Director of Strategic Initiatives and Programs

Overview

The Sea Grant Association is accepting applications to fill a part-time Director of Strategic Initiatives and Programs for a one-year term (with possible extension) that will begin January, 2026. A maximum of $70,000 is available to support the contract, including travel costs. If interested, please provide a cover-letter, CV, proposed budget, and a list of three references to Dr. Erik Chapman, Sea Grant Association (SGA) President at [email protected]. Applications will be reviewed beginning December 15, 2025.

Background    

The Sea Grant Association (SGA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the extent and success of the Sea Grant College Program. The SGA's regular members are the institutions (largely academic) that have been recognized as Sea Grant College Programs by the US Department of Commerce and its NOAA National Sea Grant College Program and receive annual funding in support of their activities as a portion of the federal appropriation. SGA provides the mechanism for these institutions to coordinate their network activities, set program priorities at both the regional and national levels, and provide a unified voice on issues of importance to the oceans and coasts. The SGA advocates for greater understanding, use, and conservation of marine, coastal and Great Lakes resources through the furtherance of the Sea Grant enterprise.

Scope

Reporting to the SGA President and the SGA Board, the Director of Strategic Initiatives and Programs will have overall operational responsibility to support the Sea Grant Association as it develops and implements structural and functional modifications that would enable it to strengthen its capabilities to create a more agile, coordinated, resilient, and responsive organization to advance the Sea Grant Mission.   

Responsibilities

Carry out four strategic tasks to be completed within the first year:

Task 1: SGA Management

• Provide support for the SGA President and the SGA Board in leading Sea Grant Association activities
• Serve in an ex-officio member of each SGA committee
• Track committee action items, progress and support committee work as needed
• Assist in prioritizing SGA actions and activities
• Seek and build board involvement with determining strategic directions

Completed by: Ongoing.

Task 2: Evolve SGA Structures

• Phase 1: Assess effectiveness of existing SGA business plan, processes, structures, committees and bylaws in meeting existing and anticipated future network needs, including those related to fundraising, managing funds, setting priorities, managing programs, and distributing funding to network members

Completed by March 2026.

• Phase 2: Develop a plan to evolve the existing SGA structures as needed to establish a small, nimble, and efficient organizational structure to support increased capacity and effectiveness of the SGA to support the Sea Grant Network

Completed by June 2026.

• Phase 3: Develop a plan for the establishment of a separate foundation and/or other structures and processes to sustain and advance the function of the national Sea Grant network through fundraising and distribution of funding to Sea Grant institutions.

Completed by December 2026.

Task 3: Fundraising

• Collaboratively develop and implement a fundraising strategy for the SGA as motivated by goals, objectives, and needs identified while evolving SGA structures (Task 2).

Completed by: June 2026.

Task 4: Propose 2-year SGA Strategic Directions – 2027-2029

• Work with the current SGA President and the SGA Board to develop a 2-year action plan to guide SGA business planning, contracts, and activities during 2027-2029 to implement the strategic directions determined through Tasks 1-3.

Completed by: December 2026.

Qualifications

The SGA Director of Strategic Initiatives and Programs will be thoroughly committed to the Sea Grant Association's mission. All candidates should have proven leadership, organizational management and development experience.

Specific requirements include:

• At least 5 years of senior management experience; track record of effectively leading and regionally and/or nationally scaling a performance- and outcomes-based organization and staff; ability to point to specific examples of having developed and operationalized strategies that have taken an organization to the next stage of growth
• Excellence in organizational management with the ability to manage, and develop high-performance teams, set and achieve strategic objectives
• Past success working with a Board of Directors with the ability to cultivate existing board member relationships
•  Strong marketing, public relations, and fundraising experience with the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders and cultures
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; a persuasive and passionate communicator with excellent interpersonal and multidisciplinary project skills
• Action-oriented, entrepreneurial, adaptable, and innovative approach to planning
• Ability to work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people
• Passion, integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, and self-directed

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience with the Sea Grant Association and its mission