Job Description: 

We are interested in an individual who is comfortable in public settings and in engaging a wide variety of stakeholders, and whose fundamental interest is in wise management of our marine and coastal resources. The ideal candidate will have a strong knowledge of climate science and coastal impacts, especially sea level rise, and the ability to comprehend and disseminate accompanying model data. They will help coastal communities develop and implement strategies for understanding how the challenges associated with adapting to impacts such as sea level rise can be addressed through planning, policy, and project approaches.

The Extension Specialist will lead collaborations across a variety of scales including with colleagues at the USC Sea Grant Program and extension professionals in the National Sea Grant College Program network. They will work with numerous stakeholder groups including municipal authorities, state agency officials, landowner and watershed groups, NGOs, and others concerned with natural resource and hazard management in marine and coastal regions. The Specialist will work with faculty, scientists and other extension professionals to provide training, develop collaborative programs, maintain and develop new partnerships with private marine and coastal industries, and share approaches to managing the nation’s coastal resources. Internally, the Specialist will participate in the solicitation and review cycle for Sea Grant research, conveying stakeholder priorities and linking them with the research community, and be responsible for periodically reporting project updates and progress reports, and needs, metrics and/or outcomes for programmatic reporting. 

This position requires travel throughout Southern California, with occasional trips to meetings and conferences in California and the US. The specialist will perform other related duties as assigned or requested and the university reserves the right to add or change duties at any time. This is a full-time, grant funded position.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A Master’s or Ph.D. degree in oceanography, climate science, marine and coastal resources, environmental policy or management, coastal engineering, geology, planning, or related fields focusing on coastal resilience.
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience working with community stakeholders to address coastal and/or marine resource vulnerabilities and adaptation strategies. 
• Excellent personal engagement and communication skills, written and oral, and ability to effectively convey complex scientific information to lay audiences. 
• Strong understanding of issues related to the marine environment, coastal processes, sand replenishment; extensive knowledge of sea level rise adaptation strategies is highly desirable. Experience/training in GIS preferred.
• Broad knowledge of coastal management policy and practices, including the California Coastal Act and Local Coastal Programs.
• Proficiency in developing workshops and presentations, facilitating groups, and coordinating councils, boards, commissions, agencies and stakeholder groups.
• Experience in grant writing and managing grants and grant-funded projects and studies.
• Excellent project management skills and demonstrated ability to work successfully within a team setting as well as independently on projects, grants and outreach across a wide range of settings and groups.

Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree, Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education Minimum Experience: 2 Years Minimum Field of Expertise: Directly related project or administrative experience.

The University of Southern California is an Equal Opportunity Employer that Values Diversity.