The Surfrider Foundation is the world’s largest grassroots coastal conservation organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s ocean, waves, and beaches for all people through a powerful activist network.
We have achieved many important victories to protect vital coastal and ocean resources. These accomplishments demonstrate the important role of recreational users in advancing coastal and ocean stewardship. Since 1984, Surfrider's appeal is not only our strong reputation and track record of success, but also the lifestyle and values we embody.
By joining the Surfrider Foundation, you will be welcomed into an open and inclusive network of incredibly supportive and collaborative people who work hard and play hard. You will have the opportunity to work with dedicated people who are also passionate coastal users with their feet in the sand and toes in the water. You help bring together diverse voices and perspectives to provide our community with the leadership and tools necessary to make a difference at their beach and in coastal communities across the United States. At Surfrider, we build leaders and we are problem solvers; our culture sets us apart and influences everything we do. Coastal recreation is fun and working at Surfrider is too.
Opportunity:
Surfrider’s Climate Action Program is a first line of defense against the impacts of climate change on our coasts. Nature-based solutions, including the conservation and restoration of coastal dunes, wetlands, and mangrove forests, and the constructions of living shorelines will help local communities proactively adapt to climate change impacts and respond to chronic coastal erosion. Surfrider’s network around the country is working everyday to address climate change through these nature-based solutions and new federal and state investments are making more of these opportunities possible. The Living Shorelines Coordinator will leverage Surfrider’s current climate action work by directly working on living shorelines projects in and coordinating new opportunities to implement Nature Based Solutions.
Based: Orange County or San Diego County, California
The Surfrider Foundation is recruiting a Living Shorelines Coordinator to support and coordinate Surfrider’s living shorelines work in Southern California and assist nature-based climate work in other areas of the United States. The coordinator will work with Surfrider’s Coasts and Climate Initiative Sr. Manager, Climate Action Manager, California policy and regional staff, Sr. Environmental Director, chapter network, and student clubs to spearhead new and existing community-level projects, identify new project opportunities, develop partnerships and resources, communicate program impact to the public and internally, and support fundraising efforts. This is a full time position. Remote work is acceptable within Orange County and San Diego County.
Duties & Responsibilities:
- Coordinate and monitor current and future living shorelines projects in Southern California.
- Collaboratively develop resources for living shorelines circulated among regional managers and chapters.
- Conduct outreach and education regarding the benefits of living shorelines.
- Convene stakeholders with vested interests in living shorelines projects.
- Help identify and develop partnerships with local organizations and institutions such as conservancies, other nonprofits, urban and conservation corps, universities, and others to scale-up restoration.
- Support federal, state, and local permitting processes for living shoreline projects.
- Communicate impact via blog, to Surfrider’s social media team, and internal communications.
- Serve as a’ living shorelines spokesperson’ for Surfrider’s Climate Action Program to local and national media.
- Communicate regularly with regional managers, chapters, and headquarters.
- Track and identify federal and state funding opportunities for coastal resilience, including restoration, and work with Surfrider’s Development Department to fundraise accordingly.
- Track armoring projects (seawalls, revetments, etc.) and living shoreline opportunities in California.
Qualifications & Experience:
- Minimum of two years of professional experience working on coastal ecosystem conservation and restoration.
- General understanding of coastal zone management in California, including California Coastal Commission processes.
- Bachelor's degree in environmental studies, marine biology, oceanography, geology, urban planning, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
- Significant understanding of nature-based solutions and coastal resilience issues.
- Experience with local, state, and federal resource management permitting processes.
- Understanding of public policy and climate action planning as it relates to nature-based solutions and coastal resilience.
- Ability to communicate clearly with media, public audiences, scientific community, and policy makers.
- Ability or willingness to learn how to use tech tools, platforms, and apps such as Salesforce, Hubspot, Golden, Google Drive and Basecamp
- Ability to travel in Southern California.
- Ability to work flexible hours (including some weekends and evenings), as needed, within the full-time weekly schedule
- Ability to work effectively from a home office and in a remote team setting.
- Skilled in GIS, Google Applications, and other desktop tools.
