Position available: Ports and Harbors Specialist

The Great Lakes Commission is seeking candidates for the position of Ports and Harbors Specialist within a newly established Great Lakes Service Center. The position, made possible through a partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Coastal Services Center, involves designing and conducting programs, projects and related activities that support sustainable development, environmental quality and best management practices in the commercial and recreational ports and harbors of the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence River system. The ideal candidate will have outstanding communications skills, research and technical expertise, and a solid background in Great Lakes port operation and/or marine transportation.

The position is a full time, renewable 12-month appointment. The Great Lakes Commission offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefit package that includes (among others) medical, dental and optical insurance. The Commission also has an outstanding pension program through the TIAA-CREF program.

Responsibilities
Position responsibilities include:

• Communicating with Great Lakes/St. Lawrence stakeholders (within and outside government) to assess needs, data gaps and issue areas associated with ports and harbors management
• Building federal/state/local partnerships and pursuing port-related programs and projects
• Working with other members of the Great Lakes Commission staff to establish the Great Lakes Service Center as a leading resource for technical support, policy coordination, and communications on critical port and water transportation issues.

Potential topical areas may include, but not be limited to engineering and infrastructure; trade development; economic impact assessment; homeland and supply chain security; emergency response planning; permit reviews; dredging and dredged material management; recreation and tourism; navigation aids; and mixed use of port lands and waters.

This position is based in the Great Lakes Commission offices in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It is affiliated with the Commission’s Transportation and Sustainable Development Program Area.

Qualifications
The ideal candidate will have at least 3 years’ experience managing projects in the areas of port planning and/or management, marine transportation or related fields.

Required qualifications include Master’s degree (or Bachelor’s degree with equivalent professional experience) in fields related to port and harbor operations, logistics and waterborne transportation.

Desired qualifications include familiarity with the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway system; experience with maritime commerce practices and policies in the U.S. and Canada; excellent written and oral communications skills; the ability to manage multiple projects; meeting design and facilitation skills; experience working with agency staff and stakeholders; demonstrated research and analytical skills; and grant writing/program development experience.

Applying for this position
The requirements for this application include a cover letter, resume, three references, salary history and desired salary range. Note: All of these items must be provided if applicant is to receive consideration.

Applications will be reviewed on March 21, 2005. However, applications will continue to be reviewed until the position is filled. Submit your application by mail, email or fax (no phone calls please) to:

Dave Knight
Program Manager, Transportation and Sustainable Development
Great Lakes Commission
Eisenhower Corporate Park
2805 St. Industrial Highway, Suite 100
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104-6791
Phone: 734-971-9135
Fax: 734-971-9150
Email: dknight@glc.org

The Great Lakes Commission, chaired by Lt. Gov. John Cherry (Mich.), is an interstate compact agency established under state and U.S. federal law and dedicated to promoting a strong economy, healthy environment and high quality of life for the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region and its residents. The Commission consists of governors' appointees, state legislators, and agency officials from its eight member states. Associate membership for Ontario and Québec was established through the signing of a "Declaration of Partnership." The Commission maintains a formal Observer program involving U.S. and Canadian federal agencies, tribal authorities, binational agencies and other regional interests. The Commission offices are located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.