Environmental Review & Advisory Specialist

Job Requisition:

JR101929 Environmental Review & Advisory Specialist (Open)

Environmental Review & Advisory Specialist

CC00483 VIMS1 | OFIN | Research and Advisory Services

Staff
- Community Relations

Regular (benefited)

Watermen's Hall

Posting Location - VIMS Gloucester

School Mission Statement

The Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) has a three-part mission of research, education, and advisory service. Our over-arching goals are to:

• Make seminal advances in understanding marine systems through research and discovery.
• Translate research findings into practical solutions to complex issues of societal importance.
• Provide new generations of researchers, educators, problem solvers, and managers with a coastal and marine sciences education of unsurpassed quality.

Unit Mission Statement

The Office of Research and Advisory Services is the central administrative office charged with coordinating the Virginia Institute of Marine Science's state-mandated research and outreach activities. The Institute serves as the Commonwealth's center of expertise in the marine environment, bringing together governmental, economic, regulatory, and scientific communities.

The Environmental Review & Advisory Specialist I supports the VIMS mandated advisory mission and operates collaboratively and independently with full authority of the Office of Research and Advisory Services (ORAS).

The position reports to the Assistant Dean of Research & Advisory Services with primary responsibility for development and delivery of advisory services and products to a broad governmental and non-governmental client base.

• Serve as point of contact for ORAS advisory requests and as a point of coordination for the development and delivery of advisory data and products to clients.
• Conduct unbiased, science-based environmental reviews, including field site visits, of regulated projects through the Joint Permit Application (JPA) request process, subject to Virginia locality and agency authority impacting the natural resources of the Commonwealth including shoreline erosion control, tidal wetlands, subaqueous lands, and/or beaches and dunes.
• Provide information regarding potential environmental consequences, including options for reduction of potential impacts and guidance on compensatory mitigation strategies for the state regulatory agency's consideration in permitting decisions.
• Coordinate with faculty and staff to develop interdisciplinary advisory, research, and data products and act as the Institute's representative for services and products.
• Represent ORAS and VIMS for select technical, regulatory, and policy bodies external to the Institute, as needed.

The position serves as a scientific advisor and environmental reviewer supporting the Commonwealth's natural resource management and regulatory decision-making processes through objective, science-based evaluation and communication of environmental impacts associated with regulated activities in Virginia's marine and coastal environments.

• Master's degree in Marine Biology, Coastal Geology, Estuarine Ecology, Biology, Natural Resources, Environmental Engineering, or other closely related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the position.

• Demonstrated experience in scientific research, science communication, and translation of scientific information to resource management issues.
• Experience reviewing and understanding scientific and technical information and translating relevant information to end users, environmental managers, and/or policy makers.

• Strong foundation of marine and estuarine science, environmental sciences, and working knowledge of research and science-based advisory activities.
• Knowledge of geographic information systems (GIS).
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in database management.
• Strong writing skills with demonstrated ability to develop accurate, comprehensive, and concise documents summarizing multiple scientific and technical information sources.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to professionally and collegially interact with Institute faculty and staff and external clients.
• Ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to conduct field site visits and work successfully in outdoor environments.
• Ability to communicate scientific and technical information to diverse audiences including scientists, regulators, government officials, and stakeholders.

• Terminal degree in Marine Biology, Coastal Geology, Estuarine Ecology, Biology, Natural Resources, Environmental Engineering, or other closely related field.

• Understanding of local, state, and federal laws, regulations, jurisdictions, and…