Coastal Infrastructure Designer & Project Coordinator

University of Virginia; Charlottesville (VA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job description

The National Security Data & Policy Institute (NSDPI) at the University of Virginia seeks candidates for multiple project coordinator positions for a multi‑year project with the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP), USACE Engineering With Nature scientists and engineers, and the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Viginia Security Corridor Sentinel Landscape team (regulatory and research) to develop adaptive infrastructure for natural hazards and threats that impact the training and readiness of Department of Defense in the Mid‑Atlantic region.

This 5‑year research and development effort will culminate in implementation of significant keystone infrastructure projects that mitigate natural hazard impacts to the operations and readiness of DoD installations in the mid‑Atlantic region. The initial phase (20 months) focuses on design research for hazard adaptation technologies that support military installations affected by erosion, storms, and flooding. Upon successful completion of the first phase, two additional stages will refine the concepts and collaborate with private sector partners to prepare for implementation, including permitting, refined costing, and large‑scale analysis.

The Project Coordinator will design and conduct lab experiments to develop a coastal testbed for natural infrastructure, addressing natural hazards to the training and readiness of Department of Defense facilities in the Mid‑Atlantic region.

This is a full‑time in‑person position requiring on‑site work in Charlottesville, VA, and site visits within the Commonwealth of VA. The role reports to the Project Manager.

Responsibilities

• Perform design studies, as guided by project leadership
• Implement laboratory experiments
• Collect and analyze existing datasets
• Identify, develop and test concepts at the bench scale and represent them for discussion with stakeholders
• Document the concepts for additional analysis and development
• Explore and examine data from multiple disparate sources to identify, provide reporting on, and analyze trends in the data
• Collaborate with internal researchers (UVA) and external stakeholders
• Engage with subcontractors, industry experts, and subject matter experts
• Assist in the support of student researchers
• In addition to the above job responsibilities, other duties may be assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA)
• Experience: 2+ years relevant professional experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated strong skills in drafting, graphic production, and mapping and analysis
• Demonstrated strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to collaborate with faculty, staff, students, and external stakeholders

Physical Demands

This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The position occasionally requires traveling some distance to attend meetings and programs.

Compensation and Benefits

The anticipated hiring range is $70,000–$90,000, commensurate with education and experience. This is an exempt‑level, benefited position.

Employment Terms

This is a restricted position, dependent on funding and contingent upon funding availability. The initial period of performance on the anchor research project is through January 2028, with options for renewals. The position is based in Charlottesville, VA, and must be performed fully on‑site. Site visits within the Commonwealth of VA are required.

This position will not consider candidates who require immigration sponsorship now or in the future.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA’s commitment to non‑discrimination and equal opportunity employment.