The Oregon Kelp Alliance is seeking a motivated kelp forest stewardship enthusiast to join our team!
Position Description
Title: Urchin Control/Dive Safety Coordinator
Organization: Oregon Kelp Alliance (ORKA)
Location: Oregon Coast (specific location flexible)
Position Type: Full-time, Fixed-term (24 months)
Salary Range: ($55-65k) Competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience, plus benefits
Position Summary:
The Urchin Control/Dive Safety Coordinator will play a crucial role in ORKA’s kelp forest ecosystem protection and restoration initiative. This position will lead and coordinate urchin control activities while ensuring appropriate risk management across all underwater operations. The role involves working closely with the kelp forest ecosystem protection/restoration team, commercial urchin divers, community science teams, AAUS scientific diving programs, and commercial fishermen to implement urchin control strategies at multiple sites along the Oregon coast.
Essential Functions:
Urchin Control Program Management (50%)
- Lead the planning and implementation of commercial urchin control activities at 6 designated protection/restoration sites
- Coordinate with commercial urchin divers to develop removal schedules, protocols, and data recording procedures.
- Work alongside Reef Check Oregon Manager to support planning and implementation of volunteer urchin control activities at 6 designated protection/restoration sites, including leading communications with the public around restoration dives.
- Work with Reef Check Oregon Manager to coordinate urchin and kelp density monitoring at 6 designated sites
- Participate in working dives to remove urchins, monitoring removal effects, and support kelp forest restoration
- Track and document urchin removal efforts and their effectiveness
- Collect and analyze data on urchin populations and gonad indices
- Prepare reports on urchin control activities and outcomes
- Collaborate with ODFW to obtain necessary permits for urchin culling, removal, data collection, and reporting activities.
Dive Safety Management (20%)
- Ensure compliance with appropriate (typically AAUS) scientific diving standards and safety protocols
- Maintain diving equipment and safety gear, including overseeing regular maintenance and servicing of ORKA-owned equipment
- Coordinate with OSU Scientific Diving and Small Boat Programs, Reef Check Oregon, and other program partners regarding dive plans, dive supervision, and small boat safety requirements
- Conduct dive safety briefings/debriefings and maintain diving records
- Oversee emergency response protocols for diving operations
Partner Coordination (20%)
- Coordinate with ORKA and Reef Check partners around the timing, logistics, and implementation of commercial urchin removal work to allow for smooth integration of commercial removal work with other restoration and monitoring activities at the same sites.
- Coordinate directly with Reef Check Oregon to organize and implement citizen science urchin culling events at restoration sites. This will likely include overseeing volunteer dive operations to ensure safety protocols and restoration goals are met, supporting Reef Check training of volunteer divers, implementing a data management plan for collected data, developing public communication strategies, and supporting scheduling.
- Coordinate with commercial urchin divers and fishing vessels to direct large-scale removal operations
- Coordinate vessel support for diving operations including both volunteer and commercial divers, ensuring appropriate dive safety and risk management
- Maintain documentation of all volunteer and commercial diver activities
- Participate in team meetings and coordinate activities with other project components
Program Support (10%)
- Contribute to grant reporting and documentation including monitoring the efficacy of urchin removal activities
- Review and validate survey data collected by Reef Check Oregon volunteer teams
- Assist in analyzing and presenting results from both volunteer and commercial urchin removal efforts
- Support public outreach and education efforts about kelp forest restoration
- Help organize and participate in annual conferences and regular meetings to coordinate efforts
- Participate in project planning and evaluation meetings
- Assist in developing best practices for volunteer-based urchin culling activities
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in marine biology, ecology, or related field
- Current scientific diving certification and minimum of 100 logged scientific dives, including at least 50 dives in temperate waters and/or dry suit diving.
- Minimum 3 years experience coordinating scientific diving operations, including dive supervision, dive and emergency plan generation, risk management, and troubleshooting and maintenance of basic dive equipment.
- Experience training and supervising volunteer divers in scientific activities
- Demonstrated experience in marine species monitoring and data collection
- Strong project management and coordination skills
- Experience managing teams and coordinating multiple stakeholders
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Valid driver’s license and ability to travel along the Oregon coast
- Current First Aid, CPR, and Oxygen Administration certifications
- Experience with small boat operations, especially in support of diving activities
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in marine science or related field
- Experience with kelp forest ecology and restoration
- Familiarity with Oregon’s coastal marine ecosystems
- Experience working with commercial fisheries, particularly urchin fisheries
- Knowledge of urchin biology and population dynamics
- Experience coordinating citizen science programs
- Demonstrated experience in scientific data collection and analysis (publication record a plus)
- Recreational dive leadership credential (Instructor, Divemasters, etc.)
- Small Boat Operator credential (MOTC/MOCC, USCG, etc)
- Repair Technician certification from a dive equipment manufacturers
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to conduct strenuous physical activity underwater
- Capable of lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds
- Ability to work on boats in varying, at times, challenging sea conditions
- Available for occasional weekend and evening work
Working Conditions:
- Regular work in marine environments and on vessels
- Frequent travel to coastal sites along the Oregon coast
- Mix of field, office, and laboratory work
- Some overnight travel required
- Work in varying weather conditions
Additional Information:
- Position is grant-funded for 24 months
- Continuation beyond the initial term is dependent on additional funding
- Competitive benefits package including health insurance and paid time off
- Position reports to the ORKA Director
To Apply:
Submit cover letter, resume, diving certifications, and three professional references below.
ORKA is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals, including those from historically underrepresented communities in marine science and conservation. You may be a good candidate even if you do not meet all the qualifications listed in this posting.
Application Deadline:
March 15, 2025