Be Whale Wise Program Coordinator

Established in 1979 as the first U.S. museum dedicated to whales living in the wild, The Whale Museum (TWM) promotes stewardship of whales and the Salish Sea ecosystem through education and research. Through education, we increase public knowledge about whales, other marine species and the Salish Sea ecosystem to promote more responsible environmental stewardship practices.

The Be Whale Wise program is part of our effort to directly educate people and improve the conditions for Southern Resident killer whales and the ecosystem around them. The Be Whale Wise Program Coordinator is a staff position at The Whale Museum with responsibility to implement and advance that educational mission.

Program Goal:

Be Whale Wise is a partnership of governmental agencies, non-profits and others in British Columbia and Washington state to educate the boating public about laws and best practices to protect the region’s whales and their environment. The Be Whale Wise partnership helps to create consistent messaging and education for vessel operators, coastal residents, and tourists to the region. Be Whale Wise partners accomplish this goal by educating boaters on shore, then reinforcing the message on-the-water around marine mammals through its partner programs.

Be Whale Wise core partners include: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, Transport Canada, the United States Coast Guard, CETUS Research and Conservation/Straitwatch, and The Whale Museum/Soundwatch. 

Be Whale Wise Program Objectives:

• Educate boaters on Be Whale Wise Guidelines and Federal, State and Local regulations;
• Educate boaters on best practices for viewing marine wildlife before they leave the dock;
• Ensure communication of coordinated stewardship messages from partners to boaters regarding marine wildlife.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications and public affairs, environmental education,  social sciences, environmental sciences, marine science, fisheries or a related field;
• Minimum 2 years of professional experience in one of the above areas;
• Experience coordinating and training volunteers;
• Experience with event planning and coordination and/or meeting facilitation;
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate multifaceted groups and prioritize among competing demands;
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to interface with the public in a manner that is respectful and professional, sometimes in challenging situations;
• Experience with data management and proficiency in common software packages;
• Drivers license and willingness to travel regionally for outreach events/partner meetings;
• International applicants must have an approved visa and documentation to work in the U.S. at the time of submission;
• This position includes seasonal weekend and holiday work as well as office time in The Whale Museum.

Preferred Qualities:

• Experience with grant writing and grant/budget management;
• Experience with social media management and content development;
• Familiarity with the marine environment and marine mammal management in Washington State and British Columbia;
• Spanish language capabilities.

Be Whale Wise Program Coordinator Job Tasks: 

The Coordinator reports to TWM Research Director and works cooperatively as part of the Museum staff. The Coordinator works closely with TWM leadership and Be Whale Wise partners to coordinate and ensure all aspects of the Be Whale Wise Partnership. The Coordinator is responsible for the organization and staffing of outreach events throughout the region, communication and coordination among Be Whale Wise partners, Be Whale Wise materials, and coordination of volunteers. Details of the Be Whale Wise Coordinator duties are provided below:

• Facilitates Be Whale Wise efforts through routine interaction with partners, updating and distributing educational materials, and maintaining distribution database.
• Education/Outreach on marine stewardship through planning, staffing and evaluating outreach events, including coordination of the Boater Ambassador Program, managing the program’s website and social media, liaising with regional user groups, and conducting specialized trainings for enforcement agencies, and commercial naturalists and guides.
• Coordinates with BWW member organizations and provides feedback on marine wildlife viewing guidelines through education, outreach, and adaptive management strategies. The Coordinator interacts with the region’s on-water vessel education programs including: The Whale Museum’s Soundwatch Boater Education Program and Cetus Society’s Straitwatch Program to ensure consistent messaging, data collection, and analysis.
• Represents TWM and Be Whale Wise at relevant stakeholder meetings, conferences, and workshops. Provides expertise on wildlife viewing, marine stewardship, whale-vessel interactions and boater education and monitoring. Networks with regional marine protection programs including state and commercial coordination organizations.
• Works with stakeholders to annually adapt current wildlife viewing guidelines. Collaborates with transboundary federal, state, provincial, and local governments, whale watch operators, scientists and NGOs to adjust guidelines as indicated by new scientific findings and shifts in vessel/whale behaviors.
• Program Operations: Responsible for end of year program reporting (including data analysis). Oversees program budget and assists with program accounting. Identifies and pursues funding opportunities in collaboration with TWM leadership.
• Represents the program through media and public presentations on whale watching activities and marine stewardship under the supervision of TWM leadership.