Coastal Resilience Program Specialist, 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 Extension Specialist. The Specialist will provide technical expertise and a wide range of services to South Carolina coastal communities.
Please note that we are advertising for two positions in Coastal Resilience programming—An Extension Specialist (this position description) and a Program Manager. 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 Extension Specialist, in consultation with key stakeholders and constituencies, 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 Specialist 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. Topical areas of work include coastal response to storms and sea level change, coastal and riverine flooding, coastal engineering, local government planning, coastal hazard adaptation, community resilience, and other synergistic focus areas.
Specific Duties
- Analyze and provide up-to-date information and appropriate contextualization about adaptation science, environmental hazard impacts, and resilience strategies to a variety of audiences through a range of methods.
- Identify information and service needs of constituents through targeted interactions with client groups and work with them in co-producing solutions to coastal resilience-related issues.
- Plan, conduct, and evaluate coastal resilience extension programs, vulnerability assessments, public seminars, and workshops for constituents in South Carolina and the region.
- Be current on data, trends and conditions which describe the status of coastal and oceanographic processes, chronic and episodic natural hazard events, hazard mitigation and adaptation.
- Identify existing and emerging opportunities related to coastal resilience awareness, hazard mitigation and adaptation in the built environment.
- Give formal and informal presentations on Consortium resilience activities at state, regional, and national conferences and workshops for local community officials and resource managers.
- 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.
- 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.
- Supervise student assistants and interns and serve on graduate student committees when appropriate.
Position Type
Regular, full-time position. Agency hiring range: $52,100-$61,200. 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 in geography, environmental studies, marine science, coastal engineering, urban planning, climate science, public policy, risk communication or related field. At least 2 years of applicable 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 extension and outreach techniques and programs. 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. Ability to interpret scientific research for non-technical audiences. Ability to develop applied, stakeholder-driven informational products. High level of analytical, organizational, and planning skills. Ability to work independently and as a part of a team. Effective oral and written communication skills. Fluency in computer and communications technology. Preferred Qualifications Demonstrated proficiency in grant writing Demonstrated proficiency in project and/or personnel management ArcGIS skills
- 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/5106431/coastal-resilience-extension-specialist. 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-extension-specialist/
Contact Information
SC Sea Grant Applications
applications@scseagrant.org