Location: Honolulu, Hawaii (Pacific Islands Ocean Exploration Center)
Supervisor: Pacific Islands Ocean Exploration Center Manager 
Status: Full-time, exempt

About the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation

Founded in 2000, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization) is the national nonprofit partner to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS). Together, we work to protect America’s most treasured ocean and Great Lakes areas—places of extraordinary biodiversity, maritime heritage, and community value.

Guided by our commitment to Waters for All, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation connects people to the ocean and Great Lakes through education, conservation, and community engagement.

As the official nonprofit partner of NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, we support 18 marine environments from Massachusetts to American Samoa and the Great Lakes to the Florida Keys. We help protect these iconic places, care for marine wildlife and habitats, honor our nation’s maritime heritage, and promote the enjoyment of public waters by all Americans.

Through public fundraising and partnerships, we invest in community stewardship, conservation and restoration, education and outreach in visitor centers and gateway communities, and cutting-edge scientific exploration.

For more than 25 years, we’ve strengthened people’s connections to our ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes—along with the history, culture, and maritime heritage they represent—and built partnerships with coastal communities and businesses connected to more than 629,000 square miles of public waters that belong to all Americans.

About the National Marine Sanctuaries

America’s national marine sanctuaries are living classrooms, laboratories, and community assets that protect the waters shaping our shared future. Managed by NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), this network of 18 marine protected areas is multi-use by nature and spans more than 629,000 square miles of ocean and Great Lakes—from coral reefs and kelp forests to historic shipwrecks and whale migration routes.

In partnership with marine research institutions, universities, and public-private partners, activities in each sanctuary help develop solutions to today’s most pressing challenges. Sanctuaries safeguard marine biodiversity, sustain fisheries, support coastal economies, and inspire stewardship through science, education and outreach, and outdoor recreation—from boating to fishing.

Many sanctuary gateway communities include visitor centers and partnerships with zoos, aquariums, and museums that extend this impact, serving as hubs for conservation, innovation, commerce, and tourism where people engage directly with the ocean and Great Lakes.

Together, these sites demonstrate how healthy waters and thriving communities are inseparable—and why protecting them is essential.

What We Need

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is seeking an Education and Outreach Coordinator who will work within the Pacific Islands Ocean Exploration Center (PIOEC) to implement education and outreach programming for the Pacific Islands Region on behalf of the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. 

Working collaboratively as part of a multi-agency team, the Oʻahu Education and Outreach Coordinator is responsible for working with Papahānaumokuākea and the Pacific Islands regional education and outreach staff to plan and implement education and outreach programming about the Pacific Islands regional sanctuary sites for K-12, secondary, and post-secondary students, teachers, community members, and visitors on the island of Oʻahu. The Coordinator works with government, public, and academic partners to plan, coordinate, and facilitate education and outreach activities at the PIOEC and supports sanctuary education and outreach programs and events throughout Oʻahu as directed. The Coordinator position requires the performance of a highly independent professional who provides impactful educational and outreach programs and services to support the mission of the Pacific Islands Region. 

What You’ll Do

• Inform and educate teachers, students, communities, stakeholders, and visitors effectively, appropriately, and strategically about Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary and the Pacific Islands Region;
• Develop, update, and compile curriculum, presentation, and educational resources used in lessons and activities about Papahānaumokuākea and the Pacific Islands Region and ensure that education materials are aligned with State and National education standards;
• Develop, integrate, and promote new materials and tools, which may include online tools for collaboration, interactive mobile device apps, and video tools to support educational programming as needed;
• Design, promote, and lead teacher and student workshops;
• Work with local universities and organizations, teacher training institutes, and communities to arrange workshops and use of the PIOEC venue, as well as with voyaging canoe communities and outdoor environmental programs to arrange meaningful experiences for education and outreach program participants;
• Coordinate PIOEC education and outreach events on behalf of Papahānaumokuākea and the Pacific Islands Region; 
• Manage and update education and outreach contact lists;
• Participate in the development, planning, and execution of education programs as part of the regional education team;
• Organize and facilitate staff presentations, events, partner use, and visits to the PIOEC;
• Support Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary and Pacific Islands Region meetings as needed; 
• With a spirit of flexibility and mutual team respect, undertakes tasks as needed and assigned for overall team success;
• Perform other duties, as requested; and
• Regular attendance is required.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four (4) year college or university in Education, Teaching, Communications, Hawaiian Studies, or related field;
• Three to five years of experience in formal or informal education;
• Experience in conducting workshops, evaluating education programs, and working in communities with diverse cultural and/or socioeconomic backgrounds;
• Experience in developing curricula;
• Knowledge of natural history of the Pacific Islands Region, including the Hawaiian Islands, American Samoa, and the Pacific Remote Islands;
• The ability to deliver high-quality products and services to both external and internal clients and partners, in accordance with agreed-upon time schedules;
• The ability to work collaboratively with a team and independently;
• Experience with desktop editing and layout software is a must;
• The ability to work evenings and weekends, and travel both in and out of Hawaiʻi for training and other programmatic needs;
• Ability to travel on a small ocean craft; and
• Familiarity working with government and non-government organizations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with video production equipment and editing software. 

Why You Will Love Us

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (“Foundation”) is a leading voice for U.S. protected waters, working with communities to conserve those special places for a healthy ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes. The Foundation works in close partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to advance stewardship through on-the-water conservation projects, and education and public outreach activities, and support for research. Together, we safeguard species and the places they call home and while supporting coastal communities and economies. 

• Dedicated and passionate staff committed to marine and Great Lakes conservation; 
• Generous leave policy, plus paid time off between December 25 and January 1 and 12 paid holidays; 
• Health benefits: medical (with an FSA option), dental, and vision; 
• Foundation paid Life and Disability Insurance; and
• Preparing for the future: 403(b) retirement plan with employer contributions after one year of service.

Compensation and Benefits: $55,000 - $60,000/year based on experience. The Foundation offers a competitive benefits package. 

Apply through the Foundation’s online portal. A resume, cover letter, and three professional references are required. Applications must be received by July 7, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET.

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The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is committed to equal opportunity and a collaborative work environment. We are dedicated to attracting and retaining a diverse staff. We honor experiences, perspectives, and unique identities, and welcome the contributions that you can bring to the dedicated team. With a diverse team of employees, we can grow and learn better together and achieve our mission to protect the health of the ocean, coasts and Great Lakes for current and future generations.