Position description
The Science & Strategy Research Assistant broadly supports Oceana’s Science & Strategy team, giving the Assistant the opportunity to interact with Oceana’s various country offices and HQ-based departments. The Assistant is a valued member of our cross-disciplinary team and is fully integrated into our operations, giving them insight into a broad range of topics and allowing them to develop a range of skills. Approximately half of the Assistant’s time will be dedicated to specific research and/or analytical projects – the nature and duration of which will change throughout the course of the position and are dependent on the Assistant’s skill set. Our team values diversity in backgrounds and experiences and we strive to build on and complement each other’s skills to create an inclusive and supportive team that together can fulfill a wide range of objectives and responsibilities for the organization.
Oceana’s Science & Strategy team, based at our international headquarters in Washington, DC, provides science and policy support for our country offices, our Marketing & Communications Department, our fundraising team, and the Office of the CEO. Our team also conducts research and development on new initiatives at the forefront of marine conservation and challenges the organization to learn and improve through monitoring and evaluation. Science & Strategy tackles both long-term initiatives and short-term, urgent requests; as such, we – and the Assistant – must remain nimble and flexible, while maintaining rigorous scientific integrity.
This position requires a combination of research, analytical, and communication skills and involves teamwork. This 2-year, term limited, full-time position (one year with a one-year renewal) reports to the Senior Manager, Impact and Economics, Science & Strategy, is based in our Washington, DC office, and may require occasional travel.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
Essential Functions:
- Assistant will primarily be engaged in one or more of the following, depending on their skillset, interests, and immediate needs of our Department:
- Conduct literature reviews and/or novel analysis on topics relevant to Science & Strategy’s initiatives, possibly including, but not limited to:
- The role of fisheries in nutrition and food security, especially in SE Asia, coastal Africa, and as it relates to global trade flows;
- Foreign fishing operations, policies and business activities as conducted in developing Coastal States, and could also include illegal fishing activities, geopolitical considerations, and the role of international aid; and
- Understanding measures of equity and well-being in marine conservation, as well as the ramifications of climate change for the ocean and the communities which rely on it; and
- Other general topics surrounding fisheries management, habitat protection, transparency in governance, and other issues on which Oceana campaigns.
- Provide quantitative data analysis on one or more of the above topics using tools such as GIS (Geographic Information System) mapping, R programming language for statistical analysis, Microsoft Excel, or Tableau.
- Prepare and/or update scientific presentations and training materials to be shared with Oceana and external audiences
- Research and disseminate regular, internal email updates highlighting relevant international news and scientific journal articles.
- Write internal staff newsletter compiling noteworthy updates on Oceana science staff’s research and upcoming reports and events.
- Help maintain the team’s calendar, schedule internal and external meetings, organize meeting agendas and PowerPoint slides, and other operational team matters.
- Assist with internal project and workflow tracking.
- Evaluate internal and external materials for scientific integrity, accurate portrayal of complex issues, and campaign sensitivities; review and update internal and external-facing resources and materials (fact sheets, presentations, trainings, etc.), and verify their scientific accuracy.
- Represent Oceana in a professional and responsive manner, while maintaining strict confidentiality when working with sensitive information.
- Perform additional duties as assigned.
Job Requirements
Education and work experience:
- Bachelor’s degree. Preferred fields of study include, but are not limited to, marine science, ecology, international relations, environmental studies, science communication, or applied mathematics.
- Has not had a full-time job in conservation.
- An interest in the field of conservation and/ or coastal community well-being.
Skills and knowledge:
- Demonstrated capacity to work well and collaborate with others.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills, especially comfort communicating technical concepts clearly and concisely in various formats.
- Ability to accurately synthesize large amounts of information, quickly identify relevant issues or questions, and recommend responses or solutions, including on new topics that you may or may not have previous experience in.
- Enthusiasm for working in a cross-cultural, multi-disciplinary environment.
- Ability to be self-directed and take initiative while remaining flexible, helpful, and eager to learn.
- Experience with one or more of the following:
- Conducting literature reviews
- Quantitative data analysis using R programming language for statistical analysis
- Data visualization using GIS, Excel, Tableau or other similar programs
- Adaptability to a varied workload; occasional long hours, weekend events, alternative hours to accommodate international time zones, and travel are required
- Ability to work independently and handle multiple tasks simultaneously in a dynamic work environment with speed, accuracy, and a positive attitude
- Strong commitment to the mission, goals, and values of Oceana
Required Competencies:
- Action Oriented:Makes things happen. Takes on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
- Manages Ambiguity: Must be able tomanage ambiguityand operate effectively even when things are not certain or clear. Is willing to forge ahead, solve problems and get things done during changing and unpredictable times.
- Collaborates:Brings people together to leverage their skills, talents and knowledge to achieve a common purpose. Creates synergy resulting in a combined effort with greater results than what can be achieved by individuals.
- Effective Communication: Understands the value ofeffective communication. Can deliver messages in a clear, compelling and concise manner. Actively listens, checks for understanding and adjusts content and style to meet the needs of different stakeholders.
- Global Perspective: Takes a broad view of issues and challenges and can see them in a global context. Builds relationships with people from different cultures and countries. Draws on global knowledge and perspective when tackling complex issues or looking for opportunities.
- Being Resilient:Must be resilient and able rebound from setbacks and adversity when facing difficult situations. Can stay focused and composed in stressful situations, take constructive action and is viewed as a source of confidence in high-stress situations.
- Instills Trust: Is able to gain the confidence and trust of others by demonstrating honesty and authenticity, acting with integrity, being consistent and credible.
- Nimble Learning: Takes on the challenge of unfamiliar tasks. Can quickly adapt to new situations and draw on past successes and failures to solve current problems.
The salary range for this position is $48,000 to $52,000 annually.
Oceana values a diverse workforce and welcomes people different from each other in many ways, including characteristics such as race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, and national origin. Oceana considers all qualified candidates and seeks to recruit from a diverse candidate pool.
Oceana's US offices have operated on a hybrid schedule and staff have been required to work from their assigned office on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. With an agreement between the employee and their supervisor, the employee may work from home on Monday and Friday.
Application instructions
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