St. Marys Riverkeeper is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and advocating for the St. Marys River through science, education, and community engagement. As the trusted voice for this vital waterway, we work to safeguard its health, beauty, and resources—now and for future generations. Spanning both Georgia and Florida, we serve the four counties of the St. Marys River watershed, uniting communities across state lines in our shared commitment to the river's well-being.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

St. Marys Riverkeeper is seeking a dynamic and passionate Watershed Outreach Specialist to implement community outreach programs and initiatives as well as fulfill federal grant requirements. The Specialist will play a crucial role in building and sustaining relationships within the community to create opportunities for engagement and participation. 

The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of community issues, excellent communication skills, ability to work full days in the field, and create a team-oriented, community-first environment. The candidate must also be highly skilled in project reporting, detail-oriented, independent, sincere, exceptionally organized, and self-motivated. 

The Specialist will work towards strengthening St. Marys Riverkeeper’s brand and maintaining a positive image within the community.

WHAT WE WILL ACHIEVE TOGETHER

The Watershed Outreach Specialist will work alongside the Community Engagement Coordinator (CEC) and project partners to support the delivery of a federally funded project focusing on resilience planning and community engagement. St. Marys Riverkeeper is the recipient of a $716,000 grant from National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) through their National Coastal Resilience Fund to support planning and capacity building for nature-based solutions (NBS) for coastal resilience in the St. Marys River watershed. This grant will help our community prepare for increasing coastal flooding and more intense storms, while improving riverine habitats for fish and wildlife. With the help of UGA's Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems, we will build a compound flood model to develop a comprehensive Watershed Resilience Plan over a two year period.

Deliverables from ‘Building a Watershed Resilience Plan for the St. Marys River and its Community (GA, FL)’ grant project (The Project) include:

• A comprehensive coastal resilience plan for the watershed, including up to 10 NBS projects identified for site assessment and design and prioritized by expected benefits to the endangered Atlantic and Shortnose Sturgeon and improvements to community resilience and emergency management.
• Community engagement opportunities led by the project team through steering groups, guidance from a technical advisory panel, experiential learning opportunities, and community planning workshops.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist CEC and project partners to convene the community and develop project deliverables.
• Schedule and lead experiential learning opportunities such as boat tours, paddle trips, driving tours, etc
• Submit regular project and expense reports to CEC for grant reporting.
• Organize and conduct volunteer activities including but not limited to volunteer training and river cleanups.
• Represent St. Marys Riverkeeper at local outreach events to raise awareness about issues affecting the river’s health, resilience efforts, and foster relationships within the community
• Conduct eDNA sampling alongside University of Georgia for sturgeon research
• Support community-led initiatives and develop new partnerships with businesses, corporations, other organizations, and neighborhood groups to build support for protecting our St. Marys River.
• Other duties as assigned. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Bachelor of Science in ecology, biology or chemistry field, environmental policy, natural resources or  related field. 
• At least 1 year of experience with water science, teaching in environmental education or similar settings.
• Empathy and cultural sensitivity to understand and respect the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives throughout the watershed.
• Strong interpersonal skills to build trust and maintain collaborative relationships with community members, local government, NGOs and other stakeholders involved in the community resilience efforts.
• Ability to digest instructions and perform high-quality work sometimes with minimal oversight.
• Must possess a valid state-issued driver’s license and own or have access to a vehicle for work-related use.
• Strong writing skills including excellent composition, grammar, and descriptive style, with the ability to adapt messages to audiences. 
• Experience/proficiency in web-based communication tools such as Zoom and google workspace such as google sheets, google photos, etc

PHYSICAL QUALIFICATIONS

This position is one that involves a medium degree of physical capability, which typically requires lifting or exerting 50 lbs. of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 lbs. of force frequently. The position will also require the ability to visually and aurally observe information, walking, and occasional climbing or movement in less stable areas. The position also requires the ability to swim and properly use a canoe and/or kayak.

.COMPENSATION, TRAVEL, AND HOURS

Partially funded through a federal grant, the Specialist can expect to work 15-20 hours a week, at $16 an hour. Partial reimbursement for travel and phone bill are provided.

This position requires regular trips to each county of the watershed, as well as occasional travel to various regional conferences. Project focused travel costs will be covered by federal funds. This job involves flexible hours including working after hours, evenings, and weekends. 

Fixed term from employment start date to October 2027, beyond which the position would depend on funding availability and priorities. The Specialist can expect to work 15-20 hours a week with 10 - 15 hours a week dedicated to The Project paid through federal funding with the remaining hours allocated to general organizational needs and requirements paid through St. Marys Riverkeeper.