Climate-Ocean and Coastal Law & Policy Research Specialist (GMRI)

Job title

Climate-Ocean and Coastal Law & Policy Research Specialist.

Company

Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI).

Description of the job

The Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) seeks a Climate-Ocean and Coastal Law & Policy Research Specialist to investigate and analyze how climate, ocean, and environmental science can inform and interact with legal, regulatory, and broader governance frameworks (e.g., fisheries law, coastal zone management, working waterfront protection, managed retreat, and/or marine CO2 removal).

GMRI develops and delivers collaborative solutions to global ocean challenges. The organization is dedicated to the resilience of the Gulf of Maine ecosystem and the communities that depend on it.

This individual will work in close collaboration with GMRI scientists, program managers, and external partners to examine how scientific knowledge is incorporated into laws, policies, and regulatory decision-making, effectively bridging science and law. The individual will evaluate barriers and opportunities for translating science into governance tools and will help design strategies that strengthen ocean-climate resilience through law and governance.

The successful candidate will bring a foundation in environmental or ocean and coastal law (J.D. or PhD preferred; commensurate experience considered), a demonstrated ability to work across legal and scientific domains, and a passion for place-based, community-engaged climate solutions in the Gulf of Maine. The role includes regular engagement with ocean users, public and private coastal property owners and managers (especially working waterfronts), policy researchers, and policymakers across jurisdictional scales.

This position enjoys 18 months of fully encumbered institutional salary support thanks to a generous philanthropic gift, enabling a secure runway as the incumbent gets established. Thereafter, the incumbent will have primary responsibility for working collaboratively to sustain the position through competitively awarded grants or other fundraising efforts. This is a full-time (100% FTE) position located in Portland, ME, USA.

Responsibilities/Tasks:

• Conduct legal and policy research to assess how climate, ocean, and environmental science can inform laws, regulations, and governance related to Gulf of Maine's fisheries, working waterfronts, and/or coastal infrastructure.
• Develop legal and policy frameworks that support climate adaptation and resilience.
• Identify barriers and opportunities for integrating scientific knowledge into legal and regulatory frameworks.
• Collaborate with GMRI scientists and external partners to ensure science-based grounding in all policy outputs.
• Translate ocean and climate research into accessible policy briefs, legal guidance, and practical recommendations for stakeholders.
• Engage in field-based work with coastal stakeholders, tribal governments, and communities to inform policy from the ground up.
• Monitor relevant legal and regulatory developments.
• Participate in state and regional working groups on marine spatial planning, marine renewable energy, infrastructure siting, and/or ecosystem resilience.
• Pursue competitive grant funding and/or philanthropic partnerships in collaboration with GMRI's Development team.
• Participate in policy coalitions, legal forums, and public meetings throughout the Gulf of Maine region.
• Engage with the media and public through various forms of communication.

Requirements

Required Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) or Ph.D. or a minimum of 5 years work experience in marine affairs, ocean, coastal or environmental law, climate policy, fisheries, coastal governance, or closely related field.
• Demonstrated ability to work across disciplines and integrate science into law or policy guidance.
• Strong background in fisheries regulations, shoreline access law, working waterfront issues, coastal planning, marine spatial planning, and similar topics.
• Experience engaging directly with communities, resource users, or tribal entities.
• Strong written and oral communication skills with a track record of producing reports, and/or scholarly publications, as well as public talks, media appearances, conference presentations.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, timelines, and partnerships effectively.
• Fluent in English.
• Eligible to work in the United States.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in or with scientific organizations or interdisciplinary research teams.
• Familiarity with legal frameworks in the Gulf of Maine or broader Northwest Atlantic.
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusion in environmental or policy contexts.
• Established network of interdisciplinary experts to serve as project collaborators.
• Understanding of offshore energy resources and planning, ecosystem-based management, and/or transboundary or international marine governance issues.
• Proven success with programmatic fundraising, including federal/state grant writing.

Location

Portland, Maine, United States.

Salary

$90,000 - $100,000 commensurate with experience.

How to apply

All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter, CV/résumé, and a list of three professional references with their contact information.

Applications should be submitted through the official portal at https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Details/3657244/Gulf-of-Maine-Research-Institute/Climate-Ocean-and-Coastal-Law-Policy-Research-Specialist.

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue on a rolling basis until the successful candidate has been selected.

Deadline

20/12/2025.

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