Information Officer II

Since 1947, the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) has been a leader in the fight for clean water. As a not-for-profit interstate agency, NEIWPCC serves as a forum for interstate communication and coordination on water related pollution control efforts among all the New England States and New York State.

NEIWPCC serves and assists its member states by coordinating activities and forums that encourage cooperation among the states, educating the public about key water quality issues, supporting research projects, training environmental professionals, and providing overall leadership in water management and protection.

NEIWPCC's initial emphasis was on surface water protection, but that role has grown over the years to include such matters as wetlands restoration, non-point source pollution, water allocation, and underground storage tanks.

This project represents a partnership with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) Hudson River Estuary Program. The program was undertaken to protect and improve the natural and human resources of the Hudson River Basin by implementing the Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda.

Partners in the program include the NYSDEC Division of Water, NEIWPCC and other federal, state and local agencies, conservationists, researchers, sportsmen, business leaders, river users, etc.

Position Overview:

NEIWPCC and the Hudson River Estuary Program are seeking an Information Officer to work with Estuary Program staff to enhance achievement of New York State's goals for the Hudson River Estuary through public outreach and communications.

This position supports staff in various agencies to effectively communicate with the public and key stakeholders regarding opportunities to conserve, restore, and revitalize the Hudson River ecosystem. You'll work with Estuary Program staff to enhance achievement of New York State's goals for the Hudson River Estuary through public outreach and communications as detailed below.

This position requires the incumbent to work five days a week, 71⁄2 hours per day, except for approved compensatory time. Position is primarily office-based, but will require some travel in the Hudson Estuary watershed and some night and weekend meetings. You'll need a valid driver's license and access to your own transportation.

Funding is approved for two years for this position at this time. It is possible the position could be extended beyond two years.

Responsibilities:

Projects may include, but not be limited to providing communications and citizen participation support to facilitate implementation of the Action Agenda - including clean water, fish and wildlife habitat, waterway access, climate change, scenic and resource protection.  

This position will require some or all of the following over the course of the two year period:

• Assist staff in designing, developing and coordinating approvals of electronic and printed communication and outreach materials such as fact sheets, reports, press releases, and the program's e-newsletter RiverNet;
• Maintain the Estuary Program's pages within the NYSDEC web site;
• Work with Estuary Program staff to design and develop new Estuary Program web content;
• Provide technical assistance in use of graphic design software and other technologies to improve the quality of outreach materials produced by the Estuary Program;
• Maintain and update e-mail and contact lists of staff and partners and mailing distribution lists;
• Serve as note taker and facilitator for stakeholder and citizen participation meetings;
• Organize and assist in set up for events such as conferences, workshops, and River Day;
• Develop short videos for web posting to advance program goals;
• Assist in researching and writing the Estuary Program's annual report, State of the Hudson report, and program briefings;
• Develop stories that showcase key environmental issues;
• Research topics and gather information about issues that are of interest to key stakeholders;
• Track and keep a portfolio of media stories about the river and the program;
• Update and customize power point presentations for specific audiences when needed;
• Implement recommendations of the program communications plan and update the plan as needed.
• Work with the Estuary Program's Administrative Planning Team to ensure that communications efforts are aligned with near- and long-term program initiatives and goals, and with DEC press office guidelines and procedures.

Qualifications:

Education:

A Master's Degree in communications or marketing, conservation, environmental, water or estuarine studies or related field preferred.

Experience:

Applicants must have at least (A) five years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, technical or professional experience, of which (B) at least three years must have been in a professional capacity and, of which (C) at least one year must have been in a supervisory, managerial or administrative capacity or, (D) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the following substitutions.

Substitutions:

• An Associate's Degree with a major in any of the fields listed above may be substituted for a maximum of one year of the required (A) experience.
• A Bachelor's Degree with a major in any of the fields listed above may be substituted for a maximum of one year of the required (A) experience.
• A Graduate Degree with a major in one of the fields listed above may be substituted for a maximum of three years of the required (A) experience and one year of the required (B) experience.
• Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of proportion of the requirements actually completed.

Special Knowledge and Skills:

• Ability to work effectively with teams of people and diverse stakeholder groups, as well as with individuals from diverse backgrounds and education levels.
• Demonstrated communication skills, including web, print, and design applications and demonstrated ability to tell a story using these venues.
• Strong critical thinking and communications skills.
• Strong writing, journalistic, editing, and graphic design skills.
• Knowledge of ecology and principles of environmental management.
• Proficiency with graphics design, web publishing, and common office productivity
  software.
• Strong organizational skills and excellent ability to work with people.
• Citizen participation skills.
• Responsible, detail-oriented, thorough approach.
• Ability to identify and discuss problem issues as they arise.
• Ability to work creatively within the constraints of a large organization with multiple approval layers, rules, and format limitations.
• Attention to detail but also ability to see the big picture and deal with complexity.
• Ability to maintain and assure confidentiality of sensitive information.

Compensation: Grade & Step dependent upon level of experience and qualifications.  Benefits provided but not included in salary range: vacation, personal and sick leave, health, dental, long-term disability and life insurance, retirement plan.

To Apply:

Please click "Ally Now Online!" and submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your qualifications, along with a brief writing sample. Or mail to:

Human Resources
NEIWPCC
Wannalancit Mills
650 Suffolk St Ste 410
Lowell MA 01852