Environmental Specialist

Description

The Environmental Specialist (ES) works with the environmental team to ensure all project tasks and objectives are met. Serves as the liaison between necessary agencies, outside partners, and contractors to facilitate project or program success. Assists in handling projects to ensure scope, resource needs, tracking mechanisms, implementation or business models, and desired outcomes are documented and in compliance with funder requirements.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Support the organization's mission and goals and quality standards. Incorporate KANA's core values of Courtesy, Caring, Respect, Sharing, and Pride in all activities and decision.
• Uphold KANA's Code of Ethics by conducting professional activities with honesty, integrity, respect, fairness, and good faith in a manner that reflects positively upon the organization.
• Identifies, plans, and executes work tasks necessary to accomplish objectives and outcomes of assigned grants & projects.
• Build relationships and work closely with climate adaptation experts around Alaska and assist in identifying other potential partners.
• Advance the Kodiak Tribal Climate Adaptation Plan by incorporating input from Tribal members and community stakeholders, along with any emerging priorities and advancements. Integrate feedback to enhance the plan's effectiveness, incorporating the vulnerability assessment for identified focus groups. Maintain accessibility and usability of the plan and its template, facilitating Kodiak Tribes' efforts to adapt and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
• Collaborate with Kodiak Tribes, community members and other specialists to compile environmental datasets for documents and reports for documents like the climate adaptation plan, food systems vulnerability assessment and other tribal environmental priorities.
• Will work with the environmental team to explore the importance of subsistence and native foods on the island, how they are harvested, and processed, how they are utilized for nutrition, their economic stability, and cultural and spiritual wellness.
• Lead efforts to coordinate tribally focused workshops that provide an opportunity to further discuss vulnerabilities related to climate change, specifically focusing on subsistence resources and locally grown foods.
• Willingness and ability to travel to outlying villages of Kodiak to meet with Tribes, community members, Elders & Youth to engage in education and outreach on topics related to climate adaptation planning and implementation.
• Support the development of required grant narrative reports and assist with ensuring all narrative and financial reporting is submitted in a timely manner.
• Review KANA's Strategic Plan and strategize ideas for future programs and services based upon identified priorities.
• Work with the KANA Grants team to identify, evaluate, and support the application processes for additional funding to support programs and projects that will enhance the lives of KANA beneficiaries.
• Provide support to consortia member tribes in implementing and developing program support for environmental needs for tribal specific EPA IGAP programs. Develop trusting working relationships with consortia member tribes.
• Ability to travel off-island for necessary and appropriate conferences, trainings and workshops.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with KANA Grants department to research additional funding to help enhance the Environmental programs at KANA.
• Provide support and direction to any volunteers who become involved in the project.

Supervisory Responsibilities: This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Requirements

Associates or Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Climate Science, Biology, or other related subjects. Student or experienced individual pursuing one of these fields will be considered. Ability to work within a team environment as well as organize and coordinate job duties, prioritize work load, and complete work independently. Relate well to Alaska Native/American Indian population.

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