This position directly supports the DEP CPR Program, including assisting administration of CPR funding, leading/supporting programmatic research priorities, expanding data management and communication efforts, and maintaining DEP Quality Assurance standards as the Coral Data & Research Coordinator (‘Coordinator’). The Coordinator is a core member of the DEP CPR Program team and will be responsible for working directly with CPR Program leadership to implement high-level priorities and goals and to ensure that CPR Program efforts are aligned with Florida’s Coral Reef Resilience Program (FCRRP), disturbance response efforts and other state priorities. The Coordinator is also intended to be a conduit of information related to management priorities and data management. The Coordinator will provide technical administrative support for CPR Program data management and research priorities. These include but are not limited to developing and implementing data management solutions for the Florida’s Coral Reef Restoration and Recovery (FCR3) Initiative, synthesizing DEP-funded research and recommending future directions, establishing a photogrammetry program for FCR3 Initiative site restoration and planning, acting as a lead contract manager on data management agreements, and overseeing the Quality Assurance program for CPR data management.
As a complement to FSG’s involvement in other DEP programs and, in particular, coral reef health, the Coordinator will also serve as a liaison between this position and FSG’s research, extension, outreach and/or educational programs through sharing activities and deliverables.
Data Management for Florida’s Coral Reef Restoration and Recovery (FCR3) Initiative
Work with the CPR Team, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), grantees, and other technical partners to develop/review project and grant deliverables; provide technical support for data management; ensure timely completion and communication of data and metrics; and oversee the FCR3 Initiative data management solutions for large-scale restoration.
• Act as the lead or co-lead on assigned grants, particularly those related to the FCR3 Initiative and data management. This includes serving as the primary point of contact for grantees and partners, providing technical guidance, reviewing deliverables and other supporting documentation, and ensuring data is appropriate and usable by management.
• In coordination with the CPR Program leadership and FWC, oversee the development and implementation of data management solutions for large-scale restoration. This includes land-based coral and reef-associated species stock management, genetic management, outplanting efforts, grant deliverables and metrics.
• Collate metrics and data on FCR3 Initiative efforts to communicate outcomes.
• Support GIS mapping and a photogrammetry program for restoration site planning, monitoring and communication.
• Use current and future data management platforms to organize FCR3 Initiative data, support partners with population and genetic management, and evaluate benchmarks to track and guide the FCR3 Initiative.
• Perform site visits to partner facilities, as appropriate and approved by DEP supervisor.
Holistic Management of Coral Research
Support the CPR Program’s protection and restoration research portfolios by looking at the state of research holistically and synthesizing research project outcomes to direct research future priorities.
• Synthesizes research outcomes from DEP-funded projects through time and build on finding with outside research to expand our state of knowledge.
• Provide recommendations for research gaps and next steps to advance protection and restoration priorities to CPR Program leadership.
• Participate in the Florida’s Coral Reef Resilience Program (FCRRP) Research Working Group meetings, as appropriate. Assist the FCRRP Coordinator with research gap analysis, scheduling and facilitating working group meetings, developing and distributing recommendations from CPR leadership, liaising with researchers, and ensuring alignment between FCRRP and CPR Program priorities.
• Collaborate with the National Coral Reef Management Fellow to update statewide restoration research priorities.
• Attend meetings and participate in working groups and meetings as needed to support regional protection and restoration issues across Florida’s Coral Reef.
• Coordinate with DEP ORCP Southeast (SE) Region Communication Liaison to produce science communication materials for resource managers, partners and the DEP CPR website.
• Assist with integrating research and science into the FCR3 Initiative Science Monitoring and Adaptive Management (SMAM) Plan.
Project Management (QA)
Assist in the development and oversight of data management agreements to support state priorities for coral reef management. Act as the lead or co-lead on assigned projects, particularly those related to data management. This includes serving as the primary point of contact for principal investigators, negotiating scopes of work and budgets, performing cost analyses, reviewing Quality Assurance plans, providing technical guidance, reviewing and approving deliverables, reviewing invoices and other supporting documentation, and ensuring timely completion of projects.
Quality Assurance (QA)
Lead the development and implementation of the quality assurance/quality control plan for all CPR-related data, including the FCR3 Initiative.
• Act as the lead in updating the CPR Program QA plan annually.
• Ensure CPR Program-funded projects and grants QA Plans are complete and submitted in a timely manner and are in compliance with state and federal laws, policies, and procedures.
• Serve as the CPR Program QA Officer. This includes reviewing and overseeing all CPR Program related data, documents, photos and other project and programmatic needs. Ensure electronic files, deliverables and resources are maintained and backed up according to DEP policies
Other
• While this position is office-based, the Coordinator may be considered to participate in snorkel field activities. If the applicant’s American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS) certification is current (i.e., active status), may be considered to participate in SCUBA diving field activities, in compliance with University of Florida and DEP program requirements, as appropriate and approved by their supervisor. It is the sole responsibility of the Coordinator to maintain any dive qualifications.
• May be considered for trailering and operating marine vessels to and from field activities and or site visits, as appropriate and approved by their supervisor.
• Participate and successfully complete the Florida Certified Contract Manager Training, if not already certified.
• Other duties as assigned with important ones documented, including pertinent highlights and action items, if applicable.