Coastal Resilience Program Manager, South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium
The South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium (Consortium) is seeking an experienced professional in coastal resilience topics for the position of Coastal Resilience Program Manager. The Manager will provide technical expertise and a wide range of services to our communities, and supervision of Consortium resilience staff.
Please note that we are advertising for two positions in Coastal Resilience programming—A Program Manager (this position description) and an Extension Specialist. Interested candidates are permitted to apply for both vacancies. Please reference the required qualifications section before applying. The intent is to fill one or both positions.
The Consortium is a state agency established to manage the Sea Grant College program for South Carolina and based in Charleston, S.C., optimizes the environmental, social, and economic potential of the coastal and marine resources of the state and region through the support and dissemination of high-quality research, extension, and education programming.
Responsibilities
The Coastal Resilience Program Manager will address the coastal resilience needs of a variety of constituencies by extending science-based information and providing direct hands-on operational and technical support to coastal communities, resource managers, and interest groups in South Carolina and the region. The Manager will lead and supervise a team of resilience extension specialists and graduate assistants working on projects and programs to strengthen the resilience of S.C. coastal communities. The Manager will also contribute to research driven by community needs and provide hands-on operational and technical support for coastal hazard and weather issues addressed by the Consortium.
Position Objectives
- Enhance capacity of the Consortium’s science and extension programming to inform the public and increase awareness of and access to coastal resilience data products, information, and decision support tools.
- Work directly with coastal communities in adaptation planning for weather hazards and environmental phenomena such as flooding, erosion, sea level rise, extreme heat, and others.
- Continuously engage with coastal communities to build new programs, partnerships, and capacity in coastal resilience.
- Build awareness of and support coastal decision makers as they seek to evaluate and prepare for the impacts of environmental and weather variability and coastal change including sea level rise, extreme rain, and changing temperatures on shoreline erosion, land use, salt water intrusion, fisheries, tourism, coastal economics, community development, and natural hazards.
- Maintain knowledge and understanding of the latest in coastal resilience science (e.g. tools, assessments, reports, data) and how it can be applied to South Carolina.
- Participate in the development and management of grant proposals with the Consortium, and/or other organizations and programs, to secure funding for client-driven coastal resilience research and extension projects.
Specific Duties
- Provide leadership for planning, development and reporting for the resilience program.
- Supervise the Consortium-employed extension specialists and graduate students working on coastal resilience topics.
- Participate in hiring as well as lead training and mentorship of new Consortium-employed extension specialists and graduate students working on coastal resilience topics as needed.
- Serve as main point of contact for coastal community and municipal decision makers in responding to their coastal resilience needs.
- Apply the latest science and best practices in building capacity of coastal communities in their adaptation planning for environmental hazards.
- Assist the Executive Director in managing engagements with other Sea Grant programs, the National Sea Grant Office, and the Sea Grant Association when it comes to coastal resilience topics.
- Present on Consortium resilience activities at state, regional, and national conferences and workshops for local community officials and resource managers.
- Contribute content to communications materials produced and distributed by the Consortium.
- Prepare performance-based program objectives, benchmarks, metrics, program evaluations, and other programmatic reports as required by the Consortium.
- Organize coastal resilience extension advisory committee meetings.
- Serve on graduate student committees when appropriate.
Position Type
Regular, full-time position. Agency hiring range: $66,400-$79,650. The finalist for this position must successfully complete an E-Verify and driver’s license background check.
Work Location and Hours
This position is based in Charleston, South Carolina, but other coastal locations in the state can be considered. Normal Consortium business hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. However, work beyond regular business hours, including evenings and weekends, may be necessary in order to complete the requirements of the position. Telecommuting options are available to employees following a year of employment and a review of performance. Travel throughout the state and region is necessary. A valid driver’s license is required.
This position is available immediately. Review of applications will continue until the position is filled.
- Posted: October 22, 2025
- Job Type: Staff
- Application deadline: 11/30/2025
- Organization: South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium
- Qualifications: Required Qualifications Master’s degree or Ph.D. in geography, environmental studies, coastal engineering, urban planning, climate science, marine science, public policy, risk communication or related field. At least 3 years of post-graduate professional experience in coastal resilience topics such as flooding, rising seas, erosion, extreme weather events, adaptation planning, extreme heat, or other applicable topics. Demonstrated experience in leading and supervising or managing team members. Demonstrated ability to build partnerships and communicate, collaborate, and work effectively with internal and external stakeholders that come from a variety of backgrounds. Experience with local government systems and participatory democracy. Experience in the evaluation and use of coastal adaptation tools. Ability to interpret scientific research for non-technical audiences. Ability to develop applied, stakeholder-driven informational products. Demonstrated proficiency in grant writing and management. Experience with conflict negotiation and facilitation. High level of analytical, organizational, and planning skills. Ability to work independently to guide and advance program initiatives while collaborating with leadership and team members to meet program goals. Effective oral and written communication skills. Fluency in computer and communications technology.
- How to apply: NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. Step 1: Submit an application on the South Carolina Careers website https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/sc/jobs/5106497/coastal-resilience-program-manager. Step 2: Submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and three references to: applications@scseagrant.org. If you would like to be considered for both the Program Manager and Extension Specialist position, please specify this in your cover letter.
- Location: Charleston, SC
- Web address: https://www.scseagrant.org/coastal-resilience-program-manager/
Contact Information
SC Sea Grant Applications
applications@scseagrant.org