Community Engagement Coordinator

Job Description

Job Description

Location: Silver Spring, MD
Supervisor: Senior Program Operations Manager
Status: Full-time, Exempt, 16-month term position

What We Need

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that is a leading voice for U.S. protected waters, is seeking a Community Engagement Coordinator, a position responsible for working with the Foundation and NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries to foster public engagement, awareness, understanding, and appreciation of national marine sanctuaries. The Community Engagement Specialist will be a team player who provides a range of administrative support.

This is currently offered as an 16-month term position. The position may be extended based on continued availability of funding. The Community Engagement Coordinator supports the scope of a federal cooperative agreement award between the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.

The position is based in NOAA’s ONMS headquarters office in Silver Spring, MD.

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is committed to a culture of inclusion, equity, and belonging. We are dedicated to attracting and retaining a diverse staff. We honor experiences, perspectives, and unique identities, and welcome the contributions that you can bring to the dedicated team. With a diverse team of employees, we can grow and learn better together and achieve our mission to protect the health of the ocean, coasts and Great Lakes for current and future generations.

What You’ll Do

• Coordinate efforts to enhance public awareness, understanding, and appreciation of National Marine Sanctuaries and the National Marine Sanctuary System.
• Increase engagement with communities adjacent to newly designated national marine sanctuaries, and build community connections across the National Marine Sanctuary System.
• Support the advancement of science, stewardship, and outreach within sanctuary communities by defining the grant priorities for the Sanctuary Community Fund, reviewing requests for proposals and grant applications, and broadly sharing grant opportunities.
• Coordinate training and collaboration opportunities for grant recipients to enhance their awards; and connect awardees with sanctuary networks in their respective community.
• Develop and broadly share public communications about grant projects.
• Support the review and clearance process of all ONMS agreements.
• Assist with scheduling meetings and events, including coordinating with external partners.
• Arrange travel to and schedule engagements with sanctuary communities.
• Prepare and distribute a weekly report to all ONMS units.
• Assist with preparation of meeting materials, including presentations and agendas.
• Review documents as needed for correct formatting and grammar/spelling.
• Coordinate and respond to internal and external information requests, including by composing and preparing outgoing correspondence.
• With a spirit of flexibility and mutual team respect, undertakes tasks as needed and assigned for overall team success.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications:

• Three to five years of experience in project management, public affairs, public administration, and/or outreach and education.
• Excellent communication, organizational, writing, and project management skills.
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to perform under tight deadlines and juggle multiple tasks and projects.
• Demonstrated initiative, ability to work both independently and in a team-oriented and collaborative environment.
• Experience working with the government and non-government organizations.
• A sincere interest in, and commitment to, ONMS’ and the Foundation’s mission.
• Fluency in computer software programs, tools, and technologies (i.e. Microsoft 365, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Asana, and databases).
• Regular attendance is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree.
• Experience and/or knowledge of national marine sanctuaries, especially marine conservation, education, and science initiatives in national marine sanctuaries.

Why You Will Love Us

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (“Foundation”) is a leading voice for U.S. protected waters, working with communities to conserve and expand those special places for a healthy ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes. The Foundation works in close partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to increase stewardship of our ocean and Great Lakes through on-the-water conservation projects, and education and public outreach activities, and by support for research. Together, we safeguard species and the places they call home, and support coastal communities and economies.

• Dedicated and passionate staff committed to marine and Great Lakes Conservation
• Generous leave policy, plus paid time off the week between December 25 and January 1; and 12 paid holidays
• Health benefits: Medical with an FSA option; dental, and vision
• Foundation paid Life and Disability Insurance
• Preparing for the Future: 403(B) with employer contribution after one year of service
• Commuter Benefits

Compensation and Benefits: $70,000 - $80,000 annually, based on experience. The Foundation offers a competitive benefits package.

Apply through the Foundation’s online portal. A cover letter, resume, and 3 professional references are required. Applications received by December 8, 2025 will be preferred.

Location: Silver Spring, MD

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The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This commitment applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, and training. The Foundation makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.