Taxonomy term

Application deadline: April 15, 2024  |  Download PDF

The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) has an immediate opening for a financial operations specialist to assist with administrative and financial duties for the GLC. The GLC manages dozens of federal and nonfederal grants and contracts, ranging in size from $10,000 to $10 million. A significant portion of this funding is passed through to local partners and contractors annually for habitat restoration, invasive species prevention and control, and nutrient reduction. This position will work under the direction of the financial operations manager, providing support for general financial operations and assisting other staff in financial administration of grants and contracts managed by the GLC.

The financial operations specialist will be responsible for various daily, monthly, and annual accounting activities, record keeping, establishing, and ensuring compliance to policies and procedures, conducting financial reconciliations and reports for grants and contracts, and other administrative tasks. In addition, the financial operations specialist will be responsible for improving coordination among the Commission’s financial, programmatic, and administrative operations by assisting staff with project budgeting and financial reporting.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Apply and document internal accounting and financial procedures, in accordance with the GLC’s financial policies and procedures
• Manage accounts payable
• Examine and verify bank statements and reconcile statements with internal ledgers
• Oversee billing/invoicing for projects and monitor collection of receivables
• Review and assist others in reviewing and reconciling invoices and financial reports from contractors and subaward recipients
• Review and monitor grant agreements and prepare routine financial reports
• Work with staff to complete required forms and budgets for grant applications, including maintaining tools and templates for project budget development
• Work with staff on grant applications and grant administration within systems such as grants.gov, GrantSolutions, and GEMS, among others
• Maintain a calendar of grant reporting and submittal deadlines
• Work with management on annual audits, indirect cost proposals, and related initiatives
• Work with management on the development of the GLC’s annual budget
• Identify opportunities for process improvements

The ideal candidate will have a degree in accounting, finance, or business with some relevant work experience involving accounting, financial management, grant management, and administrative duties, and generally meet the following qualifications:

• Knowledge and experience in general accounting practices including general ledger, accounts payable/receivable, invoicing, and financial reporting
• Basic knowledge and experience in payroll programs and related processes
• Demonstrated experience and applied skills in accounting
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills (e.g., pivot tables, data validation, and conditional formatting) and eagerness to continue to learn
• Proficiency with other Microsoft Office products
• Familiarity with U.S. federal grant requirements and management systems
• Familiarity and knowledge of grants and contracts management and the application and reporting requirements of funders from a variety of sources including the federal government, state and provincial governments, and private foundations
• Practical knowledge and experience in financial and programmatic reporting requirements for grants, contracts, joint project agreements, and cooperative agreements
• Ability to work with staff on the coordination and submittal of programmatic and financial reports for grants and contracts
• Ability to work with staff in the preparation of project budgets
• Ability to work professionally and effectively with staff, service providers, vendors, and partners
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, depending on needs
• Excellent organizational skills, including meticulous attention to detail
• Ability to perform well under pressure

Position Classification and Compensation
The position is classified as regular, full-time as defined by the GLC’s personnel policies. The starting salary range for this position is $55,000 – $58,000 per year depending on education, skills, and experience. The GLC offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits, including leave time, flexible schedules, medical, dental, and vision insurance.

Work Environment
The location for this position is the GLC office in Ann Arbor, Michigan. A partial telework schedule may be considered under the GLC’s flexible schedule and telework policy.

Applicants must submit a cover letter and resume stating their interest in and qualifications for the position in a single email to vacancy@glc.org. Please use the subject line “Vacancy: Finance.” All required items must be provided for an application to receive consideration. No phone calls, please.

The Great Lakes Commission is a binational government agency established in 1955 to protect the Great Lakes and the economies and ecosystems they support. Its membership includes leaders from the eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces in the Great Lakes basin. The GLC recommends policies and practices to balance the use, development, and conservation of the water resources of the Great Lakes and brings the region together to work on issues that no single community, state, province, or nation can tackle alone. Learn more at www.glc.org.

Equal Opportunity Employer
The Great Lakes Commission strives to create an inclusive, diverse, and non-discriminatory workplace. The Great Lakes Commission is an equal opportunity employer; the Great Lakes Commission complies with applicable federal, state, and local laws prohibiting discrimination. It is Great Lakes Commission policy that no person shall be discriminated against, as an employee or applicant for employment, because of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Ann Arbor, Mich. – The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) today issued a request for proposals (RFP) for a new opportunity associated with the GLC’s longstanding Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program (GLSNRP) grant program. This pilot program will support conservation districts in deploying the Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework (ACPF). ACPF is a free ArcGIS toolbox designed to help local farming communities address their soil and water conservation needs using high resolution geo-spatial data.

Conservation districts are eligible to receive funding of up to $10,000 to support work over a one-year period. Applicants are invited to submit proposals describing how funding will help to facilitate project planning for precision sediment and nutrient pollution reduction. The RFP offers three options for districts (or groups of districts working as a coalition) based on existing local knowledge of the geographic information system (GIS) software powering the ACPF.  The due date for applications is 5:00 p.m. Eastern on June 14. Funding decisions are anticipated by August 2024 for selected projects to begin work no later than October 1, 2024.

Application information and materials are available through the GLSNRP webpage. A webinar for applicants will be offered on May 17 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern to discuss the application process and provide information on the ACPF. To register for the webinar visit https://bit.ly/acpfwebinar. A recording of the webinar will also be posted to the webpage for those unable to attend the live session.

As a reminder, the GLSNRP application period for applicants with shovel-ready conservation projects is also open now, with applications due on April 29 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern. For more information on either program, please contact Connor Roessler at croessler@glc.org or 734-396-6085.

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Mary Mertz, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, is a binational government agency established in 1955 to protect the Great Lakes and the economies and ecosystems they support. Its membership includes leaders from the eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces in the Great Lakes basin. The GLC recommends policies and practices to balance the use, development, and conservation of the water resources of the Great Lakes and brings the region together to work on issues that no single community, state, province, or nation can tackle alone. Learn more at www.glc.org.

Application deadline: May 24, 2024  |  Download PDF

The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) is seeking one to two individuals for an internship focused on geospatial data management and delivery. The selected individuals will contribute to spatial data projects in support of GLC’s work to advance the environment and economy of the eight-state, two-province Great Lakes region. This position will work under the direction of the GIS Project Manager.

The intern(s) will support GLC’s work with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other partners to gather, update and curate data to support planning and response activities under the Oil Pollution Act. A smaller proportion of time will be dedicated to supporting projects related to other priority areas included in the GLC’s strategic plan, such as aquatic invasive species and water quality. The position is ideal for students and other early-career applicants interested in gaining professional experience in GIS mapping and analysis tasks in a regional agency setting.

The intern(s) will support the work of the GIS/data team to provide mapping, data management, analysis, and visualization support across the GLC’s program areas as needed.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Creation of geospatial datasets from tables, heads-up digitizing and standard GIS reference data
• Contacting agencies and facilities via phone and email to confirm that datasets used in emergency response planning are up to date
• Preparation of thematic maps, charts and tables for use in print and web publications in collaboration with in-house project staff and partner organizations
• Maintenance of reference data published by the Great Lakes Commission and updates to associated maps and tables
• Creation and maintenance of metadata for new or modified datasets according to established standards

Current undergraduate and graduate students or recent graduates (within the last 24 months) are preferred. Successful candidates will most likely have a background in geography, environmental studies, data science, or another related field. Applicant must have demonstrated competence using ArcGIS, with preference given to those who have practical work or volunteer experience or equivalent academic achievement. This position requires great attention to detail, excellent communication, time management and critical thinking skills, and the ability to work well both in a team setting and independently.

Knowledge of web GIS, experience working with large datasets and data QA/QC processes, and/or knowledge of Great Lakes issues and programs, regional government, water quality, land use and/or resource management are advantageous but not required.

Position Classification and Compensation
The position is full time and classified as limited term as defined by the GLC’s personnel policies. The intended duration is 10 weeks starting as early as June 3, 2024; specific start and end dates are flexible. The term may be extended beyond the initial 10 weeks depending on funding and mutual interest. The salary for this position is $17/hour.

Work Environment
The location for this position is the GLC’s office in Ann Arbor, Michigan. A partial telework schedule may be considered under the GLC’s flexible schedule and telework policy.

Applicants must submit a cover letter and resume stating their interest in and qualifications for the position in a single email to vacancy@glc.org. All required items must be provided for an application to receive consideration. Applications will be reviewed as they are received. No phone calls, please.

The Great Lakes Commission is a binational government agency established in 1955 to protect the Great Lakes and the economies and ecosystems they support. Its membership includes leaders from the eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces in the Great Lakes basin. The GLC recommends policies and practices to balance the use, development, and conservation of the water resources of the Great Lakes and brings the region together to work on issues that no single community, state, province, or nation can tackle alone. Learn more at www.glc.org.

Equal Opportunity Employer
The Great Lakes Commission strives to create an inclusive, diverse and non-discriminatory workplace. The Great Lakes Commission is an equal opportunity employer; the Great Lakes Commission complies with applicable federal, state and local laws prohibiting discrimination. It is Great Lakes Commission policy that no person shall be discriminated against, as an employee or applicant for employment, because of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Great Lakes Commission  |  U.S. Geological Survey-Great Lakes Science Center

Application deadline: June 30, 2024  |  Download PDF

The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Great Lakes Science Center (GLSC) are seeking an experienced ecologist with conservation and restoration expertise for a shared position between the two agencies. This position will work under a joint GLC and USGS GLSC team to advance specific outcomes in GLC’s Action Plan for a Resilient Great Lakes Basin (Action Plan) and related efforts within GLSC’s Restoration and Conservation (ReCon) Science Branch. Resilience is a priority for the GLC and a key goal of its strategic plan. The GLC and its partners developed the Action Plan to provide a foundation for regional coordination around climate resilience. This position is designed to support coastal ecosystem resiliency efforts and foster the development of strategic tools and practical on-the-ground actions. The work will involve close coordination with a variety of federal, state, and university partners with vested interest in these topics.

The ecologist will primarily be responsible for developing a science-based framework for understanding how to build healthy and resilient coastal ecosystems that can adapt to changing conditions and climate-related stressors. This work will give special attention to elucidating economic, ecological, and social return on investment of restoration and conservation activities within nearshore and coastal ecosystems; providing rationale for when and where to use nature-based solutions to accomplish climate resilience; valuing ecosystem services; and/or bridging with indigenous knowledge systems where appropriate. [65%]

Other responsibilities include:

• Support GLC managers in the planning and execution of meetings and workshops on climate resilience and adaptation to promote co-development of priorities and products, identify information gaps, and transfer knowledge and technology among federal, Indigenous, state, provincial, and local partners in the public and private sectors. [15%]
• Inform the development of a basin-wide system to understand effectiveness of coastal resilience and adaptation approaches and track progress. [10%]
• Inform GLSC’s science priorities and portfolio development about climate adaptation and resilience and assist in integrating climate adaptation science throughout the Restoration and Conservation Science (ReCon) branch. [5%]
• Coordinate with other coastal resilience and adaptation efforts, such as the Great Lakes Coastal Assembly, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study, and programs and plans within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service. [5%]

Ideal candidates will have at least a Master of Science degree in a related field and four or more years applied academic or professional experience addressing climate related scientific issues. Additional qualifications include:

• Demonstrated knowledge and expertise related to restoration ecology and/or climate resilience, adaptation science and decision science, with a strong quantitative background.
• Understanding of theoretical climate adaptation approaches, such as the Resist-Accept-Direct framework.
• Understanding of the integration of science in decision-making and adaptive management.
• Demonstrated experience applying theoretical/technical scientific concepts to practical natural resource management decision-making.
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work effectively with academic colleagues and stakeholders from diverse backgrounds.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills and the ability to communicate complex information to diverse audiences.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Experience using various communications platforms and tools to collaborate and convey findings.
• Ability to work independently and as part of internal and external teams.
• Self-motivated and organized with strong attention to detail.

This is a full-time, two-year term position. The salary for this position is $70,000. Benefits include paid time off, flexible schedule, and medical, dental, and vision insurance. Desired start date: August 1, 2024.

This position is located at the USGS GLSC Lake Michigan Ecological Research Station (LMERS) in Chesterton, Indiana. LMERS is located within, and shares a close relationship with, the Indiana Dunes National Park. Some telework may be considered. This position requires periodic travel between Chesterton, Indiana, and Ann Arbor, Michigan, and occasional travel to meetings and workshops around the Great Lakes region.

Applicants must submit a cover letter and resume stating their interest in and qualifications for the position in a single PDF emailed to vacancy@glc.org. Please use the subject line “Ecologist.” All required items must be provided for an application to receive consideration. No phone calls, please.

The Great Lakes Commission is a binational government agency established in 1955 to protect the Great Lakes and the economies and ecosystems they support. Its membership includes leaders from the eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces in the Great Lakes basin. The GLC recommends policies and practices to balance the use, development, and conservation of the water resources of the Great Lakes and brings the region together to work on issues that no single community, state, province, or nation can tackle alone. Learn more at www.glc.org.

The USGS Great Lakes Science Center exists to provide scientific information for restoring, enhancing, managing and protecting living resources and their habitats in the Great Lakes region. The GLSC is headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and has biological stations and research vessels located across the Great Lakes basin. The Restoration and Conservation Science Branch maintains scientific expertise in coastal wetland restoration; wetland and terrestrial plant ecology; invasive species biology and adaptive management approaches; landscape ecology, assessment, and conservation design; microbiological processes and eDNA; terrestrial coastal migration; and harmful and nuisance algal blooms.

Equal Opportunity Employer
The Great Lakes Commission strives to create an inclusive, diverse and non-discriminatory workplace. The Great Lakes Commission is an equal opportunity employer; the Great Lakes Commission complies with applicable federal, state and local laws prohibiting discrimination. It is Great Lakes Commission policy that no person shall be discriminated against, as an employee or applicant for employment, because of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor.

Ann Arbor, Mich. – Organizations across the region will work together to educate the public about aquatic invasive species (AIS) during the sixth annual Great Lakes AIS Landing Blitz, June 26 – July 6, 2024. Volunteers will demonstrate to boaters and others how to prevent the spread of AIS, how to identify AIS, and how to report AIS, which are recognized as one of the most significant threats to the ecological and economic health of the Great Lakes. This annual event is coordinated through an international partnership of federal, state, and provincial agencies and Indigenous Nations with the support of the Great Lakes Commission (GLC) and others.

“The GLC is proud to continue partnering with the states and provinces and organizations around the basin to engage the public about the threat of invasive species,” said GLC Chair Mary Mertz, Director of Ohio Department of Natural Resources. “Educating boaters and others who love our Great Lakes about the impacts of harmful, nonnative aquatic plants and animals is critical to protecting our regional ecosystems, tourism and economy.”

In 2023, over 840 public and private boat landings in nine Great Lakes states and provinces participated in the Landing Blitz, and approximately 150,000 people were educated about AIS by more than 1,100 volunteers. Additionally, more than 100,000 people saw information about the Landing Blitz on social media.

For the third year, the GLC is also awarding more than $55,000 in competitive grants to local organizations to support broader participation in the Landing Blitz. This funding will be used by grantees to host local events, expanding the overall reach of the initiative. This year eight grants were awarded:

Applicant name

Jurisdiction

Award amount

Great Lakes Community Conservation Corps

Illinois

$6,900

Friends of the Detroit River

Michigan

$4,284

Upper Peninsula Resource Conservation and Development Council

Michigan

$8,504

Cleveland Metroparks

Ohio

$5,020

Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association

New York

$8,940

Burnett County Land Services Department

Wisconsin

$7,595

Calumet County – Land and Water Conservation Department

Wisconsin

$4,556

Glacierland Resource Conservation & Development Council, Inc.

Wisconsin

$ 9,998

Funding for the Landing Blitz is provided by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative through an agreement between the GLC and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For more information, including educational materials, location, and volunteer opportunities, visit www.glc.org/blitz.

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Mary Mertz, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, is a binational government agency established in 1955 to protect the Great Lakes and the economies and ecosystems they support. Its membership includes leaders from the eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces in the Great Lakes basin. The GLC recommends policies and practices to balance the use, development, and conservation of the water resources of the Great Lakes and brings the region together to work on issues that no single community, state, province, or nation can tackle alone. Learn more at www.glc.org.

Ann Arbor, Mich. – The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) today applauded the states of Illinois and Michigan and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for signing a project partnership agreement (PPA) for the Brandon Road Interbasin Project. This project, which was originally authorized in 2020, is a key component of the region’s longstanding efforts to protect the Great Lakes from invasive carp.

“Preventing invasive carp from entering the Great Lakes is a team effort, and the Great Lakes community is stepping up to meet the moment,” said Erika Jensen, executive director of the GLC. “Signing the Brandon Road PPA is a critical step in keeping invasive carp out of the Great Lakes. Illinois, Michigan, and the Army Corps of Engineers all deserve enormous credit for the years-long effort to address this threat. The GLC is also especially grateful for our Great Lakes congressional delegation, who have worked tirelessly to secure federal funding and policy changes necessary to move forward with construction.”

The GLC has worked for over 30 years on efforts to prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species, including support for the Brandon Road Interbasin Project. Since 2019, the GLC has convened the Brandon Road States and Provinces Forum, which has served as an important venue for information-sharing and problem-solving.

The Brandon Road Interbasin Project is located at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam on the Des Plaines River in Joliet, Illinois. This project will include installation of technologies that will prevent invasive bighead, black, and silver carp from entering Lake Michigan through the Chicago Area Waterway System. Invasive carp present a significant threat to the Great Lakes, including their impacts on ecosystems, fisheries, and recreation, all of which help to drive the Great Lakes regional economy.

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Mary Mertz, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, is a binational government agency established in 1955 to protect the Great Lakes and the economies and ecosystems they support. Its membership includes leaders from the eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces in the Great Lakes basin. The GLC recommends policies and practices to balance the use, development, and conservation of the water resources of the Great Lakes and brings the region together to work on issues that no single community, state, province, or nation can tackle alone. Learn more at www.glc.org.

Ann Arbor, Mich. – The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) announced today that it has released an updated Great Lakes Water Use Database website that is more secure and will make it easier for the public to access water use data. Upgrades to the site include: a streamlined, more intuitive process for water use data managers to report their jurisdictions’ data and metadata; an improved public-facing “create your own query” tool that will allow users to create charts based on their specific data selections; and enhanced security features to better protect data before it is published.

“More than 30 million people in the basin rely on the Great Lakes for drinking water, jobs, industry and more,” said Loren Wobig, Great Lakes Commissioner and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s alternate on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Council (Compact Council) and Designee on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Water Resources Regional Body (Regional Body). “This new website will help regional decision-makers better manage our water resources responsibly for all the basin’s residents.”

“One of the key goals of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence water management compact and agreement was facilitating the exchange of data and strengthening the scientific information upon which decisions are made,” said Peter Johnson, Deputy Director of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers (GSGP), the organization that serves as secretariat to the Compact Council and Regional Body. “This upgrade to the water use database is an important step in further advancing the Governors’ and Premiers’ water management priorities.”

For nearly 40 years, as part of the historic water agreements, the eight states and two provinces in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River basin have provided water use data to the regional water use database. The GLC compiles and summarizes these datasets into an annual report that is submitted to the Compact Council and Regional Body, which manage the agreements to sustainably manage Great Lakes water.

To view the new website, visit waterusedata.glc.org.

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Mary Mertz, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, is a binational government agency established in 1955 to protect the Great Lakes and the economies and ecosystems they support. Its membership includes leaders from the eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces in the Great Lakes basin. The GLC recommends policies and practices to balance the use, development, and conservation of the water resources of the Great Lakes and brings the region together to work on issues that no single community, state, province, or nation can tackle alone. Learn more at www.glc.org.