Community Engagement Coordinator

St. Marys Riverkeeper is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and advocating for the St. Marys River through science, education, and community engagement. As the trusted voice for this vital waterway, we work to safeguard its health, beauty, and resources—now and for future generations. Spanning both Georgia and Florida, we serve the four counties of the St. Marys River watershed, uniting communities across state lines in our shared commitment to the river’s well-being.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

St. Marys Riverkeeper is seeking a dynamic and passionate Community Engagement Coordinator to develop and implement community outreach programs and initiatives. The Coordinator will play a crucial role in building and sustaining relationships within the community to create opportunities for engagement and participation. The Coordinator is responsible for fulfilling federal grant requirements including project & financial reporting, workshop development, facilitation, & implementation, and event & program organizing.

The ideal candidate has a strong understanding of community issues, excellent communication skills, ability to work full days in the field, and create a team-oriented, community-first environment. The candidate must also be highly skilled in project reporting, detail-oriented, independent, sincere, exceptionally organized, and self-motivated. 

The Coordinator will work towards strengthening St. Marys Riverkeeper’s brand and maintaining a positive image within the community.

WHAT WE WILL ACHIEVE TOGETHER

The Community Engagement Coordinator will work alongside the Executive Director and project partners to lead a federally funded project focusing on resilience planning and community engagement. St. Marys Riverkeeper is the recipient of a $716,000 grant from National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) through their National Coastal Resilience Fund to support planning and capacity building for nature-based solutions (NBS) for coastal resilience in the St. Marys River watershed. This grant will help our community prepare for increasing coastal flooding and more intense storms, while improving riverine habitats for fish and wildlife. With the help of UGA’s Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems, we will build a compound flood model to develop a comprehensive Watershed Resilience Plan over a two-year period.

Deliverables from ‘Building a Watershed Resilience Plan for the St. Marys River and its Community (GA, FL)’ grant project (The Project) include:

• A comprehensive coastal resilience plan for the watershed, including up to 10 NBS projects identified for site assessment and design and prioritized by expected benefits to the endangered Atlantic and Shortnose Sturgeon and improvements to community resilience and emergency management.
• Community engagement opportunities led by the project team through steering groups, guidance from a technical advisory panel, experiential learning opportunities, and community planning workshops.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Cooperatively engage with project partners to oversee all aspects of our federally funded grant ensuring compliance with grant requirements and successful achievement of The Project’s deliverables.
• Maintain detailed and organized records of The Project’s activities, expenditures, and correspondence to ensure accurate reporting.
• Manage The Project’s project timeline and budget. Monitor expenditures against approved allocations to keep The Project on track and within budget
• Collaborate with the Executive Director to complete monthly financial reimbursements and quarterly programmatic and financial reports.
• Manage and direct staff, interns, and volunteers engaged in The Project.
• Develop outreach material (handouts, newsletter & website content, social media, presentations, etc) alongside the communication team to expand audiences for messaging.
• Represent St. Marys Riverkeeper at local outreach events to raise awareness about issues affecting the river’s health, resilience efforts, and foster relationships within the community
• Support community-led initiatives and develop new partnerships with businesses, corporations, other organizations, and neighborhood groups to build support for protecting our St. Marys River
• Establish and manage partnership events and campaigns such as cleanups, community led events, Toast to Clean Water initiatives, etc.

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

• Planning, executing, and monitoring multiple projects in order to meet grant requirements while controlling budget, scope, and timeline.
• Developing and overseeing project budgets and work schedules in consultation with relevant personnel; monitor project expenditure and report against targets, track and continually revise schedules and timelines.
• Planning, leading, and facilitating meetings; effective in public speaking; fostering productive relationships and trust between project partners and the community.
• Strong interpersonal skills to build trust and maintain collaborative relationships with community members, local government, NGOs and other stakeholders involved in the community resilience efforts.
• Ability to serve as an equal and pivotal member of the project’s core team.
• Experience providing direction and task delegation to volunteers, interns, and fellow staff.
• Communicate essential information consistently and in a timely manner with partners and stakeholders.
• Empathy and cultural sensitivity to understand and respect the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives throughout the watershed.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Four to six years of related experience in community outreach and communication with some understanding of climate science.
• Must possess a valid state-issued driver’s license and own or have access to a vehicle for work-related use.
• Ability to deliver results, facilitate and direct others, and creatively problem solve beyond temporary solutions.
• Experience working and collaborating with educators, elected leaders, community leaders, creative designers, and scientists.
• Strong communication and written skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Google Apps, web-based communication tools (Zoom, Constant Contact).

PHYSICAL QUALIFICATIONS

This position is one that involves a medium degree of physical capability, which typically requires lifting or exerting 50 lbs. of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 lbs. of force frequently. The position will also require the ability to visually and aurally observe information, walking, and occasional climbing or movement in less stable areas. The position also requires the ability to swim and properly use a canoe and/or kayak.

COMPENSATION, TRAVEL, AND HOURS

St. Marys Riverkeeper offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience, a generous vacation policy and expense reimbursement. Salary range is $45,000 to $50,000. In addition to the starting salary, a health & medical stipend will be paid in equal installments as part of the taxable payroll and to be used at the employee’s discretion. 

This position requires regular trips to each county of the watershed, as well as occasional travel to various regional conferences. Project focused travel costs will be covered by federal funds. This job involves flexible hours including working after hours, evenings, and weekends. 

Fixed term from employment start date to October 2027, beyond which the position would depend on funding availability and priorities. Classified as exempt with an expectation of 36 hours a week for the project period through federal funding and an additional expectation of 4 hours a week for general organizational needs and requirements paid through St. Marys Riverkeeper.