Coastal Resilience Wildfire Fellow

About the Organization

Heal the Bay is the most recognized environmental nonprofit group in LA for a reason: we have been keeping Southern California’s coastal waters and watersheds safe, healthy, and clean for people and marine life since 1985. Using education, science, advocacy, and community action, we raise awareness and advance practical solutions to complex problems. We conduct hundreds of beach and community cleanups each year, informing people about the root causes of pollution along the shorelines and in their neighborhoods. We advocate for strict water quality regulations that protect the health of both humans and the animals that call local creeks, rivers, and the Santa Monica Bay home. We operate the award-winning Heal the Bay Aquarium at the Santa Monica Pier, inspiring visitors to become stewards for the region’s most important natural resource: clean water. We also educate and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards, with more than 10,000 students joining us each year for school field trips, science-based classroom presentations, and events. Learn more about us at healthebay.org/our-impact.

About the Role

The Coastal Resilience Wildfire Fellow will lead Heal the Bay’s Ash to Action program, advancing research, policy development, and strategic advocacy related to the impacts of the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires and the region’s long-term wildfire resilience. This role will guide the organization’s scientific analysis of wildfire impacts on coastal and marine environments and translate findings into policy recommendations and advocacy strategies at the local and state levels.

The Fellow will serve as a subject-matter expert on wildfire-related coastal impacts and will collaborate across Heal the Bay’s Science and Policy team to advance organizational priorities in water quality and coastal resilience. This position requires a high degree of professional judgment, independent project leadership, and cross-sector collaboration with scientific, government, and community partners.

This is a one-year position from the date of hire, with the possibility of extension contingent upon additional funding.

Expectations & Responsibilities

• Lead the design, implementation, and oversight of scientific research initiatives evaluating the impacts of the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires on coastal and marine ecosystems.
• Analyze and synthesize complex environmental data to inform organizational strategy, policy positions, and public-facing scientific communications.
• Collaborate with academic, government, and community partners to guide research efforts, interpret findings, and advance policy objectives.
• Provide subject-matter expertise in the development of coastal emergency response and resilience planning initiatives.
• Develop and advance Heal the Bay’s advocacy and policy strategy related to wildfire recovery and coastal resilience, building upon recommendations from the Blue Ribbon Commission on Climate Action and Fire-Safe Recovery.
• Represent Heal the Bay in coalitions, working groups, and external meetings, serving as a professional ambassador for the Ash to Action program.
• Contribute expertise to the development of reports, policy briefs, and public education materials that communicate complex environmental issues to diverse audiences.

Experience & Skills

• Mastersor PhD in environmental science or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated expertise in environmental data analysis, including statistical analysis, coding, and interpretation of complex datasets.
• Experience developing data visualizations and translating technical information into accessible formats.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated success leading or contributing to interdisciplinary and collaborative initiatives.
• Experience engaging with policymakers, regulatory agencies, or decision-makers on environmental issues.
• Working knowledge of environmental regulations, water quality standards, or related policy frameworks.
• Passion for environmental protection and environmental justice
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to independently prioritize and manage multiple initiatives.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and related tools.
• Valid California driver’s license and ability to travel to meetings and events.

Compensation

• Salary: This is a temporary, full-time position, $70,304 annually.

Schedule

Participation in some weekend and evening events, as well as county-wide travel. Heal the Bay operates in a hybrid manner; a typical schedule might be (2) days in the office or field per week. Heal the Bay offers a dynamic work environment with highly motivated colleagues.

Location

The employees’ primary work location will be at Heal the Bay Headquarters, with some work at the Heal the Bay Aquarium at the Santa Monica Pier. This position also includes occasional regional or state travel for fieldwork or meetings at off-site locations. Work will take place both indoors and outdoors, depending on needs and scheduled events.

Physical Demands

The employee is occasionally required to work in outdoor conditions, reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear.

Heal the Bay is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status, and we strongly encourage applications from individuals who reflect the diversity of Los Angeles County.

Heal the Bay complies with AB 1008, the Fair Chance Act, during the hiring process. Once a conditional job offer has been made, the candidate will be asked to complete a Live Scan criminal background check. A thorough assessment of conviction history will be considered, including: the nature and gravity of the criminal history, the time that has passed since the conviction, and the nature of the job the candidate is seeking.