Project Coordination Support

Position Summary

The West Coast Ocean Alliance (WCOA) requests proposals for a short-term contract for project coordination and oversight support for specific WCOA project activities and member engagement. The project coordination and support role, whether an individual or entity, will work closely with the WCOA Executive Director and WCOA Tribal Coordinator to manage a portfolio of projects, including efforts related to offshore wind, aquaculture, the WCOA fellowship program, communications, ocean data, science coordination, and overall engagement with WCOA members. The role may also work with our project fiscal sponsor, Coastal States Stewardship Foundation (CSSF), to support project administration related to project budgets, contracting, and other administrative support.

Primary Responsibilities

Working closely with WCOA contract staff, project contractors, and all WCOA members, the WCOA project coordination and support role will manage a specific portfolio of operational and project tasks in support of the WCOA, including:

• Support planning, preparation, facilitation, and member engagement with WCOA project activities, including WCOA’s Offshore Wind and Aquaculture working groups.
• Coordinate with external WCOA project consultants to efficiently support Alliance activities and ensure effective engagement with WCOA contract staff, fiscal sponsor, leadership group, and broad membership, as appropriate.
• Support communications to effectively engage WCOA members around WCOA activities and project outcomes and spotlight WCOA efforts for external audiences, as appropriate.
• Coordinate and track project progress and deliverables for project activities in coordination with other WCOA contract staff.
• As requested by WCOA Exec. Director, represent the Alliance during WCOA calls, partner meetings, conferences, workshops, and other invited speaking engagements, as needed.
• In close coordination with WCOA’s fiscal sponsor, support project fiscal activities, budget tracking and reporting, contracting tasks, and associated tasks, as needed.

Skills & Qualifications

• Expertise and at least two years of experience in project management related to ocean, coastal, or environmental management, including support of multi-partner collaboration toward specific project deliverables.
• At least two years of facilitation experience with virtual and in-person groups (direct experience supporting facilitation and collaboration with multi-government groups preferred).
• Educational background in ocean policy, coastal management, ocean science and data, or environmental management; graduate degree related to ocean policy, coastal management, or ocean science preferred.
• Familiarity with federal, state, and Tribal ocean management and planning, including experience engaging with government agency staff and non-governmental stakeholders; experience working with partners on the U.S. West Coast preferred.
• Ability to work independently and actively manage project tasks, timelines, and deliverables efficiently with minimal on-site supervision.

Compensation & Administrative Details

• The contract will pay up to $46.63 per hour to support a maximum of 40 hours of services per week; the exact schedule and number of hours for this role are flexible and will be finalized in coordination with the WCOA Executive Director.
• This contract does not include any benefits, including healthcare or retirement benefits.
• The anticipated start date is fall 2024, with an expected contract duration of up to five months; the contract term will be negotiated with the selected contractor.
• The selected independent contractor will be expected to provide their own equipment and supplies to carry out their scope of work.
• The WCOA will provide travel reimbursements for any in-person meetings related to fulfilling the primary responsibilities of this contract.
• The selected independent contractor will work remotely.
• Due to the nature of the work, the selected contractor is preferred to be based in the U.S. West Coast (Washington, Oregon, or California) once the contract begins.

To Apply

Please submit your resume/CV and a cover letter to jobs@westcoastoceanalliance.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with the initial review beginning on October 21, 2024. If you have any questions or want more information, please contact WCOA Executive Director John Hansen at john@westcoastoceanalliance.org or 415-322-8285.

About the West Coast Ocean Alliance

The West Coast Ocean Alliance (WCOA) is the designated Regional Ocean Partnership (ROP) for the U.S. West Coast, bringing together Tribal, state, and federal government partners to coordinate and collaborate around more effective regional planning for existing and emerging ocean uses. The WCOA builds on previous regional ocean management entities including the West Coast Governors Agreement on Ocean Health and West Coast Regional Planning Body, and partners closely with the West Coast Ocean Data Portal. Along with three other regions, the WCOA receives federal funding administered by NOAA to support ROP activities through late 2027 as included in the federal 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). For more information visit www.westcoastoceanalliance.org.