[Coral-List] Job Opening - American Samoa MPA Network Specialist

Jeremy Goldberg jeremy.goldberg at doc.as
Tue Oct 14 20:08:04 EDT 2008


Hello all,

The Government of American Samoa is soliciting applications for an MPA
Network Specialist (please see job description below).  Any qualified
individuals are encouraged to apply.  Please submit a cover letter, CV and
three references to jeremy.goldberg at doc.as by COB on Wednesday, October 28.


Additional information on American Samoa and the Coral Reef Advisory Group
can be found at www.crag.as.

All the best,
Jeremy

Coral Reef Initiative Coordinator
Resource Management Division
Department of Commerce
Pago Pago, American Samoa
684.633.5155 (phone)
684.633.4195 (fax)



*Marine Protected Area Network Specialist*
*Government of American Samoa*



*Announcement*

The American Samoan Government is soliciting candidates for the Marine
Protected Area Network Specialist (MPA Specialist), working within the
Governor's Coral Reef Advisory Group (CRAG). This position is currently
administered through the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii
and the employee will report directly to CRAG.  The Chief Fishery Biologist
of DMWR is the direct supervisor and will be heavily involved in the day to
day efforts concerning the ongoing Community-based Fishery Management
Program and No-Take Program.  The Coral Reef Initiative Coordinator will act
as a co-supervisor with particular focus on the integration of DMWR's
programs with other ongoing federal and territorial efforts, including the
Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary, American Samoa National Parks, and
other CRAG activities.  The MPA Specialist will be housed at DMWR yet will
work for all of the CRAG agencies rather than any particular one.  As such,
the Network Specialist will report to the primary agencies of the
Territorial MPA Network and keep them informed of ongoing
progress/activities.



*General Description*

The Marine Protected Area Network Specialist will build-upon and assist the
actively managed marine network areas as well as implement sections of the
American Samoa Marine Protected Area Network Strategy (MPA Network
Strategy). The agencies that constitute the MPA Network include the American
Samoa Department of Commerce (ASDOC), Department of Marine and Wildlife
Resources (DMWR), National Park of American Samoa (NPAS), Fagatele Bay
National Marine Sanctuary (FBNMS), American Samoa Coastal Management Program
(ASCMP), American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA), American
Samoa Community College (ASCC), Department of Parks and Recreation (ASDPR),
and the Office of Samoan Affairs.



The MPA Network Strategy was developed to link MPA programs and agencies
together to be more effective and efficient given each program's mandates,
resources and funding through enhanced on-the-ground implementation,
integration of education, research and monitoring, enforcement, and program
administration.  The goal of the MPA Network Strategy is to enhance existing
MPAs and to develop a network of MPAs to ensure the long-term health and
sustainable use of the Territory's coral reef resources. The MPA Network
Strategy includes capacity building and training programs and performance
measures that monitor the progress and success of the network, and will also
serve to facilitate, support and enhance the designation and management of
no-take MPAs that will protect 20% of the Territory's coral reef
ecosystems.Additionally, the Coral Reef Initiative Coordinator and the
Chief Fishery
Biologist of DMWR shall jointly coordinate the efforts of the MPA Network to
contribute to the ongoing Two Samoas Initiative.



The MPA Network Specialist, working collaboratively with the MPA network
team and other local interested stakeholders, will be responsible for
implementing a wide array of protection and management tasks, including the
following:



*General responsibilities:*

·         Evaluate the effectiveness of the ongoing Community-Based Fishery
Management Program village MMA sites by assisting with an ecological
assessment of the biomass within and outside MMAs using length of closure as
variables;

·         Assist in the bio-reconnaissance surveys of the No-Take Marine
Protected Area Program;

·         Assist DMWR with the designation of a no-take MPA pilot site in
Tutuila and/or Manua;

·         Assist in the socio-economic surveys of the No-Take Marine
Protected Area Program in villages that will be covered by the no-take
designation;

·         Ensure that the local MPA efforts are in line with the National
Framework of MPAs and that the locally established MPAs meets the national
standards;

·         Serve as a point of contact in coordinating MPA activities between
American Samoa and the Independent State of Samoa under the Two Samoa
Initiative to create an archipelagic network of co-managed MPAs;

·         Provide coordination between the territorial and federally managed
MPAs to implement the activities and tasks laid out in the MPA Network
Strategy;

·         Provide progress reports of the accomplishments to the MPA Network
member agencies;

·         Oversee regular evaluations of the success of the MPA Network and
integrate feedback and necessary adaptive changes into the Network when
necessary;

·         Develop projects to support the implementation activities for both
the designated no-take and network of MPAs.



*Qualifications and Experience:*

The Government of American Samoa is seeking a highly skilled professional
with exceptional collaborative skills, a background in marine biology,
natural resources, education or policy, and demonstrated leadership skills,
to initiate and oversee the implementation of the MPA Network Strategy. The
ideal candidate should meet the following criteria:



* Demonstrated technical understanding and experience working with all
aspects of marine protected area management and program evaluation;
* Expert knowledge and understanding of coral reef ecosystems as well as
marine policy, science and education;
* Working knowledge and demonstrated experience of experimental and survey
design;

* Experience in resource evaluation and monitoring, particularly reef fish
and benthic resources;

* Proven capacity to work with, and enhance relationships with, a diverse
group of stakeholders including communities, government agency staff,
researchers, educators, and enforcement personnel;

* Experience living and working in another culture, preferably a Pacific
island community;
* SCUBA certified;

* Competency with basic computer skills including word processing,
development of spreadsheets and presentations.

* Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, including
experience with writing and successfully acquiring grants;
* Experience in developing recommendations and preparing clear and
well-organized reports;
* Strong interpersonal and listening skills;

* Proven ability to work effectively and collaboratively as a member of a
team and to effectively prioritize workloads;

* Outstanding organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks
simultaneously;
* Experience and demonstrated success in consensus building among disparate
parties.



  *Activity*

*08*

*FY09*

*S*

*O*

*N*

*D*

*J*

*F*

*M*

*A*

*M*

*J*

*J*

*A*

*S*

Hiring of MPA Network Specialist

*X*

*X*

*X*

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

Bio-recon surveys no-take MPA (Tutuila)

* *

* *

*X*

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

Socio-econ survey of no-take site (Tutuila)

* *

* *

* *

*X*

*X*

*X*

*X*

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

Assist selecting no-take (Tutuila) sites

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

*X*

*X*

*X*

* *

* *

* *

* *

Bio-recon surveys no-take MPA (Manua)

* *

*X*

*X*

*X*

*X*

*X*

*X*

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

Socio-econ survey of no-take site (Manua)

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

*X*

*X*

*X*

* *

* *

* *

Assist selecting no-take (Manua) sites

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

*X*

*X*

*X*

Coordinate Two Samoa MPA initiative

* *

* *

* *

* *

*X*

* *

* *

*X*

* *

* *

*X*

* *

* *






*projected timeline of activities:*





*Activity*

*FY10*

*O*

*N*

*D*

*J*

*F*

*M*

*A*

*M*

*J*

*J*

*A*

*S*

Biological evaluation CFMP

*X*

*X*

*X*

*X*

*X*

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

Data analysis for CFMP survey

* *

* *

* *

* *

*X*

*X*

*X*

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

Technical report writing

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

*X*

*X*

*X*

* *

* *

* *

Transition of CFMP to no-take MPA

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

*X*

*X*

*X*

*X*

Coordinate Two Samoa MPA initiative

*X*

* *

* *

*X*

* *

* *

*X*

* *

* *

*X*

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *



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