Position Title: Scientific Director (Volunteer)

Reports to: Founder

Time Commitment: ~5–8 hours per week (flexible)

Role Overview

The Scientific Director is responsible for maintaining the scientific integrity, methodological transparency, and intellectual standards of all published artifacts. This role serves as the quality gatekeeper and mentor for contributors, ensuring that all content meets clearly defined scientific and educational standards before publication or public display.

This is a foundational leadership role that shapes the credibility and long-term reputation of the organization.

Core Responsibilities

1. Standards Development
   • Design and refine artifact quality standards (citation requirements, evidence thresholds, data transparency expectations, visual integrity guidelines).
   • Develop review checklists and submission criteria.
   • Establish clear distinctions between peer-reviewed findings, interpretation, and opinion.
2. Scientific Review & Approval
   • Review content prior to publication (articles, exhibits, data visualizations, educational resources, research summaries).
   • Provide structured feedback and revision guidance.
   • Approve, request revision, or decline artifacts based on established standards.
   • Ensure appropriate citation formatting and evidence use.
3. Contributor Mentorship
   • Support volunteers in improving scientific writing, clarity, and methodological rigor.
   • Offer guidance on research design, literature review strategy, and publication pathways.
   • Provide educational resources on topics such as:
     • How to write a scientific paper
     • Understanding peer review
     • Choosing journals
     • Responding to reviewer comments
     • Avoiding common scientific communication pitfalls
4. Curation & Thought Leadership
   • Identify important or emerging research relevant to the organization’s mission.
   • Recommend thematic focus areas.
   • Help shape editorial direction to maintain scientific credibility while supporting accessibility.
5. Ethical Oversight
   • Ensure appropriate attribution and responsible use of data.
   • Identify potential conflicts of interest or overstatements of findings.
   • Protect against extreme sensationalism or misrepresentation.

Authority & Decision-Making

The Research & Content Lead has authority to approve or require revision of all science-facing content prior to publication. Final decisions on publication are made in collaboration with the Founder when needed.

Qualifications

• Experience in marine or ocean science
• Experience with peer-reviewed publication.
• Strong understanding of research methods and statistical reasoning.
• Commitment to scientific accuracy and ethical communication.