Island Institute Fellowship - Deer Isle & Stonington

Island Institute seeks a qualified candidate for an 18-month Island Institute Fellowship in Deer Isle & Stonington to work with the Adult and Community Education program by providing direct support in communications, outreach, and some direct program administration.

The Island Institute Fellows Program places college (associates or higher) and master’s degree graduates in Maine’s coastal and year-round island areas to live and work for two years. Fellowship positions provide a unique opportunity for recent graduates to apply their skills and gain real-life, place-based experience in climate and/or marine economy using community development practices. Island Institute Fellows work directly with a host organization on a priority project identified by the community, while also contributing their own interests and passions to the area they live in. The fellowship experience is designed to support the development of essential career skills. The cohort of fellows take part in a variety of professional experiences designed to build communication, project management, facilitation, and leadership skills. 

The Island Institute Fellows Program provides support for Maine’s coastal and island communities by:

• Strengthening capacity for local planning and management in the areas of climate and/or marine economy.
• Providing technical assistance in implementing local research, planning, education, and communication projects.

Successful candidates will be community-focused, self-motivated, self-aware, and committed to the Institute’s mission and values. Applicants must be able to carefully allocate their time and organizational resources while working across multiple projects.

Requirements:

• An associate, baccalaureate, or graduate degree within the last five years.
• The ability and willingness to travel to off-site locations, including by boat.
• Eligibility to work in the USA.
• Ability to reside full time on the bridged island of Deer Isle & Stonington where the fellowship is located.

Desired Qualifications:

• Demonstrated interests or abilities in community development, community-based work, or related fields in the areas of climate and/or marine economy.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills; able to speak about the work in an articulate and compelling manner (one-on-one and with groups).
• The ability to understand rural communities and how change happens locally.
• The interest in and ability to listen to communities and partners to inform, develop, and implement responsive programming.
• Interest in shaping Adult and Community Education experiences for community members that inspire them to act and solve problems.
• Comfort with technology, including information technology systems such as Office 365 applications.
• Ability to manage time and work with minimal direct supervision AND/OR
• Ability to work collaboratively in multi-generational settings.
• Enthusiasm for living and working on a small, bridged island community.

Essential Functions:

• Work with Deer Isle Adult and Community Education from start date through August 2026.
  • Grow participation and program offerings through community outreach and engagement,
  • Collect stakeholder feedback on existing and desired programming,
  • Provide one-on-one programmatic support, and
  • Other work as it emerges.
• Connect and integrate into the Deer Isle and Stonington communities and apply this understanding to work with Adult and Community Education participants.
• Move projects forward in a way that promotes community engagement and creates sustainability at the end of the fellowship.

Other Program Requirements:

• The fellowship is a full-time job; Island Institute Fellows cannot hold additional employment without prior approval.
• Due to the program’s nature, this fellowship will require the Fellow to have a car and/or driver’s license.

Benefits:

• Housing, utilities, and internet provided and paid for by the Island Institute.
• $14.65/hour wage; 35-hour work week
• 14 paid holidays
• Four weeks of paid time off per calendar year (includes vacation, sick, and personal time off)
• Professional development through retreats and workshops
• Professional development stipend
• Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• Networking with other professionals and organizations
• Island Institute membership

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Due to the variability in site placement and duties, all essential functions and specific work environments will be provided as part of site placement. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Physical demands: the employee is required to sit, enter data using computer keyboard and mouse, stand, walk, bend over occasionally, and move about the office space as well as between building floors. Typically, there is no requirement to lift and/or move weights of more than 15 pounds. The employee will be expected to travel on occasion by boat and ferry to various island and remote coastal locations. There will be times when working long hours, evenings and weekends may be required.
• Travel: Must be comfortable traveling for extended periods of time by any mode of transportation in cross-cultural contexts.
• Work environment: The noise level in the work environment is usually minimal.

Please find further information about the position here:  https://www.islandinstitute.org/priorities/strong-leadership/fellows/

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and preference given to applications received by January 31. Only online applications are accepted. Please respond to the application questions and provide specific examples. 

In lieu of a cover letter, we are asking applicants to respond to the short answer questions in this application.

If you have any questions about the application or require reasonable accommodation, please reach out to Susan Haversat at shaversat@islandinstitute.org.

If you have questions about the position or Island Institute Fellowship, please reach out to Lisa Millette at lmillette@islandinstitute.org.

Based in Rockland, Maine, the Island Institute is a nonprofit organization and an equal opportunity "at-will" employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities based upon an individual's ability and qualifications. We do not discriminate against people on the basis of race, citizenship, ancestry, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, national origin, age, mental or physical disability.

For more information about the Island Institute and our work along the Maine coast, please visit www.islandinstitute.org.

Salary : $15