Location: United States Virgin Islands (St. Thomas & St. Croix)

Job Type: Hybrid, 20-40 hours/week, Contract 

Wage Rate: $25 per hour 

Requirements: Some weekend and evening availability may be required for special events or programming

Opening Date: December 15, 2024

Closing Date: January 20, 2025

About Us: The Virgin Islands Conservation Society (VICS) is the oldest non-profit conservation organization in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Our mission is to promote the conservation and restoration of island ecosystems, sustainable development, and awareness of conservation issues. We strive to protect our islands, fostering community resilience and preserving our natural resources for a sustainable future. We believe in working with local conservation-related organizations and community members to build capacity and address common challenges and opportunities within the Territory.  Join us in safeguarding the Virgin Islands’ beauty and vitality!

The VI Clean Coasts’ Eco-Certification Program seeks to reduce the use and disposal of single-use plastics, Styrofoam, and other pollution through technical assistance and education to local businesses in the food service industry. In the USVI, single-use plastic bottles are prevalent considering the dependance on rainfall and cisterns for water. Styrofoam is often used in the food service industry for take out containers however, when used, the material releases cancer causing toxins and can have other negative impacts on the human body. These single-use items are also detrimental to the environment due to their lack of biodegradation. The Pollution Prevention Program Coordinator will help to mitigate these risks to humans and the environment by providing on site source reduction plans, education, and compostable alternatives to local businesses.

Job Overview:  VI Clean Coasts is a public, non-profit partnership between VICS and the VI Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) that helps local businesses, schools, marinas, and residents improve their environmental impact.  VI Clean Coasts consists of four initiatives: Eco-Certification; Refill Bottles, Not Dumpsters; Clear Waters; and Stormwater Resilience & Outreach.  VICS is hiring a Coordinator to assist in the Pollution Prevention Program (under the umbrella of the Eco-Certification initiative).  The Coordinator will work closely with local businesses in the food service industry, to increase and diversify participation in the Eco-Certification program. This work will include information gathering from local food distributors,  increasing awareness of the harmful effects from single-use materials to vulnerable communities, on-site consultations to create unique source reduction plans for each business, and providing easily accessible tools to mitigate these risks. This project is grant-funded therefore reporting, tracking and entering data, weekly team meetings, and other requirements are associated with the grant deliverables.

Responsibilities:

• Identify, recruit, and build relationships to gain the participation of qualified local food service businesses in the Virgin Islands for the program
• Help businesses create and implement a series of activities that reduce toxins and pollution in the workplace and create value for the business
• Meet with and build relationships with food service distributors to support their efforts to import more eco-friendly products as part of the supply chain
• Liaise with program partners, including the DPNR, participating businesses, restaurant distributors, tourism industry, and VICS staff members 
• Build program capacity through education and outreach by communicating with vulnerable communities and food service businesses about the harmful effects of Styrofoam and plastics
• Utilize a project tracker/contact relationship management system ensuring organization and effective communication between initiative partners and VICS staff members
• Oversee implementation of on-the-ground source reduction plans to reduce the use of single-use plastics and Styrofoam in food service businesses
• Support the vetting of program materials and approaches through the Marine Debris Action Plan Committee 
• Assist the VICC Program Director and Manager with special projects as needed 
• Write monthly reports on achieved deliverables and program progress, track metrics, business connections, and other data associated with grant-funded deliverables
• Create work plans that align with grant deliverables while maintaining a strict timeline

Required Qualifications:

• Must be located on St. Croix with knowledge and respect of local culture 
• Passion for sustainability
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to create work plans and write reports while also executing them in an efficient and timely manner
• Knowledge or willingness to learn about Styrofoam toxins, harmful impacts of waste, and biodegradation processes
• Proficiency using Microsoft and Google Suite, including word processing and spreadsheets, and video conferencing tools, including Zoom and Google Meet
• Ability to provide independent transportation on St. Croix and travel within the U.S. Virgin Islands (travel reimbursement opportunities available) 

Contact VICS To Apply

If you are enthusiastic about contributing to our mission of promoting sustainability and conservation in the U.S. Virgin Islands, we invite you to apply for this exciting opportunity. Please apply using this link: https://form.jotform.com/VICleanCoasts/pollution-prevention-coordinator-ap. We look forward to reviewing your application and learning more about how you can be a valuable addition to our team!