Research Coordinator II; Key West & Key Largo

Job Summary

Provides comprehensive technical and logistical support to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) science team, ensuring project alignment with resource management objectives and the sanctuary's management plan. Coordinates and executes field activities, including SCUBA diving and vessel operations, to support scientific research, monitoring, damage assessment, disturbance response, and habitat restoration. Compiles and manages field data, reviews research findings, and supports analysis and reporting, including drafting technical reports and assisting with review and technical evaluation of permits and authorizations.

Supports other science and resource protection activities as needed to enhance FKNMS management efforts and assessment of management effectiveness.

• Provides technical and logistical support to the FKNMS science team. Works closely with the Sanctuary Research Coordinator, Research and Resource Protection Specialist, and other NOAA personnel to identify priorities, develop work plans, and align projects with FKNMS management objectives.
• Supports the planning, implementation, evaluation and monitoring of coral and seagrass habitat damage assessment, response, and restoration activities.
• Compiles and organizes information and data to assist in drafting technical reports, including injury assessment reports and restoration plans.
• Assists in the technical review of permit applications; compiles necessary data and provides mapping support for permits and authorizations.
• Conducts ground truthing of benthic resource assessments and coral rescue and relocation associated with nearshore construction projects.
• Conducts fieldwork to support various research, monitoring, and resource protection priorities (e.g., management effectiveness, hydrophones, sensors and buoys, coral reef and seagrass monitoring, water quality, etc.) using established protocols.
• Provides vessel, surface, snorkel and SCUBA dive support for scientific research, monitoring, damage assessment, and restoration activities, including operating NOAA small boats as required.
• Assists with field activities related to permit evaluation and compliance.
• Assists in coordinating and executing the day‑to‑day logistics of research, damage assessment, monitoring, benthic resource assessments, and other priority fieldwork including submitting necessary paperwork, scheduling, and organizing and maintaining equipment.
• Participates in the planning and execution of multi‑day research cruises, including dive planning, personnel coordination, developing data collection protocols, data management, and conducting scientific operations at sea.
• Compiles, enters, and manages field data collected during monitoring, assessment, and restoration projects.
• Supports data management and reporting. Uses desktop and web‑based Geographic Information Systems (GIS) platforms (e.g., ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online) and statistical software (e.g., R) to process, analyze, and report research and restoration data.
• Reviews and interprets relevant research findings to inform science and resource protection efforts.
• Identifies and compiles external data sources to aid in assessment of management effectiveness and other science priorities.
• Facilitates effective communication and collaboration with external scientific partners, including federal/state agencies, universities, and non‑government organizations.
• Supports community engagement by assisting with the preparation and delivery of presentations on sanctuary research activities, and participates in other community engagement opportunities, as needed.
• Supports other Science Team activities as necessary, including image acquisition/processing/archival, data analysis, drafting and reviewing grant proposals, record archival, representing FKNMS/FIU at meetings and conferences, collaboration with state agencies on marine conservation issues, etc.
• Performs essential duties in emergencies such as hurricanes, storms, oil spills and/or any other university emergency closing. The employee is expected to be available to report to work as needed during university emergency closing with appropriate…