Overview

CORAL has more than a decade of experience working in the Main Hawaiian Islands on coral reef conservation. Currently, our work focuses on our Clean Water for Reefs Initiative, with an emphasis on preventing land-based sources of pollution from entering streams and groundwater which eventually lead to the ocean.

Over the next few years, CORAL plans to leverage the success, knowledge and partnerships we have developed through our conservation projects to scale our impact across the Main Hawaiian Islands.

We are seeking a motivated and resourceful individual to support our work on Maui as Research Officer. This role is ideally a full-time position, but we will consider candidates only available for part-time work as well. The Research Officer will ensure the successful execution of a monitoring plan that measures the impact of restoration activities designed to reduce sediment and nutrient pollution in Wahikuli and Honokōwai streams in West Maui. She/he/they will coordinate data collection activities by various parties and ensure protocols are followed to ensure data quality. This position reports to the Senior Program Manager, based on Maui.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Execute data collection for identified components of the monitoring plan.
• Monitoring sediment posts and erosion pins to measure sediment accumulation or loss from stream banks
• Track and log in-stream turbidity data and ensure equipment is properly maintained
• Recording survivorship and growth of plants
• Collecting and analyzing video footage of streams following during storm events, rain gauge and weather station data from partners, photographic documentation of brown water events.
• Track satellite data from weather stations and turbidity monitors and upload to data storage website.
• Conduct data analysis, and communicate and present results, both visually and verbally.
• Develop grant reports, as well as periodic reports for CORAL and stakeholders.
• Plan and prepare for field events and outreach activities; lead volunteers during field events and in data collection.
• Conduct literature reviews and research methodologies.
• Track information and deliverables for grants.

Qualifications and Skills:

• BA/BS degree in a natural science-related field, such as hydrology, geology, environmental science, soil science, or natural resources management.
• Experience with maintaining, installing, monitoring, and troubleshooting water quality monitoring instruments.
• Excellent organizational and prioritization skills, including developing and maintaining research plans and coordinating with multiple collaborators.
• Strong work ethic and willingness to take ownership for wide-ranging responsibilities while exhibiting the utmost professionalism and discretion.
• A positive attitude, sense of humor, patience, commitment to candor, and desire to be a part of a collaborative team.
• Valid U.S. driver’s license and good driving record.
• Ability to safely drive a 4-wheel drive vehicle over steep unimproved roads.
• Ability to work from a home office when not working in the field.