About Us

Career Opportunities

Founded in 1983, the Island Institute is a nonprofit membership-based organization dedicated to partnering with Maine’s year-round islands and working-waterfront communities to ensure that they remain vibrant places to live and work. We provide support through programs such as the Island Fellows, Maine Island Scholarships, and a wide range of projects in the areas of education, working waterfronts, fisheries management and other issues of importance to these communities. The Institute has an annual operating budget of $2.5 million and a membership base of nearly 4,800. Its main office is located in the coastal city of Rockland in midcoast Maine, with a satellite office in Portland, Maine.

Current Openings

Americorp VISTA Island Scholars Network Assistant Coordinator
Product Coordinator
Grants Coordinator
Youth Activities Coordinator
Fellows Program

AMERICORP VISTA ISLAND SCHOLARS NETWORK ASSISTANT COORDINATOR
Posted: 04/28/2008

The Island Institute is seeking an Americorp VISTA to assist in coordinating the newly designed Island Scholars Network.

Based in Rockland, Maine the Island Institute is a nonprofit organization that has served for 25 years as a voice for the balanced future of the islands and waters of the Gulf of Maine. We are guided by an island ethic that recognizes the strength and fragility of Maine's island communities and the finite nature of the Gulf of Maine ecosystems. Along the Maine Coast, the Island Institute seeks to:

support the islands' year-round communities;
conserve Maine's island and marine biodiversity for future generations;
develop model solutions that balance the needs of the coast's cultural and natural communities;
provide opportunities for discussion over responsible use of finite resources, and provide information to assist competing interests in arriving at constructive solutions.

Job Description:
VISTA responsibilities include:

Support a peer-mentoring program that pairs incoming island freshman with island upperclassmen at the same higher-education institution.
Plan social events in partnership with higher-education administrators and island scholars.
Create and support the Island Scholars Online Community Group.
Create and disseminate the Island Scholars e-newsletter.
Foster college-exchange programs.
Provide college-readiness workshops and various outreach activities for island students in grades K-12, their families, and teachers.
Collect and analyze data on island student graduation and retention rates.

Job Requirements:
The Island Institute VISTA must

be extremely organized;
be able to work independently;
work well in a team-based environment
follow through on assignments in an accurate and timely manner;
communicate effectively (through phone, e-mail and in person);
prioritize and handle numerous functions within an effective workflow;
possess skills in and knowledge of Windows, spreadsheets, databases, word- processing, and social-networking sites;
have good writing and time-management skills;
have a reliable vehicle, and be willing to travel extensively throughout the state;

This position will be based at the Island Institute in Rockland.

Education Requirements: The ideal candidate will have a BS/BA degree and experience working collaboratively within a fast-paced work environment. He or she should have proficiency with and knowledge of Windows, spreadsheets, databases, word-processing, and communications programs (email, skype, e-newsletters, etc).

How to Apply: Applications are available online at http://www.mainevista.net/positions.htm. Click on Island Institute and then click on apply now.

For questions please contact:
Jeanne Kannegieser
Americorps*VISTA
207 626-5012

PRODUCT COORDINATOR
Posted: 04/23/2008
30 hours per week

Job Description: Work as one of the core team to oversee internal operations of the Archipelago Store. Some specific areas of responsibility include inventory maintenance, web site maintenance, and ordering for some sections. Strong computer skills are a must. Creative writing, arts-related background, visual aesthetic, and strong organization skills are key components. Customer service and sales is expected of all employees.

Contact Info:
Crystal Anderson, Human Resources Coordinator
Island Institute
PO Box 648
Rockland, ME 04841
Phone: (207) 594-9209
Fax: (207) 594-9314
E-mail: personnel@islandinstitute.org
How to apply: by E-mail, by Mail, by Fax

GRANTS COORDINATOR
Posted: 04/15/2008 - Position Closes: 5/16/2008

Job Description: The Island Institute seeks a grants coordinator who has the technical and creative ability to successfully write, edit and submit proposals to private, corporate and public foundations and related funding sources. The Island Institute Grants Coordinator will explore and pursue funding opportunities to support current and future programmatic projects, events and services for Maine’s year-round island and remote coastal communities. The Grants Coordinator will also create and submit reports to current funders, identify new sources of funding, track all grants received, update the annual plan for grants management and maintain all grants-related files and databases. The Grants Coordinator will also manage the Institute’s grantmaking processes, including the Island Community Fund and the Affordable Coast Fund, which provide awards to island communities, nonprofits and individuals for a wide range of projects, events and professional development opportunities. The Grants Coordinator will implement all necessary and relevant action steps to meet the organizational goals and objectives outlined in the Institute’s three-year Strategic Plan adopted in December 2006 by the Board of Trustees.

Position Requirements: Position requirements include: an undergraduate or advanced degree in a related field; knowledge of institutional, governmental and corporate funding sources; knowledge of policies and procedures of various funding agencies; understanding of research methods, grants and contract administration. Also required are: a demonstrated ability to conceptualize and communicate the Institute’s mission and programs in persuasive proposals; meet proposal and reporting deadlines; use computer systems and software necessary to produce multifaceted proposals; maintain and analyze statistical data and information; write in a clear, concise manner; pay close attention to details; package and market concepts, ideas and proposals to a diverse group of constituencies. We seek someone with the ability to work at a high level of competency and accuracy with a variety of software including, but not limited to, word processing, spreadsheet and database software. To be successful in this position, the Grants Coordinator needs to have excellent oral and written communications skills, and the interpersonal skills to work effectively within the organization and with our constituencies. Additionally, the person in this position must have a willingness to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment and to contribute to, and participate in, organizational activities and meetings using a team approach to problem-solving and decision-making. The ability to focus and to work independently when needed to meet grant submission deadlines – often in the midst of other projects and demands – is a must. Candidates must exhibit a strong track record of successfully writing proposals to professional foundations; inclusion of a funded grant proposal would be especially helpful to the selection process.

Benefits: A regional organization based in Rockland, Maine, the Island Institute offers competitive salaries and the following employee benefits: • Medical, dental, life and short-term disability coverage • Paid holidays • Paid vacation, sick and personal time after 6-months of employment • a retirement plan with a 6% employer match • Professional-development opportunities • A professional yet flexible work environment • Discounts on Island Institute publications.

CREST: YOUTH ACTIVITIES COORDINATOR
Posted: 01/22/2008

Job Description: The Island Institute is seeking Youth Activity Coordinators to participate in the planning and implementation of two CREST Summer Institutes (7/12-7/18 and 7/21-7/25) held at the Schoodic Education and Research Center. The CREST program is an innovative approach to learning that uses place-based web design, GIS, and ethnographic projects to get high school and middle-school students interested in technology careers.

The successful candidate must have the ability to work well with a team and follow through on assignments in an accurate and timely manner. It is important for this person to communicate and work effectively with a wide array of individuals and be able to prioritize and handle numerous functions within an effective workflow. This position will require overnight stays at the Schoodic Education and Research Center in Winter Harbor, ME during one or both weeks of the CREST summer institute being held 7/12-7/18 and 7/21-7/25.

Education Requirements: The ideal candidate will have past experience with middle and high school students in a camp setting and first aid certification is highly recommended.

Compensation: This position offers free room and board at the Schoodic Education and Research Center during the two weeks of the CREST Summer Institute. Training in GIS, web design, and documentary filmmaking is available. A $400 per week stipend will also be provided.

Contact Info:
Sally Perkins, Island Institute Programs Coordinator
PO Box 648
Rockland, ME 04841
Email: sperkins@islandinstitute.org
Phone: (207) 594-9209 ext. 103

FELLOWS PROGRAM
The Island Institute is currently accepting applications for 2008-09 Island Fellows Program. Click here for more information.
NOTE: Island Fellows Benefits differ from the Island Institute organization benefits.

The Island Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Residents of Maine's year-round island communities are encouraged to apply for open positions at the Island Institute.

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