Florida Conservation Program Manager

The Ocean Conservancy Inc; Saint Petersburg (FL); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work environment

Job summary

Ocean Conservancy seeks a Florida Conservation Program Manager to lead and expand state partnerships, advancing grassroots debris reduction, water quality initiatives, and climate resilience.

You will work with government partners, NGOs, and communities across Florida, reporting to the Senior Director of Florida Conservation. Based in St. Petersburg with hybrid options and opportunities to travel within the state.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years experience in environmental conservation in Florida; advanced degree may substitute for experience.
• Genuine passion for Florida’s marine environment and strong state ties.
• Familiar with Florida marine conservation issues and potential solutions.
• Empathy and ability to work with diverse communities for a greater good.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; media exposure is a plus.
• Experience with environmental policy analysis and advocacy to influence Florida conservation.
• Highly detail oriented, adaptable, well-organized and self-starting; able to work independently.
• Highly collaborative with large, multi-disciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Seek, manage, and expand community-led initiatives to reduce marine debris and nutrient pollution across Florida.
• Lead development of marine debris positions at local and state levels.
• Develop and advance community-driven water quality and debris interventions.
• Participate in grant applications and budget development to attract funding for Florida projects.
• Network with state and local government officials on conservation priorities in key Florida regions.
• Coordinate and network environmental NGO peers statewide to maximize impact for marine conservation.
• Engage stakeholders on water quality, sea level rise, climate change, debris, and habitat issues.
• Represent Ocean Conservancy in public settings and events; testimony when needed.
• Support development and refinement of Ocean Conservancy's policy positions for Florida.

Skills

Public speaking

Policy analysis

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor’s degree in marine conservation or related field

Job description

POSITION TITLE: Florida Conservation Program Manager

DEPARTMENT/PROGRAM: Florida Conservation

REPORTS TO: Senior Director of Florida Conservation

STATUS: Full Time

LOCATION: Hybrid - St. Petersburg, Florida (Jacksonville, Miami, and other Florida locations may be considered)

ABOUT OCEAN CONSERVANCY

For more than 50 years, Ocean Conservancy has delivered effective, evidence-based solutions for the ocean and all who depend on it. Today, we continue to unite science, people and policy to protect our ocean from the greatest challenges it faces: climate change, plastic pollution and biodiversity loss. We are a 501(C)3 headquartered in Washington, D.C. that inspires a worldwide network of partners, advocates and supporters through our comprehensive and clear-eyed approach to ocean conservation. Together, we are securing a healthy ocean and a thriving planet, forever and for everyone.

POSITION SUMMARY

As a core member of Ocean Conservancy's Florida Conservation Team, the Florida Conservation Program Manager will provide critical mission support and added capacity, and will expand and enhance the organization’s ability to work with partners in state and local governments and within the conservation community across Florida. The Manager will serve as a key point of contact with both existing and new local government partners, and will provide lead flagship projects such as grassroots marine debris efforts, marine plastics assessments and grassroots advocacy, sea level rise and climate change initiatives, water quality and abundance interventions, and marine wildlife and habitat protection efforts. The Manager will also represent Ocean Conservancy in public appearances, testimony, and in outreach and education activities.

The Manager will report to the Senior Director of Florida Conservation, and will preferably be based in St. Petersburg, Florida.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Seek, manage, and expand upon community led initiatives to reduce marine debris and nutrient pollution across Florida, including in key regions that align with the Florida Program Multi Year Strategy – Tampa Bay, Indian River Lagoon, and Biscayne Bay, among others.
• Lead strategic development of marine debris positions for the organization that can be deployed at the local government and state levels.
• Develop and advance community driven interventions on water quality and marine debris
• Participate in the development of grant applications and budget development to attract funding for water quality and marine debris projects in Florida.
• Network and partner with state and local government officials on marine conservation priorities in target regions of Florida including South Florida, West Central Florida, Southwest Florida, the I-4 corridor, and Northeast Florida.
• Lead the coordination and networking of environmental NGO peers and partners statewide to maximize impact for marine conservation, including in formal Ocean Conservancy led coalitions
• Network with impacted stakeholders on issues including water quality and abundance, sea level rise and climate change, marine debris and ocean plastics, and habitat and wildlife
• Represent Ocean Conservancy in public settings, including events such as conventions, symposia, and restoration and cleanup events
• Provide public testimony to local and state government on marine conservation issues, for example in support of marine debris regulation or fertilizer ordinances
• Help develop and refine Ocean Conservancy's policy positions on marine conservation issues affecting the state

REQUIRED SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE

The successful candidate will, at a minimum, possess the following qualifications:

• 3-5 years experience in the field of environmental conservation in Florida; an advanced degree (in science, law, policy, or a field related to conservation) will be considered in lieu of experience.
• A genuine, ardent passion for the conservation of Florida’s marine environment, and a deep connection to the state and its ecosystems.
• Familiarity and experience with the latest marine conservation issues in Florida, and with the potential spectrum of solutions to address those issues – this includes water quality and abundance, nutrient pollution, plastic pollution and marine debris, sea level rise and climate change, and threats to wildlife and habitat, among others.
• Innate empathy and a willingness to work with people from across economic and political spectrums and from diverse communities to achieve a greater good
• Excellent communications skills, both written and verbal; facility with public speaking; experience and comfort with speaking to the media a plus.
• Experience and familiarity with environmental policy analysis and advocacy and a desire to develop policy positions that will have a positive impact for Florida’s marine environment
• Highly detail oriented, adaptable, well-organized, and self-starting – ability to work independently and manage up
• Highly collaborative and outgoing with large, multi-disciplinary teams

EDUCATION/TRAINING

• Bachelor’s degree in a field relevant to Ocean Conservancy’s marine conservation mission

COMPENSATION

Ocean Conservancy is committed to fair pay practices and posts expected salary ranges for each of its positions. Compensation will be commensurate with the candidate’s specialty skills, years of experience, location, and unique background. The expected starting salary range for this role is $70,000 - $80,000 annually. We would welcome the opportunity to connect with potential candidates whose salary requirements may be outside of the expected range.

HYBRID WORK ENVIRONMENT

Ocean Conservancy embraces a hybrid work environment, which allows our staff the flexibility to work virtually and in-person while building strong connections across the institution.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Ocean Conservancy provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

We encourage applicants who have a diverse level and range of relevant skills and experiences to apply. A 100% match is not required. We want to support employees’ career growth and in return, our employees help Ocean Conservancy grow into a stronger, more inclusive institution.