Grenadines Seabird Project Coordinator

Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) is an independent non-profit (501c3) founded in 2000 with the mission of protecting the Caribbean through research and community-based actions. The mission is achieved through the conservation tools of Science, Education, Advocacy and Stewardship (SEAS). The organization conducts projects throughout the Antilles and is committed to engaging with local stakeholders as community support is essential to all EPIC projects.

EPIC is seeking a full-time Project Coordinator for the project “Invasive Goat Removal to Restore Seabird Nesting Habitat in St. Vincent and the Grenadines” The goal of this project is to mitigate for damage to seabird species impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill by increasing target populations through improved nesting habitat and nest productivity. The Project Coordinator is responsible for the successful completion of project objectives and meeting grant requirements.

Reports to: Program Director
Supervises: Project Assistant, Eradication Specialist, and Education Specialist
Term: Beginning 2024, full-time for years 1-2, half-time for years 3-5
Location: St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Compensation: US $48,000 per year full-time salary

Submit a cover letter which outlines your suitability for the position with CV/resume and contact information for three references to Natalia Collier at jobs@epicislands.org with Grenadines Coordinator in the subject line. Open until filled.

OBJECTIVES

Leadership & Management

1. Provide leadership and management to successfully reach project objectives.
2. Ensure ongoing project excellence, rigorous program evaluation, and consistent quality of finance and administration, fundraising, communications, and systems
3. Lead, develop, hire, and release Project Assistant and Educational Specialist.
4. Actively engage, support, and maintain positive relationships with staff, volunteers, partnering organizations, government, businesses, and funder(s). Serve as a liaison between EPIC and these stakeholders and serve as the face of the project, maintaining professionalism and accurate communication.
5. Provide recommendations to the Program Director of potential strategies to develop or improve the organization, including staff concerns or training/development needs.
6. Ensure discretion and confidentiality when appropriate.

Planning & Evaluation

1. Develop project and individual work plans/timelines, manage performance, provide orientation, training, coaching and advice to ensure that staff are motivated and achieve objectives.
2. Evaluate effectiveness/impacts of project according to grant guidelines.
3. Create and maintain all reports, metrics and deliverables required by EPIC and funder(s).

Administration & Finance

1. Responsible for the fiscal integrity of project, to include regularly reviewing budget and grant reports, and to operate within the approved budget, ensure maximum resource utilization, and maintenance of project in a positive financial position.
2. Provide written monthly updates on project activities to be shared with Executive Director and Board.
3. Comply with all purchasing and tracking guidelines provided by EPIC and the funders.
4. Identify and secure office space as headquarters for project.

Technical

1. Compile available baseline biodiversity information, including seabird and goat population surveys for Battowia and the Pillories Islands, and aggregate the information to inform goat eradication efforts.
2. Plan logistics and conduct monthly monitoring visits from land and/or sea to monitor invasive species and seabird populations. Secure necessary equipment (i.e., drones, acoustic monitors, trail cameras) for meeting monitoring objectives.
3. Coordinate with partners and local communities to remove free-roaming goats from the islands via relocation and/or hunting.
4. Responsible for ensuring accurate data entry and analysis, including mapping.
5. Coordinate seed dispersal for native plant restoration as needed.

Communication

1. Work with Education Specialist on vision and storyline for project to be promoted through diverse communication mediums, such as traditional and social media, radio, peer to peer, and in professional settings (i.e., conferences).
2. Develop relationships with resource users and other stakeholders, working to resolve potential disagreements with cultural sensitivity.
3. Develop and grow partnerships with organizations, companies, and individuals which further project goals.
4. Ensure communications products/campaigns contain accurate information in promoting the image of the organization and its activities.

QUALIFICATIONS

Core requirements include:

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree, preferably natural resources management, environmental or conservation management, or in relevant fields, with demonstrated successful management experience; track record and examples of effectively leading conservation projects and staff
• Knowledge of Caribbean conservation issues and ecology, particularly related to seabirds and invasive species, and familiarity with diverse Caribbean cultures, especially in the Grenadines
• Experience in leading field studies, preferably regarding Caribbean seabirds, data collection, and data management
• Invasive species management experience
• Experience in data-driven program evaluation
• Organizational management experience with the ability to coach staff, manage, and develop high-performance teams and to set and achieve project objectives
• Solid, hands-on, budget management skills; detail-oriented, budget analysis, decision-making and grant reporting
• Written and verbal communication expertise; a persuasive and passionate communicator with excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people and engage a wide range of stakeholders and cultures