiences that emphasizes the importance of the green infrastructure, stormwater management, and reforestation efforts for the SJBEP estuary ecosystem
- Documentation of previous and current reforestation and green infrastructure projects as case studies
- Support Blue/Green Infrastructure Specialist in the development or implementation of the Green Infrastructure Master Plan as needed
- Support the implementation of work plans by carrying out outputs/deliverables related to the position
QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- Experience coordinating, developing and providing in person and virtual workshops, with special focus on green infrastructure and reforestation.
- Experience in projects aimed at communities.
- Demonstrated work experience with hands-on activities and fieldwork, including but not limited to school programs, leadership training, educational workshops, and/or awareness-raising activities
- 3+years in relevant work experience in green stormwater infrastructure, reforestation, or coastal resilience projects
- Bachelor’s degree in related field, preferred but not required, such as environmental sciences, environmental education, community engagement/ outreach, urban planning
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
- Excellent communication skills and demonstrated proficiency in the communication of technical information to the general public, and strong interpersonal skills.
- Position requires a high degree of independence
- Availability to work remotely and 7 days a week, depending on the Estuario and community’s calendar.
- Proficiency in project design, coordination, and implementation
- Strong organizational skills, multi-tasking ability, and attention to detail
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in teams and in diverse communities
- Experience leading and working in a team environment with staff, partners, and volunteers
- Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills
- Be adaptable to changes in workload
- Maintain high level of professionalism
- Provide exceptional customer service
- Enjoying work outside and doesn’t mind working in inclement weather conditions
- Good negotiator and problem solver, with experience in a fast-paced work environment.
- Computer literacy in Microsoft Office, cloud-based data access and share software such as Google Drive, and other software such as Adobe, etc required.
- Provide their own personal computer and transportation.
Time spent in this position will be split between being in an office setting and external meetings. Occasionally, there will be tasks completed in field locations. Work hours may shift depending on the tides or project assignment. Occasionally, there will be a need to work on a weekends.
COMPENSATION
Commensurate with experience.
LANGUAGE REQUIRED:
Fully bilingual in English and Spanish.
HOW TO APPLY:
Interested candidates please submit a cover letter and resume/CV by email no later than September 15, 2022: [email protected]. The email and cover letter must be directed to Brenda Torres, Executive Director, and must specify in the subject the title of the position, «Green Infrastructure Coordinator».
Source of funding: EPA 320 Grant 28 and SRF C-72-250-05
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.
