Field Communications Specialist

Communications Director at Great Lakes Fishery Commission Field Communications Specialist

GS-11/1 equivalent; full-time

The Great Lakes Fishery Commission (Commission) is an international non-profit treaty organization serving the Great Lakes region by coordinating fisheries research, controlling the invasive sea lamprey, and facilitating cooperative fisheries management among federal, provincial, state, and tribal agencies. The Commission’s work supports more than $5 billion USD in annual economic benefit to the Great Lakes region. The Commission is known globally for its successful development of diverse and productive partnerships and delivery of complex programs.

The Commission was established in 1955 by the Convention on Great Lakes Fisheries and is funded by the Canadian and U.S. federal governments.
Learn more c.org.

Activities of the Commission are coordinated through a Secretariat staff, which is partitioned into directorates. The Communications Directorate (directorate) is tasked with translating the Commission’s science, sea lamprey control, and fishery management work to a wide range of local, national, and international audiences. Sea lamprey control is the largest of the Commission’s programs and is implemented in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) located in one of three biological stations throughout the Great Lakes region.

Proactive and purposeful communication about sea lamprey control is critical to cultivate and maintain support from partner agencies, stakeholders, and the public. The directorate does this through one-on-one interactions, engagement with media, presentations at outreach events, utilization of the commission’s website and social media forums, and development of various communication products including interactive displays, videos, fact sheets, and press releases.

As a Field Communications Specialist within the directorate, you will be stationed in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario with the DFO sea lamprey control crew. As part of the team delivering effective, efficient, and socially acceptable sea lamprey control, you will manage communications related to program activities by proactively engaging with Indigenous, U.S. State, and provincial partners, stake‑and‑rights holders, and the public before, during, and after program activities before, during, and after adult and larval sea lamprey control and assessment actions.

You will travel extensively throughout the Great Lakes region during the field season—which typically runs from April to October—to provide on‑site communication support for high‑profile program activities. You will meet with landowners, riparian users, local fishing and recreation clubs and others to provide information, address concerns, and nurture relationships in support program activities. You will also respond to routine media questions, obtain photos and videos of program activities for use in communication materials, and assist in the preparation of multi‑media outreach materials.

The ability to travel, including possessing a valid driver’s license and passport, is required.

• Be a critical member of the Communications Directorate, DFO Sault Ste. Marie crew, and broader Sea Lamprey Control Program team.
• Provide necessary on‑site communication support to treatment and assessment crews during the sea lamprey control field season.
• Develop (e.g., write, design, produce, and disseminate) informational, multi‑media outreach materials of appropriate complexity designed to educate and inform internal and external audiences.
• Foster relationships with local and regional stake‑and‑rights holders to broaden the community of advocates who support sea lamprey control activities.
• Participate in relevant internal planning activities such as pre‑treatment briefings, assessment briefings, Sea Lamprey Control Board meetings, Sea Lamprey Communications Subcommittee meetings, and other activities that will provide essential background for you to carry out your duties.
• Coordinate an annual plan of work with the Communications Director, Sea Lamprey Control Programs Director, and the DFO Sea…