College of the Environment has an outstanding opportunity for a Continuing Education Coordinator.  The Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) is a rigorous citizen science organization based in the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences at the University of Washington.  Now 18 years old, COASST recruits and trains coastal citizens from northern California north to Kotzebue, Alaska to survey their local beach in a systematic, standardized fashion, returning data on a monthly basis about the number, identity, and condition of beached marine birds and, separately, marine debris.  Additional data on the conditions on the beach are also collected.  COASST experts independently verify all participant data (i.e., species identification), making the data immediately useful in science and resource management.  At present, almost 1,000 volunteers collect data as part of the COASST program.  All participants are trained in a 5-6 hour session, and given a set of data collection materials, including the relevant COASST Field Guide and written protocol.  Once data collection starts, COASST interns and professional staff keep in close contact with each volunteer, making sure (s)he has adequate supplies and is continuing the survey at least monthly.  Additional enrichment activities, including refresher trainings and evening public lectures on coastal natural history and conservation are also available to volunteers and their communities.

The Continuing Education Coordinator is the nexus point of volunteers, and of student interns, responsible for the coordination of and communication with all COASST volunteers, including, but not limited to training.

This position manages a corps of more than 1,000 citizen science participants as well as an undergraduate internship program that supports 10-15 students on a quarterly basis.

Citizen Science is a growing field, and the University of Washington has several well-recognized programs pairing scientists and professional staff with citizen data collectors and adult learners.  This position could significantly advance the role of the university in terms of public interaction with science.  At the same time, marine debris is an issue of high importance to state and federal management agencies with coastal oversight.  This position is one of the lead “public face” positions in COASST, representing the organization, the College of the Environment and the University of Washington at public events (not limited to COASST trainings, refreshers and socials).

This position’s lead responsibility is to manage and improve the experience for COASST volunteers, from training to withdrawal, and assure that COASST data collection sites are adequately covered. Additional responsibilities include:
•Manage the student intern program: quarterly recruitment of undergraduate student interns and senior interns: assuring retention and leadership development for all students.
•Off-site training and enrichment programs for COASST volunteers and COASST interns.
•Contribute to grant proposals and reports, contribution to training materials, creation of materials and presentations for scientific and public audiences.

For detailed information on Benefits for this position click here.

Requirements:
Bachelor’s Degree in Marine Science or Equivalent.
•Two to three years demonstrated experience teaching, in a higher education or adult education setting.
•Quantitative skills, including spreadsheet and database experience sufficient to remotely manage volunteer effort.
•Ability to work in a multi-tasking, fast-paced environment and respond to both short-term crises and long-term needs while maintaining a positive, interactive, and team-focused demeanor.
•Experience working in a field situation or alternate work site(s) for extended periods of time.
•Communication skills, especially writing and production of outreach materials for the adult, public audiences; integration of graphics and text in well-designed outputs.
•Experience working with volunteer or citizen science organizations.
•Valid driver’s license, needed for driving to remote areas/beaches for training/work with volunteers.

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except where there are legal requirements such as license/certification/registration.

Desired:
•Oral communication skills, including experience teaching adult, non-professional audiences.
•Familiarity with web  programming (HTML and content management systems such as Drupal or WordPress)
•Professional interaction skills, including but not limited to email, phone, and in-person interaction with academic and senior scientists, and the general public.

Application Process:
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process.  These assessments may include Workforce Authorization, Criminal Conviction History, Cover Letter and/or others.  Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your “My Jobs” page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.

Appointment to this position is contingent upon obtaining satisfactory results from a criminal background check.