OverviewYou understand that the most sophisticated ocean science in the world only matters if the right people — fishermen, coastal managers, policymakers, tribal communities, and researchers — are connected to it, trust it, and can act on it. You have spent your career building the human infrastructure around science: coordinating networks, managing partnerships, cultivating stakeholder relationships across sectors, and translating research into decisions that affect real coastal communities. As the Human Dimensions Research Manager & National CAN Coordinator supporting NOAA's Ocean Acidification Program (OAP) and Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing (GOMO) Program, you will serve as the connective tissue between NOAA's scientific enterprise and the regional, national, and international communities that depend on it. You will lead the operational coordination of the national Coastal Acidification Network (CAN) system — running quarterly assemblies, guiding regional steering groups, and spearheading the development of a new domestic Caribbean CAN — while managing bilateral partnerships, cross-agency working groups, and the early-career mentorship pipelines that build the next generation of ocean science professionals. Your work ensures that NOAA's ocean acidification and monitoring science does not stop at the laboratory door.
Work Schedule and Location:
Remote: This full-time remote position will work Monday through Friday, 8 AM EST to 5 PM EST with occasional travel
Responsibilities
- Apply expert and highly specialized knowledge to gather facts, research and analyze data, and develop conclusions, recommendations, and strategies across GOMO and OAP program areas
- Lead project teams to accomplish discrete goals and tasks; provide limited supervision and technical guidance to junior staff
- Lead coordination of bilateral international partnerships, including the NOAA-Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) collaboration, managing action-tracking frameworks and annual assembly logistics
- Represent NOAA program interests in interagency and international committees on ocean monitoring and acidification science (e.g., OMICS, Arctic All-Hands, data management panels)
- Manage operational coordination across regional and national Coastal Acidification Networks (CANs), including running quarterly all-CANs assemblies and drafting strategic blueprints for a Caribbean CAN
- Lead efforts to enhance data interoperability and machine-readability, establishing metadata standards and data management policies for government approval
- Direct coordination of autonomous observing fleets and uncrewed system assets to optimize geospatial coverage of ocean monitoring networks
- Facilitate technical expert working groups to modernize and unify standard operating measurement methodologies and quality-control protocols
- Execute near-real-time data ingestion workflow activities and virtualization pipelines to minimize latency between data collection and public discoverability
- Develop scientific visualizations, portfolio metrics evaluation models, and technical briefings for agency-wide and international data call
Qualifications
Required:
- BA/BS in a technical or business discipline
- Ability to obtain and maintain a Low-risk federal security clearance
- 8+ years of professional and/or academic experience. Advanced degrees or certifications may qualify for shorter periods of required experience.
Desired:
- Deep familiarity with global ocean observing systems and acidification monitoring networks
- Demonstrated experience with federal data management standards, metadata frameworks, and open-data protocols
- Experience supporting international scientific bodies or bilateral government partnerships
- Strong technical writing ability; experience producing government-ready briefings, reports, and strategic documents
- Proficiency with project tracking databases and grant management systems
Work Setting and Environment:
- Primary location: NOAA Silver Spring Metro Center (SSMC), 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. This position is eligible for remote work with travel as needed to the above location.
- All work activities are eligible for telework or remote performance
- Travel required, including at-sea deployments on NOAA vessels and national/international coordination meetings; all travel pre-approved by COR
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Long-term and Short-term Disability Insurance
- Life Insurance
- 401(k) Plan
- Holiday Pay
- Paid Time Off
Pay Range
Salary Range for this position is $102000 to $108000.
