Research Coordinator II (Key West & Key Largo)

Florida International University is a Top 50, preeminent public research university with 55,000 students from all 50 states and more than 140 countries, as well as an alumni network of more than 340,000. Located in the global city of Miami, the university offers more than 200 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate and professional levels, including medicine and law. FIU faculty are leaders in their fields and include National Academy members, Fulbright Scholars and MacArthur Genius Fellows. A Carnegie R1 institution, FIU drives impactful research in environmental resilience, health and technology and innovation. Home to the Wall of Wind and Institute of Environment, FIU stands at the forefront of discovery and innovation. With a focus on student success, economic mobility and community engagement, FIU is redefining what it means to be a public research university.

Provides comprehensive technical and logistical support to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) science team, ensuring project alignment with resource management objectives and the sanctuary's management plan. Coordinates and executes field activities, including SCUBA diving and vessel operations, to support scientific research, monitoring, damage assessment, disturbance response, and habitat restoration. Compiles and manages field data, reviews research findings, and supports
analysis and reporting, including drafting technical reports and assisting with review and technical evaluation of permits and authorizations. Supports other science and resource protection activities as needed to enhance FKNMS management efforts and assessment of management effectiveness.

• Provides technical and logistical support to the FKNMS science team. Works closely with the Sanctuary Research Coordinator, Research and Resource Protection Specialist, and other NOAA personnel to identify priorities, develop work plans, and align projects with FKNMS management objectives.
• Supports the planning, implementation, evaluation and monitoring of coral and seagrass habitat damage assessment, response, and restoration activities.
• Compiles and organizes information and data to assist in drafting technical reports, including injury assessment reports and restoration plans.
• Assists in the technical review of permit applications; compiles necessary data and provides mapping support for permits and authorizations.
• Conducts ground truthing of benthic resource assessments and coral rescue and relocation associated with nearshore construction projects.
• Conducts fieldwork to support various research, monitoring, and resource protection priorities (e.g., management effectiveness, hydrophones, sensors and buoys, coral reef and seagrass monitoring, water quality, etc.) using established protocols.
• Provides vessel, surface, snorkel and SCUBA dive support for scientific research, monitoring, damage assessment, and restoration activities, including operating NOAA small boats as required.
• Assists with field activities related to permit evaluation and compliance.
• Assists in coordinating and executing the day-to-day logistics of research, damage assessment, monitoring, benthic resource assessments, and other priority fieldwork including submitting necessary paperwork, scheduling, and organizing and maintaining equipment.
• Participates in the planning and execution of multi-day research cruises, including dive planning, personnel coordination, developing data collection protocols, data management, and conducting scientific operations at sea.
• Compiles, enters, and manages field data collected during monitoring, assessment, and restoration projects.
• Supports data management and reporting. Uses desktop and web-based Geographic Information Systems (GIS) platforms (e.g., ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online) and statistical software (e.g., R) to process, analyze, and report research and restoration data.
• Reviews and interprets relevant research findings to inform science and resource protection efforts.
• Identifies and compiles external data sources to aid in assessment of management effectiveness and other science priorities.
• Facilitates effective communication and collaboration with external scientific partners, including federal/state agencies, universities, and non-government organizations.
• Supports community engagement by assisting with the preparation and delivery of presentations on sanctuary research activities, and participates in other community engagement opportunities, as needed.
• Supports other Science Team activities as necessary, including image acquisition/processing/archival, data analysis, drafting and reviewing grant proposals, record archival, representing FKNMS/FIU at meetings and conferences, collaboration with state agencies on marine conservation issues, etc.
• Performs essential duties in emergencies such as hurricanes, storms, oil spills and/or any other university emergency closing. The employee is expected to be available to report to work as needed during university emergency closing with appropriate notification from a department administrator.

• Bachelor's degree and three (3) years of experience.

• Rescue Diver SCUBA certification from a nationally recognized agency or military.
• Fifty (50) logged open water dives.

• Experience with the design and implementation of research studies, ecosystem restoration projects, and biological and/or socioeconomic monitoring approaches.
• Scientific dive experience including AAUS certification.
• Familiarity with monitoring techniques and identification of marine flora and fauna (coral, seagrass, fish) of Florida's Coral Reef and South Florida ecosystem, including experience operating vessels and conducting boat-based scientific field operations.
• Experience with Geographic Information Systems (ArcGIS, Arc GIS Pro), database programs or other software programs (R, CPCe etc.), and models.
• Experience using photogrammetry and other technologies to assess bathymetry and monitoring for coral and seagrass injuries and restoration projects

• Administrative

• $55,000 - $65,000

Begin time: 8:30 AM

End time: 5:00 PM

• Boating / Water Craft
• Overnight or extended duration travel
• Ability to lift heavy equipment

• Driver's License Check
• Fingerprinting Check
• Expanded Background Check

• Ability to travel locally and nationally.
• Ability to work flexible hours as needed.
• Ability to work occasional evenings, and/or weekends
• This position is funded by an external source (e.g. a grant or contract)

Prospective Employee

If you have not created a registered account, you will be asked to create a username and password for use of the system. It is recommended that you provide an active/valid e-mail account as that will be the main source of communication regarding your status within the process. In this account, you are able to track your applicant status in "My Applications".

To be considered eligible for the position as an internal candidate, departmental staff must meet minimum requirements of the position and be in good performance standing.

Before you begin the process, we recommend that you are prepared to attach electronic copies of your resume, cover letter or any other documents within the application process. It is recommended that you combine your cover letter and resume/curriculum vitae into one attachment. Attached documents should be in Microsoft Word or PDF format. All applicants are required to complete the online application including work history and educational details (if applicable), even when attaching a resume.

*This posting will close at 12:00 am of the close date.

Current Employee

As a current employee, you must log into Employee Self Service (ESS) to apply for this and any other internal career opportunity of interest. In this account, you are able to track your applicant status in "My Applications".

To be considered eligible for the position as an internal candidate, departmental staff must meet minimum requirements of the position and be in good performance standing.

Before you begin the process, we recommend that you are prepared to attach electronic copies of your resume/ curriculum vitae, cover letter or any other documents within the application process. It is recommended that you combine your cover letter and resume into one attachment. Attached documents should be in Microsoft Word or PDF format.

*This posting will close at 12:00 am of the close date.

Clery Notice

In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act, the University Police department at Florida International University provides information on crimes statistics, crime prevention, law enforcement, crime reporting, and other related issues for the past three (3) calendar years. The FIU Annual Security report is available online at: https://police.fiu.edu/download/annual-security-fire-safety-report/.

To obtain a paper copy of the report, please visit the FIU Police Department located at 885 SW 109th Avenue, Miami, FL, 33199 (PG5 Market Station).

Pay Transparency

Florida International University will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information.

Notice of Non-Discrimination

FIU is a State University System of Florida member, Equal Opportunity, Equal Access, and Affirmative Action Employer for individuals with disabilities and veterans. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment decisions, programs, and events without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. For inquiries regarding non-discrimination, contact FIU's Office of Civil Rights at 305.348.2785 or email ocr@fiu.edu.

Reasonable Accommodation Statement

Should you need an ADA accommodation to participate in a University event, program, or activity or need to request materials in an accessible format, please contact FIU's Office of Civil Rights (OCR) at 305-348-2785 or accommodations@fiu.edu. All requests for ADA accommodation or accessible materials for this event must be submitted to OCR at least seven (7) business days prior to the event or at the earliest possible opportunity.