Delaware Sea Grant Workforce Development Coordinator

CONTEXT OF THE JOB:

Delaware’s coast contributes significantly to the state’s economy across diverse sectors including tourism, real estate, environmental services, commercial fishing, aquaculture, and the marine trades. However, Delaware’s coastal economy faces significant threats from dynamic conditions, such as shifting economies, severe weather, and flooding. Delaware Sea Grant seeks to address these challenges and support the current and emerging needs of Delaware’s coastal economy by providing career and technical education programs to develop a skilled workforce capable of succeeding in traditional and innovative fields. To help achieve this goal, Delaware Sea Grant is hiring a staff member for the new position of Workforce Development Coordinator.

The Workforce Development Coordinator will be responsible for planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating programs focused on workforce development and career and technical education. The successful candidate will report to the Associate Director of Delaware Sea Grant, and will work cooperatively with the Associate Director and other members of Delaware Sea Grant to administer existing workforce develop programs, develop new programs and initiatives, seek external funding, and track economic impacts of projects and programs.

The Workforce Development Coordinator will be based at the University of Delaware main campus in Newark. Occasional weekend and evening hours will be required. This position will require local travel in and across Delaware and the mid-Atlantic region, and overnight travel to meetings and conferences around the mid-Atlantic region and throughout the United States.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Administer the existing Delaware Sea Grant-Delaware Technical Community College green infrastructure training program during fall semesters. Grow the program to include new industry partners, new opportunities for skills training, and opportunities to earn associated industry-accepted certifications.
• Plan, conduct, and evaluate career and technical education programs at the local or statewide level to groups and individuals to address workforce development needs throughout coastal Delaware.
• Build cohesion across Delaware Sea Grant-funded graduate students by developing and implementing activities such as quarterly meetings, professional development trainings, and Sea Grant-sponsored activities.
• Administer the Delaware Sea Grant summer internship program by identifying opportunities at partner host organizations, selecting students, and developing a cohort of summer interns.
• Continue to develop the Delaware Sea Grant alumni network by building a network of former Delaware Sea Grant-supported graduate students, interns, and fellows.
• Annually administer the Delaware Sea Grant-Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Coastal Policy Fellowship and the John A. Knauss Fellowship.
• Research and analyze developing workforce needs across the different sectors of Delaware’s coastal economy, such as aquaculture and the marine trades, to identify opportunities for Delaware Sea Grant to develop and implement new workforce development programs.
• Strategically cultivate relationships with industry partners, including the Delaware Marine Trades Association and the Port of Wilmington, to develop networking opportunities and facilitate future workforce development connections.
• Develop strong partnerships and marine trades-related programs with Delaware’s vocational and technical high schools.
• Help implement Delaware Sea Grant’s current strategic plan, to ensure accomplishment of identified goals and outcomes. Support long-range program outcomes in areas related to subject matter specialty.
• Complete all quarterly and annual reporting requirements in a timely manner.
• With assistance from communications staff, prepare publications, audio/visual presentations, web-based programs, and other educational materials to convey appropriate information to targeted clientele.
• Maintain and improve professional competence through formal and non-formal courses and conferences. Maintain a high standard of knowledge within this specialty.
• Represent Delaware Sea Grant at workshops, conferences, and seminars.
• Work as a team member with other Sea Grant colleagues and college staff to help plan and organize annual educational open house at UD’s College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment – Coast Day, to increase marine literacy among the approximately 5,000 annual visitors.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned in support of the overall Sea Grant College Program mission.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in a nautical, environmental, engineering, or construction field, or a closely related course of study, and four years of relevant experience in a coastal or environmental industry, such as environmental fields or the maritime trades or an equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered, including an Associate’s degree and six years of relevant experience, or professional certification and ten years of relevant experience.
• Demonstrated understanding of workforce needs in at least one distinct field relevant to Delaware’s coast or environment (e.g., shipping, green infrastructure, energy, environmental construction). Ability to plan, develop and organize effective career and technical education programs, including developing and implementing short-and long-range goals and evaluating for impact.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team, possess strong organizational and multi-tasking skills, and exercise good judgment in decision making.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities with evidence of being able to work well with a range of clientele.
• Effective oral and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Effective interpersonal relations skills and ability to maintain professional rapport with public and private sector groups.
• Intermediate computer skills including experience with word processing and presentation software programs.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to work occasional weekend evening hours.
• Ability to travel locally and in the mid-Atlantic region and travel overnight to meetings and conferences in the mid-Atlantic region and throughout the U.S.