Coastal Resilience Program Coordinator

Coastal Quest is seeking a Program Coordinator for their Coastal Resilience Program in Oakland, CA. The role involves supporting projects aimed at building resilient coastal communities, conducting research, drafting proposals, and coordinating meetings. Ideal candidates should have a strong interest in coastal issues, excellent communication skills, and experience in project management. The position requires a proactive approach to problem-solving and proficiency in Microsoft Office.
Organization Description:

Coastal Quest is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to accelerate solutions, building resilient coastal communities for people, nature, and the climate. We work collaboratively with communities to build a more resilient coast by increasing inclusive, science-based planning, governance, financing, and project implementation for a just, prosperous, and sustainable future. Coastal Quest works around the world, from white water to blue water, on lakes and shorelines, and at the land-water connection. We provide project management, science and technical expertise, connect partners with financial and human resources, contract management, grantmaking, and facilitation of public-private partnerships. We are purposefully nimble, designed to solve multifaceted and complex coastal issues. We are here to achieve resilience goals, reduce threats, and implement solutions.

Primary Responsibilities:

The coastal resilience focused Program Coordinator will provide support for Coastal Quest’s work to achieve our two goals - 1) build multi-benefit solutions for healthy and resilient coasts and 2) increase coastal resiliency for vulnerable communities and economies. The main duties of the Program Coordinator will support our and fiscally sponsored projects focused on building resilient community-driven coastal solutions and work on projects to build sustainable funding at the county scale, and our SB1 Technical Assistance Program in partnership with the California Ocean Protection Council, amongst other projects. The main duties of the Program Coordinator will be, but are not limited to:
• Conduct primarily web-based and document background research on a variety of environmental, institutional, and organizational issues and extract relevant information and data
• Design and develop PowerPoint presentations
• Draft and support production of high-quality proposals and other written documents
• Conduct social science research and perform quantitative and qualitative data analysis, under the guidance of senior staff
• Support projects where necessary, including notetaking, work planning, editing, and coordination
• Coordinate meetings with partners, including planning agenda, facilitating agenda items, and feedback
• Perform administrative activities and in some cases managing them from start to finish
• Support grantees with applications
• Support coordination of task forces, advisory bodies, and grant review committees etc.

The ideal candidate has a strong interest in coastal issues, a positive self-starter attitude in performing the range of tasks described above, and some experience with office administration.

Qualifications:
• Possession of a methodical, analytical, strategic, diligent, and creative approach to problem solving
• Ability to produce products in a timely fashion through collaborative processes
• Ability to conduct research efficiently and effectively using online tools, as well as periodicals and other print resources
• Fast typing speed (40+ words per minute)
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• A good working knowledge of all Microsoft Office programs, including SharePoint, Word, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and basic statistical functions in Excel
• Strong project management experience, including budgeting and managing contracts.
• Strong, personal commitment to realizing the mission, and adhering to the values, of Coastal Quest

Knowledge and Experience:
• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree and two years of relevant experience or Masters or MBA and one year of work experience
• Interdisciplinary training in coastal and/or marine systems, natural resource conservation/sustainable management, sustainable finance, organizational effectiveness, communications preferred
• Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experiences are appreciated.

Application Instructions: Please submit the following in 1 pdf to info@coastal-quest.org:
• 1 page cover letter and resume
• 1 writing sample
• 3 references

Salary: $65,000-75,000 depending on qualifications and experience

Benefits: Competitive package, including health, eye, dental, 401k, paid time off, holidays and sick leave

Closing Date: Open until filled and start reviewing resume April 7, 2025

Location: Headquarters in Oakland, CA

Coastal Quest is fully committed to attracting, retaining, developing and promoting the most qualified employees without regard to their race, gender, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship status, veteran status, or any other characteristic prohibited by state or local law. We are dedicated to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment and where employees are treated with respect and dignity.