What are the responsibilities and job description for the AOOS Alaska Water Level Watch Coordinator position at Alaska SeaLife Center?
Position Description:
The Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS) is one of 11 Regional Associations that makes up the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS®). AOOS is recruiting for a full-time 5-year term position to serve as the Alaska Water Level Watch (AWLW) Coordinator. This is largely a project management and coordination position; but we also seek candidates with technical skill sets and experience, including the ability to learn new technical aspects related to coastal hazards in Alaska. Both are needed to successfully oversee AWLW projects that fulfill the AOOS coastal hazards observing initiatives. The AWLW is a cooperative collaboration of partners working together on increasing water level and other coastal hazards observations in Alaska. The AWLW Coordinator will eventually lead the AWLW, integrating closely with AWLW collaborators and partners and data product developers. This is not a field position, though the occasional field opportunity may be available with partner projects when appropriate. Over the past five years, the National Weather Service (NWS), AOOS, and IOOS have heavily invested in the development and maintenance of the AWLW Data Portal through the AOOS data management contractor Axiom Data Science (Axiom). The AWLW Data Portal was designed to host non-National Water Level Observation Network (NWLON) water level data that could not be hosted through NOAA CO-OPS Tides and Currents data management system. The AWLW Coordinator will oversee the AWLW Data Portal maintenance and development still underway to modify and improve the base system that now exists. The AWLW Coordinator should possess a relatively high-level understanding of water level data, accuracy specifications, and appropriate datum designations for coastal water level data being collected in Alaska in order to guide the ongoing work with the AWLW Data Portal as well as with national water level projects underway as part of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding. This position will also be responsible for helping fulfill the
general mission of AOOS, helping oversee and manage funding coming to AOOS specifically for water level and coastal hazards projects, and coordinating statewide AWLW activities including periodic AWLW Workshops. The AWLW Coordinator position will report directly to the Operations Director.
Work Location and Consideration:
AOOS has offices in Anchorage and Fairbanks. The primary AOOS office is based in downtown Anchorage and staff are currently working in a hybrid fashion from home and office. We currently have eight employees that work to achieve our mission. The successful candidate does not need to be located in Anchorage, but will be required to be located in Alaska, with an understanding that the candidate will travel to Anchorage on a regular basis (frequency to be negotiated).
Compensation:
We offer a competitive salary, flexible working conditions, and an excellent benefits package with a generous leave policy through the Alaska SeaLife Center, the AOOS fiscal sponsor. Salary will be commensurate with experience.
- Bachelor's degree (or higher) in Coastal Engineering, Oceanography, Marine/Environmental Sciences, or related field (e.g., coastal geology, geography). Master’s degree desired.
- Working knowledge of observing water levels, including the various technologies used to make water level measurements and their advantages and limitations.
- Working knowledge of tidal datums and the various vertical datum transformations.
- Public speaking skills and comfort and experience working with diverse audiences that may include urban and remote Alaska communities, Tribes, resource managers, industry partners, academic researchers, NOAA and USGS scientists, and regional forecast offices such as the NWS.
- Data analysis skills (e.g., time series analysis, geospatial data analysis, data processing, quality assurance/control experience, multivariate analysis (e.g., multi-coherence).
- Ability to self-teach or attend trainings to improve proficiencies in required job skills.
- Experience using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and emerging mapping tools.
- Working knowledge of how to display and plot oceanographic and other environmental data in meaningful and useful ways for data visualization and data product development.
- Demonstrated ability to regularly interface with staff and management.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team, and to successfully work on multiple concurrent projects.
- Demonstrated problem-solving skills, with ability to learn effectively and meet deadlines.
- Technical writing skills, project management reporting, willingness to present information at professional conferences, and author/co-author peer-reviewed publications. (please provide a sample of writing and perhaps a presentation ppt).
- Experience with conducting field work and experiments (e.g., equipment installations, surveying, water level station leveling).
- Experience with other coastal hazards observing technologies and methods that produce wave data, bathymetric data, meteorological data, river gauging, etc.
- Community outreach and coordination.
- Experience working in Alaska or similar regions.
- Experience working in remote Native communities and rural communities.
- Willingness to travel to and hold community information sharing and feedback meetings.
- Programming skills (e.g., Matlab) for ocean science applications.
- Coordinates and leads the AOOS hosted AWLW, including heading-up the Steering Committee, managing and updating the AWLW website, coordinating coastal hazards data ingestion, and overseeing AWLW Data Portal development.
- Coordinates Alaska efforts with other IOOS RA project teams leading the Infrastructure Reduction Act water level projects across all regions. This may expand to also helping with cross-regional wave buoy and coastal change webcam projects.
- Helps manage and track the AOOS core AWLW data management contracts with Axiom Data Science and contracts with other data product developers;
- Works with Axiom to review QARTOD tests being implemented on AOOS water level assets to ensure they are appropriate, in range and are performing to qualify real time data as accurately as possible;
- Maintains or gains knowledge and skills of information product development and maintenance practices (e.g., Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and emerging tools).
- Assists the Operations Director with technical management and reporting of AOOS core grants, programs, contracts and subawards related to AWLW activities through tracking and reporting progress towards strategic goals and metrics; this includes reviewing scopes of work, budgets, invoices and ensuring contractor milestones are being met;
- Helps develop statements of work, budgets, and data sharing plans for external proposals and awards involving AWLW activities.
- Will assist the Operations Director with IOOS programmatic NEPA documentation requirements.
- Takes the lead in developing and implementing AWLW data and information products and outreach materials in order to satisfy end-user/stakeholder needs;
- Engages with stakeholders through community meetings and solicitation for feedback to identify water level and coastal hazards information needs around the state and develop strategies within the network to best meet those needs.
- Maintains and expands AWLW communication pathways (routine Steering Committee meetings, asking stakeholders for feedback, AWLW website, social media, eNews, etc.), and expands AWLW informational engagement with rural and Tribal communities.
- Keeps track of funding opportunities for AWLW members, helping develop and submit proposals for AWLW related projects in Alaska, partnering with AWLW collaborators and ensuring coordination within the state to avoid redundancy when possible;
- Forms and facilitates connections between AWLW contractors and researchers and Alaska stakeholders.
- Plans and facilitates meetings, working groups and workshops that include researchers, coastal community members, Tribes, resource managers (federal, state and regional agencies), educators, and others (separately or together).
- Presents at public forums, including to local communities, interested stakeholder groups, and at national meetings and conferences;
