Please see Special Instructions for more details.
This posting will close at 11:59PM (Eastern time) on the posted closing date. Salary would be determined based on competencies, equity, budget, and market considerations. This position is being recruited at the Contributing level. If no applicants apply who meet the required competency and training & experience requirements, then management may consider other applicants.
Benefits of Working at UNCW
- Full time employees are eligible for dental, vision and health insurance plans.
- Health insurance benefit plans eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire.
- Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan.
- Optional disability plans are also available.
- Full time employees are also eligible for the tuition waiver program which covers the cost of tuition and fees for up to three (3) undergraduate or graduate courses per academic year at UNCW or any other university within the UNC System.
- UNCW covers the cost of tuition and fees for one UNCW course each summer session.
- As a full time employee, UNCW also offers a free membership to the Campus Recreation Center.
- Free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus.
- Meditation and yoga sessions.
- Voluntary supplemental insurance coverages.
- Pretax flexible spending accounts.
- 12 paid holidays.
- 24 hours of paid community service leave time.
- Paid vacation and sick leave accrual and family medical leave after 12 months of continuous service.
- We also offer an abundance of training and development programs through our Dare to Learn Academy ,and the employee assistance program , many of which are offered free of charge.
The salary range advertised is the designated recruitment range for this classification. Final salary offers will be determined by the candidate’s education, relevant experience, internal equity alignment, and departmental budgetary parameters.
Vacancy Number
Vacancy Number S02881
Position Title
Position Title University Program Associate
Working Title
Working Title MarineQuest School Program Associate
Competency Level Contributing
Home Department
Home Department MarineQuest - 31405
Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit
MarineQuest is the official marine science outreach program for UNCW and the Center for Marine Science, providing young people with opportunities to explore, discover, and value our marine habitats. MarineQuest operates as a small receipt-supported business to provide outreach programming to K-12 students in the community, state, and across the nation year-round, including Summer Academic Enrichment Programs, School Programs, and Weekend outreach activities.
College
College Watson College of Ed - 314 College
College/School Information
University Information
The University of North Carolina Wilmington, the state’s coastal university, is dedicated to the integration of teaching, mentoring, research and service. Widely acknowledged for its world-class faculty and staff and continuously recognized at a national level for scholarly excellence and affordability, UNCW offers a powerful academic experience that stimulates creative inquiry and critical thinking. A public institution with nearly 18,000 students, UNCW offers a full range of baccalaureate- and graduate-level programs, as well as doctoral degrees in educational leadership, marine biology, nursing practice and psychology; and many distance learning options, including clinical research, an accelerated RN-to- BSN program, an Executive M.B.A. program structured for working professionals, and the nation’s only bachelor’s degree program focused on coastal engineering. The university’s efforts to advance research and scholarly activities have earned UNCW the elevated designation of “Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity” institution (R2 University) by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. UNCW has been part of the University of North Carolina System since 1969.
Location of Workplace
Location of Workplace CMS Myrtle Grove
Brief Summary of Work for this Position
The MarineQuest School Program Associate leads environmental education-based programming for a wide range of ages and supports MarineQuest as a team member with a unique skill set. During the summer, the primary role of the Program Associate is to lead a summer program line (ages 9 – 17). During the school year, the position will focus on school program administrative assistance, lab organization, and school program instruction.
As a year-round member of the MarineQuest team this position is expected to:
- Practice open communication with MarineQuest and UNCW.
- Serve as a positive role model for staff and students. Displaying maturity, responsibility, flexibility, and judgement.
- Be knowledgeable in the MarineQuest program mission, program organization, and Minors’ policy.
- Safely transport students, staff, and equipment in passenger vans.
- Maintain clean and organized program spaces.
- Maintain student safety in both field and UNCW campus spaces.
- Provide a positive experience for program students and staff.
Minimum Education and Experience Requirements
Bachelor’s degree; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.
Preferred education, professional skills and experience
- Bachelor’s degree in a marine science field, environmental studies, or science education.
- Two seasons as a Program Associate.
- Environmental Education certification or teaching credential.
Required Certifications or licensure
First Aid/ CPR , Lifeguard (or ability to complete within first 6 months)
FTE
FTE 1.0 FTE (40 hours per week)
Months Per Year
Months Per Year 12 Months
Work Days
Work Days Monday - Friday with some weekend work
Work Hours
Work Hours 8:00 am - 5:00 pm with some variation
Type of Position
Type of Position Time-limited
Anticipated Ending Date if Time-Limited
Anticipated Ending Date if Time-Limited 09/03/2029
Position Number
Position Number 8468
Job Posting Date
Job Posting Date 08/03/2026
Posting Close Date
Posting Close Date 08/14/2026
Number of Openings
EEO Statement
UNCW does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of his or her race, sex (such as gender, gender identity, marital status, childbirth, and pregnancy), age, color, national origin (including ethnicity), religion, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, veteran status, military service member status, genetic information, or relationship to other university constituents – except where sex, age, or ability represent bona fide educational or occupational qualifications or where marital status is a statutorily established eligibility criterion for State funded employee benefit programs.
Eligibility for Employment
Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. UNC Wilmington participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
- * How did you learn of this opportunity with UNCW? (2026)
- UNCW Website
- UNCW LinkedIn Page
- UNCW X Account (formerly Twitter)
- UNCW Employee Referral
- UNCW Instagram Account (UNCW_jobs)
- UNCW Job Alert
- Chronical of Higher Education
- Glassdoor
- Higher Ed Jobs
- Indeed
- Inside Higher Ed
- North Carolina Job Network
- Craigslist
- Career Events/Job Fairs
- Billboards/Marquee
- Other
- * If you selected "Other" to the question above, please explain how you found out about this opportunity. Enter N/A if not applicable.
(Open Ended Question)