Washington Sea Grant
Student Assistant—Development of Marine Spatial Plan economic indicators
Department: Washington Sea Grant
Date Available: Immediately
Application Deadline: Open until filled, priority review for applications submitted by October 9, 2014

Project Overview:
Washington Sea Grant (WSG) is looking for a part-time, hourly assistant with experience and interest in
economics and ecosystem-based management to assist with economic indicators tied to the Washington
State Marine Spatial Plan (MSP) whose development is currently underway. Marine spatial planning is a
public process to analyze and plan for uses of the marine environment and ocean-related human activities
to achieve agreed-on ecological, economic, and social objectives. As a member of the State Ocean Caucus
charged with plan development, WSG is working in consultation with state agencies and stakeholders to
conduct outreach, coordinate scientific review, and identify social and economic indicators for the
Washington coast. The social and economic indicators will be used to assess various dimensions of
human wellbeing in coastal counties. This position supports economic indicator development.
Primary duties of the student assistant will include:
• Engage coastal stakeholder groups in determining what economic measures are most important
and should be prioritized
• Collect data on variables that measure economic health of defined regions
• Conduct an analysis of economic variables
• Interpret and present results in a format that is accessible and easily understood by others
• Support the project team as needed, including note-taking, report preparation, and meeting
logistics
Qualifications:
The ideal candidate for this position is a graduate student with an interest in coastal communities and
research. Experience with economics is strongly preferred. A successful applicant should be prepared to
carry out responsibilities in an organized fashion, able to work independently, and be skilled at
communicating with diverse local stakeholder groups.
Timeframe:
Position to begin as soon as possible. Workload anticipated at approximately 15-19 hours per week. The
ideal candidate will be able to make commitment for Autumn (2014) and Winter (2015) quarters.
Salary:
Salary is competitive and commensurate with academic standing, qualifications, and experience.
How to apply:
Email one PDF file with a cover letter, resume and contact information for two references to Chelsea
Kahn (chelkahn@uw.edu).
Notes: The University of Washington is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. To request
disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at
206.543.6450 / 206.543.6452 (tty) or dso@u.washington.edu.