NH Sea Grant Research Coordinator

CP11 University of New Hampshire; Durham (NH); On-site; USD 48,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

New Hampshire Sea Grant (NHSG) at the University of New Hampshire seeks a highly organized Research Coordinator to manage the program’s competitive research portfolio and annual reporting. You will lead biennial funding competitions, oversee a small grant program, and compile performance metrics with researchers and staff.

You will coordinate cross-functional activities with Sea Grant partners, NEPA/compliance support, and data systems such as eSeaGrant and Workday, ensuring efficient workflows

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalent in a coastal or marine science field.
• Two years of work experience in coastal or marine science, management, or policy.
• Experience in proposal development, grants management, or research coordination.
• Excellent organizational, process-design, time management, and prioritization skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage NHSG research funding portfolio, including biennial competition and small seed funding program.
• Coordinate annual NHSG reporting and performance metrics with staff and researchers.
• Lead planning and execution of the biennial NHSG Research Symposium and national fellowships processes.
• Maintain compliance guidance and documentation for NOAA Sea Grant and related requirements.

Skills

Proposal development

Grants management

Research coordination

Organizational skills

MS Office

Education

Master’s degree in coastal/marine science

Tools

eSeaGrant

Workday

MS Office Suite

Job description

New Hampshire Sea Grant (NHSG) at the University of New Hampshire seeks a highly organized and detail-oriented individual to provide critical program management support as part of a collaborative and multidisciplinary team. Reporting to the NHSG Director, the Research Coordinator serves as the primary lead managing the program’s competitive research portfolio, coordinates Annual Reporting for NHSG, and supports overall program operations. As part of fulfilling this role, the position manages the NHSG biennial research funding competition process and national fellowship competitions, manages a small grant program, plays a key role in compiling annual project reports and performance metrics with researchers and staff, and performs other duties as assigned to advance the program’s mission and goals. This position is ideal for a highly organized, intellectually curious professional who is interested in shaping, supporting, and managing impactful research and associated programs. Based at the University of New Hampshire since 1980 (individual college program status since 2003), New Hampshire Sea Grant is one of 34 Sea Grant programs in the U.S. under the umbrella of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s National Sea Grant College Program. New Hampshire Sea Grant works to support a coastal environment that sustains healthy and resilient ecosystems, economies, and people through integrated research, extension, education, and communications efforts.

Duties/Responsibilities

Research & National Fellowships Program Coordination (55%)

• Manage the NHSG research funding portfolio, which includes a core biennial research funding competition (including developing the request for proposals (RFP), managing the review process, finalizing selection with leadership, award tracking and communications with selected PIs), a small rolling development/seed funding program, and periodic ad hoc competitions.
• Build relationships with the research community across the state of New Hampshire to connect researchers with the NHSG strategic plan and other Sea Grant staff.
• Serve as key point of contact for researchers interested in connecting with NH Sea Grant funding opportunities and/or staff to support efforts to facilitate integration of research and extension/outreach.
• Attend conferences and meetings in New Hampshire and throughout the region and regularly connect with other Sea Grant staff across functions and focus areas to build and maintain awareness of research needs related to NHSG and our partners.
• Lead efforts to plan and manage the biennial NHSG Research Symposium event.
• Coordinate NHSG selection processes related to national fellowship competitions (including but not limited to the Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship and the NMFS-Sea Grant Fellowship).
• Maintain research and competitive program guidance and documentation to ensure alignment with federal compliance requirements (e.g., NOAA Sea Grant, others).
• Support research PI’s with NEPA and other compliance, including Annual Reporting requirements.
• Manage database (currently eSeaGrant) for research funding proposal submissions, review, and reporting and work directly with database developers to give input and request changes to increase functionality of proposal and reporting information systems.
• Support the development of federal omnibus and other grant proposal submissions by establishing efficient workflows, organizing documents, formatting, and preparing files for submission.
• Attend national Sea Grant Research and Fellowship Coordinators Network meetings (quarterly virtual, every other year in person) and Northeast Sea Grant research coordinators meetings to support NHSG alignment and participation in Network discussions, including opportunities for process and program improvements.

Annual Reporting, Metrics, and Data Management (35%)

• Review, follow, and maintain NHSG compliance with Annual Reporting requirements, policies, and other guidance from NOAA in collaboration with the NHSG Reporting lead.
• Manage database (currently eSeaGrant) for Annual Report submissions from NHSG staff and funded researchers, including NHSG and national performance metrics and measures and work directly with database developers to give input and request changes to increase functionality of proposal and reporting information systems.
• Collect, compile, and submit peer-reviewed publications to the NOAA Institutional Repository.
• In collaboration with NHSG Reporting Lead and NHSG leadership, aggregate and review staff and researcher reports to prepare for submission to funders.
• Help train staff and research PIs on Annual Report submission processes/workflows.
• Every four years, work together with NHSG leadership and staff to support preparations for NOAA’s review of NHSG.
• Recommend data management and reporting enhancements and procedures to ensure data integrity and organizational efficiencies.

Other (10%)

• Participate in professional development trainings, workshops, and conferences.
• Other duties as assigned or developed to advance the program’s mission and goals.

Requirements

• Minimum Acceptable Education & Experience: Master’s degree or equivalent in a coastal or marine science field with interest in program management.
• Two years work experience with progressively higher levels of responsibility in a field related to coastal or marine science, management, or policy (e.g., oceanography, climate science, marine and coastal resources, environmental policy or management, coastal engineering, geology, urban planning, economics, etc.).
• Experience in proposal development, grants management, or research coordination.
• Master’s degree or equivalent in a coastal or marine science field.
• Experience in proposal development, grants management, or research coordination.
• Excellent organizational, process-design, time management, and prioritization skills with a strong attention to detail.
• Advanced computer skills, especially using Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Sharepoint, Teams, Planner).
• Ability to navigate and learn new proprietary software (for example, NHSG is currently using eSeaGrant to manage multiple research and reporting processes and UNH uses Workday for many administrative functions).
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and professionalism.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to draft professional correspondence and reports.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and problem-solve effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, faculty, students and others.
• Other Requirements: Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD or other terminal degree with interest in applying research training in a broader programmatic or administrative context.
• Four years work experience with progressively higher levels of responsibility.
• Familiarity with Sea Grant principles and priorities.
• Familiarity with coastal/marine science and management in the Northeast United States.
• Experience coordinating peer review processes.
• Knowledge of research compliance areas such as data management, public access, and project reporting.

The University of New Hampshire is an R1 Carnegie classification research institution providing comprehensive, high-quality undergraduate and graduate programs of distinction. UNH is located in Durham on a 188-acre campus, 60 miles north of Boston and 8 miles from the Atlantic coast and is convenient to New Hampshire’s lakes and mountains. There is a student enrollment of 13,000 students, with a full-time faculty of over 600, offering 90 undergraduate and more than 70 graduate programs. The University actively promotes a dynamic learning environment in which qualified individuals of differing perspectives, life experiences, and cultural backgrounds pursue academic goals with mutual respect and shared inquiry.

EEO Statement

The University System of New Hampshire is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access employer. The University System is committed to creating an environment that values and supports diversity and inclusiveness across our campus communities and encourages applications from qualified individuals who will help us achieve this mission. The University System prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or marital status.

Compensation Pay Range

$47,920.00 - $85,410.00 The pay range for this position is listed above. Actual offer will be based on skills, qualifications, experience, and internal equity, in addition to relevant business considerations.

Location

Durham

Benefits

More information on benefits can be found here: USNH Employee Benefits | Human Resources