Paid Educator: Participant Coordinator at COASST (WA)
The Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) is hiring a Participant Coordinator, who will serve as the nexus point of participants, and of student interns, responsible for the coordination of and communication with all COASST participants, including, but not limited to training. Deadline to apply: 3/14/2023.
Agency/Organization: Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) / University of Washington
Location: University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
Job Description: 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 22 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 800 participants 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 participant, 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 participants and their communities.
The Participant Coordinator is the nexus point of participants, and of student interns, responsible for the coordination of and communication with all COASST participants, including, but not limited to training.
Qualifications:
Minimum Requirements:
- Bachelors degree or higher in Marine Sciences or equivalent
- Demonstrated experience teaching, in a higher education or adult education setting for at least 2 years
- Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration
Additional Requirements:
- Quantitative skills, including spreadsheet and database experience sufficient to remotely manage participant 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
Desired Requirements:
- 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, students, and the general public
Application Deadline: 3/14/2023
Start Date: 5/1/2023
Contact: Jackie Lindsey (coasst@uw.edu)
