Job Opportunities

Program Coordinator (Marine Invasions Lab)

Date posted
June 23, 2025
Deadline
July 14, 2025
Employment type
Full-time
Federal position?
No
Salary
$69,923 per year plus benefits. This is a trust-funded (non-federal) position at GS9-1 (equivalent).
Duration
Initially for one year and is renewable annually, depending upon performance and available funding.
Location
Edgewater, MD
Work model
Onsite
Overview

The Marine Invasions Research Laboratory at SERC seeks a Program Coordinator to help lead the logistical, communication and organizational needs of a large, international NSF-funded network of networks focused on marine invasions – Bioinvasion Research Integration across Dynamic Global Ecosystems (BRIDGE). 

The successful candidate will support the Steering Committee, composed of Smithsonian scientists and key representatives from each participating network, in the coordination and implementation of this new network of networks, and serve as an important point of contact for the program.

Specifically, the Program Coordinator will coordinate and attend monthly meetings of senior personnel, quarterly virtual Steering Committee meetings, and annual network-wide meetings, workshops, and trainings. An important task will be the coordination and logistical support (travel, housing, meal, & meeting arrangements) for the annual network workshops that will be offered in a hybrid format.

The Program Coordinator will also ensure fluid communication across the network of networks by using creative approaches to facilitate meaningful and sustained communication across diverse network entities and members with different language, cultural, and academic backgrounds.  This person will also support communication between the BRIDGE program and different key stakeholders, including managers, policy makers, and the public.

The successful candidate will also support the training objectives of the program by helping advertise, organize, and process applications for annual network-wide training opportunities (i.e., research trainings, scientific exchanges), as well as coordinate travel and meal arrangements for selected trainees, in close collaboration with the BRIDGE Training Coordinator, SERC Internship Coordinators, and SERC Travel Managers.

Schedule: Full-time, 40 hours/week, on site at SERC. The standard schedule includes some weekend work and travel (domestic and international) for networking activities.

Key Responsibilities

Duties will include:

  • Supporting the logistical, communication and organizational needs of a large network of networks focused on marine invasions
  • Administering project resources and budget
  • Coordinating and participating in all BRIDGE meetings and archiving meeting records
  • Facilitating communication across the network of networks
  • Providing logistical support for annual network meetings, training workshops and scientific exchanges
  • Preparing and sharing outreach materials through a variety of communication channels
Qualifications and Requirements

Desired Qualifications and Experience: 

  • MS or PhD degree in marine science or equivalent
  • Experience in biological invasions research, biosecurity, or related field
  • Experience participating in or coordinating international collaborations
  • Language (e.g., Spanish) and cultural fluencies
  • Excellent organizational and communication skills with attention to detail
  • Ability to independently prioritize and manage multiple tasks
  • Ability to take initiative and work effectively independently and as part of a team
  • Experience facilitating group activities with diverse participants
  • Experience engaging undergraduate and graduate students and early career professionals
  • Experience coordinating activities among diverse partners that span different cultures, backgrounds and priorities
How to Apply

Applications should include a cover letter that clearly describes your work experience, working independently as well as a member of a team, and training/education as related to the position. A current resume and an unofficial copy of your college transcript should also be included. Applications should be submitted by email to Laura Falsone (FalsoneL@si.edu), with BRIDGE Program Coordinator as the subject line.

Contact

Laura Falsone
FalsoneL@si.edu

About SERC

SERC is a research center of the Smithsonian Institution, located in Edgewater, MD on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay, approximately 10 miles south of Annapolis, 40 miles west of Washington DC, and 40 miles south of Baltimore. SERC's 2,650-acre campus is a living laboratory for long-term ecosystem research on forests, farmland, wetlands, shorelines, and estuaries. The SERC campus contains a laboratory and office complex, as well as education and waterfront facilities, dormitories for interns, and guest housing for visitors.

The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact WattC@si.edu or CoyleB@si.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures.

The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that a workforce comprising a variety of educational, cultural, and experiential backgrounds support and enhance our daily work life and contribute to the richness of our exhibitions and programs. See Smithsonian EEO program information: https://www.si.edu/oeo.