Florida Sea Grant (FSG) hosts a Biscayne Bay Commission Coordinator (“Coordinator”) funded by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The Coordinator assists in the planning, running and management of the Biscayne Bay Commission (BBC), including quarterly meetings (see https://floridadep.gov/sec/sec/content/36047-biscayne-bay-commission and https://protectingfloridatogether.gov/BiscayneBayCommission for more detail).

In this role, the Coordinator guides conversations to ensure effective collaboration among Commission members (Commissioners), DEP staff, and public stakeholders, and is responsible for all BBC documents (semiannual reports and a long term strategic plan). Communication skills are critical as the preparation and follow-up coordination are extensive, both internally within DEP and externally with the Commissioners and their staff.

Additionally, the individual will be responsible for coordinating implementation of priorities that are identified by the BBC and within the purview of DEP’s authorities in support of three strategic goals: (1) enhance water quality monitoring, (2) improve communication and public outreach, and (3) address sources of nutrients and ecosystem restoration needs. These efforts will be incorporated into the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve (BBAP) program with support from the BBAP Manager.

As a complement to FSG’s involvement in other DEP programs, the Coordinator serves as a liaison between this Biscayne Bay focused position and FSG’s research, extension, outreach and/or educational programs through sharing activities and deliverables.

Commission - Meeting Planning, Support and Facilitation

Identify and secure locations for each quarterly meeting, coordinate with DEP staff and partners, conduct meeting, and complete all follow-up tasks. Provide on-site logistical support including organizing parking validation with the venue; operate audio/visual equipment; ensure smooth topic and presentation transitions; prep speakers and Commissioners for the meeting format; and provide facilitation functions. Follow-up tasks include finalizing materials and updating all membership, presentation and meeting documents on the website.

 Commission - Coordination of Priority Projects

1. Ensure that the project tracker, including estimated nutrient load reductions, is regularly updated and that member entities are scheduled to present to the commission as appropriate.
2. Assist in furthering efforts to address any Commission identified priorities, including drafting project scopes of work, seeking grant funding, coordinating action plans with implementing agencies, etc.
3. Coordinate with agencies and organizations collecting water quality data throughout Biscayne Bay to ensure comparability between results, reduce overlapping efforts, and identify gaps. This will help inform source identification as well as project implementation.
4. Identify points of contact for all monitoring entities to share data and provide for an open forum for discussion on monitoring.
5. Provide outreach to potential data providers on the importance of entering data into the Watershed Information Network (WIN). Subsequently provide education and training to each data provider organization intending to load data to WIN on its use, including WIN Minimum Data Quality Standards (MDQS).
6. Ensure that water quality data collected by Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve (BBAP) staff is regularly updated into WIN and that methods meet or exceed MDQS.
7. Other tasks as requested by the Commission.

 BBAP - Scientific and Field Assistance

Assist BBAP staff in the field, office, and lab with research and restoration projects. This will include the broad range of research that BBAP conducts and is flexible based on the candidate’s expertise and time allowed. Field assistance may involve captaining a small vessel, assisting with water quality, snorkeling, SCUBA diving (if approved by FSG and DEP), and/or collecting benthic samples as deemed appropriate based on the candidate’s experience and abilities.

 Other duties as assigned