[Coral-List] MPA Coordinator American Samoa

alyssa edwards iialyssa at yahoo.com
Sat Jan 19 17:52:10 EST 2008


The American Samoan Government is soliciting candidates for the Marine Protected Area Network Coordinator (MPA Coordinator) for the Governor’s Coral Reef Advisory Group (CRAG).

  Position Background:
    The Marine Protected Area Network Coordinator (MPA Coordinator) will support and oversee implementation of the American Samoa Marine Protected Area (MPA) Network Strategy (MPA Network Strategy). 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 coordination and integration of education, research and monitoring, enforcement, and program administration. The goal of the MPA Network Strategy is to effectively coordinate existing and future 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.
   
  The MPA Coordinator will be responsible for working collaboratively with a wide array of resource agency staff involved in the protection and management of American Samoa’s marine resources and other local interested stakeholders, to implement the activities in the 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 Coordinator will be housed at DOC; however since the position serves a coordinating function the candidate will work for all of the agencies rather than any particular one, and will report to the primary agencies of the MPA Network: ASDOC, DMWR, NPAS. 
   
  Key Duties and Responsibilities:
   
  The MPA Coordinator is responsible for implementing the activities and tasks delineated in the American Samoa MPA Network Strategy. Work will involve collaboration with a wide array of agency personnel and interested stakeholders to carry out the following: 
   
  General Coordination:
   
  ·        Provide leadership and coordination within the Territory, and regionally, federally and internationally to implement the activities and tasks laid out in the MPA Network Strategy. 
  ·        Organize, convene, and facilitate a series of initial meetings to further develop the details and establish the responsibilities of the MPA Network as well as ongoing meetings in support of the implementation of MPA Network Strategy.
  ·        Promote information exchange and collaboration among disparate entities, within and beyond the Territory and develop and implement strategies for interagency information sharing
  ·        Work with MPA Network agency staff to coordinate, plan and schedule all activities and meetings relevant to the MPA Network Strategy.
  ·        Coordinate and facilitate public meetings to ensure public input is received on issues related to MPA Network Strategy Activities.
    ·        Coordinate with federal partners to ensure that federal principles are being addressed in MPA Network Strategy activities.
  ·        Identify and develop partnership opportunities between the Territory and off island partners.
  ·        Compile, evaluate and synthesize background information and develop reports regarding MPA Network related topics and activities.
  ·        Provide ongoing progress reports of Network accomplishments to the MPA Network member agencies 
  ·        Work with MPA Network partners to identify, prioritize and pursue capacity building and training to ensure effectiveness of the Territory’s MPA programs.
  ·        Oversee regular evaluations of the success of the MPA Network and integrate feedback and make necessary adaptive changes to Network when necessary.
   
  Fund Raising:
  ·        Seek additional funds for the operations and projects of the American Samoa MPA Network including to sustain the MPA Coordinator Position beyond the initial funding that has been secured thus far and for additional staff to support the MPA Network in the future.
  ·        Seek public and private funding sources for MPA Network member agencies’ projects and activities
   
  Education and Outreach:
  Convene and facilitate a workgroup comprised of experienced natural resource educators working with ocean-based and MPA issues and other key MPA-related staff in the Territory, to:
  ·        Develop an education and outreach plan for the MPA network;
  ·        Agree on key messages and education and outreach products
  ·        Identify funding sources, and 
  ·        Conduct other evaluations and activities that enhance the effectiveness of American Samoan marine resource education efforts.
   
  Research and Monitoring:
  Collaboration with researchers and other key personnel from American Samoan resource agencies to increase coordination and information sharing and enhance the effectiveness of research and monitoring efforts, including: 
   
  ·        Consolidating efforts to compile relevant research and improving the dissemination of these materials to agencies and the interested public;
  ·        Updating the research and monitoring compilation as new reports and data are received; 
  ·        Assessing the existing collection and identifying and prioritizing further research an monitoring needs for the territory; 
  ·        Developing a MPA Network Research and Monitoring Plan; 
  ·        Developing standard practices and protocols for research conducted by off island scientists; 
  ·        Conduct other evaluations and activities that enhance the effectiveness of American Samoan research and monitoring efforts.
   
  Enforcement:
  Establish and facilitate an Enforcement Workgroup comprised of enforcement personnel and other key agency staff to:
   
  ·        Assess the existing enforcement programs and identify collaborative mechanisms by which these programs can be strengthened
  ·        Identify and pursue other sources of funding to enhance and sustain existing programs. 
  ·        Develop voluntary enforcement programs, which aim to educate violators and allow them to see the rationale behind regulations and prohibition.
  ·        Evaluate and pursue cooperative enforcement mechanisms 
  ·        Investigate and potentially pursue cooperative use of technology to monitor MPAs (remote sensing, video cameras, etc.)
  ·        Conduct other evaluations and activities that enhance the effectiveness of American Samoan marine resource enforcement efforts.
   
  MPA Designation and Site Selection:
  Work collaboratively with MPA Network representatives and key MPA agency staff to:
   
  ·        Identify and reach agreement on goals and objectives, general principles, and criteria for site-selection of future no-take MPAs. 
  ·        Identify traditional Samoan resource management techniques and determine how they can be utilized in the designation and management of MPAs
  ·        Develop and implement protocols that enhance public participation that are effective given the Samoan culture
  ·        Agree upon and implement biological and socioeconomic monitoring programs for existing MPAs
  ·        Implement effectiveness evaluations for MPAs
  ·        Conduct activities that support and enhance American Samoan MPA efforts
   
   
   
  Qualifications and Experience:
  American Samoa Government is seeking a highly skilled professional with exceptional collaborative skills, a background in marine or natural sciences, 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:
   
  ·        Proven capacity to work with and develop relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders including communities, government agency staff, researchers, educators, and enforcement personnel.
  ·        Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
  ·        Knowledge in marine policy, science and education; experience with marine regulatory issues, conservation issues, and resource management techniques.
  ·        Demonstrated understanding of the technical aspects of marine protected area management and program evaluation. 
  ·        Knowledge and understanding of coral reef ecosystems.
  ·        Proven ability to work effectively and collaboratively as a member of a team and to effectively prioritize workloads.
  ·        Experience and proficiency in meeting facilitation and conflict resolution.
  ·        Strong interpersonal and listening skills.
  ·        Ability to accept and integrate constructive feedback from others.
  ·        Attention to detail, accuracy and quality, and ability to be flexible, work well under pressure and meet deadlines, and be well organized and manage multiple tasks simultaneously. 
  ·        Experience related to public speaking, presentation and communication techniques.
  ·        Experience in developing recommendations and preparing clear and well-organized reports.
  ·        Experience living and working in another culture or in an island community.
  ·        Experience and demonstrated success in consensus building among disparate parties. 
  ·        Competency with basic computer skills including word processing, development of spreadsheets and presentations.
   
  The position is housed within the Department of Commerce under the supervisor of the CRI Coordinator and oversight management by the CRAG Chair. 
   
  Educational Background:
  Ideally, this candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree in natural resource management, marine policy, marine science/ecology, or environmental-related fields with at least 6-8 years experience OR a master’s degree with at least 4 years experience. 
   
  SALARY AND BENEFITS
  Per annum salary - $32,000 – $35,000 with subsidized housing and medical costs, and relocation expenses (airfare, shipment of personal effects) on a Two-year off-island contract, renewable by mutual consent and continued funding.
   
   
  To apply
  Send a cover letter and resume/CV addressed to
  Lelei Peau, Coral Reef Advisory Group Chairman 
  American Samoa Department of Commerce
  Executive Office Building
  Utulei, American Samoa 96799 USA
  Email - Lelei.Peau at noaa.gov
   
  Copy to:
  Alyssa Edwards, NOAA Coral Reef Fellow
  American Samoa Department of Commerce
  Executive Office Building
  Utulei, American Samoa 96799 USA
  Email – aly.edwards at gmail.com
   
  Due to periodic postal delays, email applications are encouraged and may be sent to aly.edwards at gmail.com. Applications will be accepted through January 25, 2008.  Please visit our website for more information on the program at http://doc.asg.as/crag

       
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