Employment

Every day we work to make a difference in the health of the Chesapeake Bay and Maryland's diverse natural resources. View our current job openings below to see how you can join our team. Thank you for your interest in Maryland Sea Grant.

Job Openings

Director, Maryland Sea Grant

For over 40 years, Maryland Sea Grant (MDSG) has worked to support research to address knowledge gaps in science-based management; to guide extension and outreach efforts to engage multiple audiences; and to drive formal and nonformal education work to build a science-literate workforce across the Chesapeake and coastal bays and their watersheds. Integrating among these efforts, MDSG creates programming to address critical environmental issues, including restoring water quality, supporting sustainable fisheries, addressing climate change, and building resilient communities. Maryland Sea Grant fosters healthy coastal ecosystems, communities, and economies through science, education, outreach, and broad collaboration.

The Director of Maryland Sea Grant (MDSG) provides leadership, vision, and administrative oversight for the MDSG program. As outlined in the Maryland Strategic Plan (2024 – 2027) the Director must ensure the program’s continued growth and innovation, while aligning with the University System of Maryland and the NOAA National Sea Grant College program. This Director position carries a 100% administrative appointment within the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) focused on MDSG administration and leadership. The Director also oversees a subaward to the University of Maryland Sea Grant Extension program within the University of Maryland, College Park where Extension faculty and staff reside. The Director is expected to set program strategy and collaborate among Maryland’s universities, and with state and federal agencies, policymakers, private sector partners, municipalities, and non-governmental organizations. The Director takes a multifaceted approach to advance MDSG's mission while overseeing programmatic, fiscal, and operational functions. The Director is responsible for creating a safe and supportive work environment which retains talent and allows MDSG staff and colleagues to thrive.

The Director of MDSG will have a full-time (12-month) staff appointment within UMCES located at the MDSG office in College Park, MD.

Best consideration date is November 15, 2026.

Learn more about the Director position and apply.

Multimedia Communications Fellow (Faculty Research Assistant)

Maryland Sea Grant’s Multimedia Communications Fellowship is an opportunity to work alongside a team of professional communicators while honing science storytelling skills. This is a one-year, full-time fellowship opportunity with the option to renew.

The Multimedia Communications Fellow will use communications tools and techniques to explain and share findings from scientists, extension specialists, and other sources to help advance public understanding and management of Maryland’s coastal resources. This person will join Maryland Sea Grant’s communications team, which produces digital and print content for a range of audiences. These communications products include our award-winning Chesapeake Quarterly magazine, our website (mdsg.umd.edu), videos, articles, social media, and reports and other publications.

The successful candidate will have created and published multimedia communications products, including video productions and photography. They should be proficient in shooting, editing, and producing video and still photography using DSLR or mirrorless cameras, lighting, and audio equipment. They should have experience with editing software and an understanding of video compression, file types, and publishing. This role will provide real-world experience in researching, reporting, and writing, as well as collaborative work as part of a team. The fellowship will build the successful candidate’s skills in combining technical information with creative storytelling to explain complex scientific concepts accurately and clearly for non-scientist audiences.

Best consideration date is November 15, 2026.

Learn more about the multimedia communications fellow position and apply.

Maryland Sea Grant is committed to building inclusive research, extension, communication, and education programs that serve people with unique backgrounds, circumstances, needs, perspectives and ways of thinking. We encourage applicants of all ages, races, ethnicities, national origins, gender identities, sexual orientations, disabilities, cultures, religions, citizenship types, marital statuses, veteran status types, and income, and socioeconomic status types to apply for this opportunity. Learn more about our mission here.