Seafood Business & Market Development Specialist

About the role

North Carolina Sea Grant provides research, education and outreach opportunities relating to current issues affecting our coast and its communities. Since 1970, North Carolina Sea Grant has prided itself on being a valuable resource for communities, scientists, local officials, government agencies, coastal businesses, educators, and the public to find unbiased, scientifically sound information about coastal ecosystems and economies. Our initiatives touch a broad range of topics, including but not limited to healthy coastal ecosystems, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, resilient coastal economies, and environmental literacy and workforce development. The state/federal partnership receives funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Sea Grant College Program.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted business and market development resource for North Carolina’s seafood industry, advising aquaculture growers, commercial fishers, processors, wholesalers, retailers, and other industry partners.
• Translate business, market, and economic information into practical guidance that helps seafood businesses grow, diversify, strengthen supply chains, and respond to changing market conditions.
• Connect people, products, markets, and resources to strengthen North Carolina’s seafood economy.
• Help growers identify new markets, retailers connect consumers with local seafood, and industry partners navigate distribution challenges.
• Turn knowledge into action that supports resilient businesses and expands opportunities for North Carolina seafood.
• Business & Market Development: Advise seafood businesses on planning, growth, market opportunities, financial resources, and operating challenges; strengthen supply chains and distribution while connecting North Carolina seafood with retail, restaurant, and other markets; support diversification through direct-to-consumer sales, value-added products, and “blue tourism”; use market trends and economic data to help businesses anticipate risks and respond to market shifts.
• Consumer & Market Outreach: Strengthen branding, traceability, and value propositions that differentiate locally harvested seafood; leverage resources such as Mariner’s Menu to build consumer confidence and demand for local seafood.
• Partnerships & Strategic Initiatives: Collaborate with Sea Grant, Cooperative Extension, researchers, industry, and state and federal agencies to advance seafood priorities; support initiatives such as the NC Shellfish Mariculture Strategic Plan and engage with the National Sea Grant network.
• Applied Research & Program Development: Develop proposals, pursue funding, and support research and extension projects from development through reporting and evaluation; contribute to Sea Grant planning, interdisciplinary projects, grant reviews, and program initiatives.
• Education & Industry Readiness: Deliver training and develop practical resources on business fundamentals, market readiness, marketing, supply chains, and seafood safety; track program reach, outcomes, and performance for NC Sea Grant and the National Sea Grant Office.
• Other Responsibilities: Occasional opportunities to take on additional duties to build skills, explore new areas, and gain deeper understanding of department’s operations.

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience: Master’s degree in Aquaculture, Business Administration, Marketing, Agricultural/Applied Economics, Marine Science, Fisheries, Marine Policy, or a closely related field, and a minimum of three years of experience in seafood business management or consulting, small business advising, food system coordination, marine industry extension, or related practice. OR Undergraduate degree in Aquaculture, Business Administration, Marketing, Agricultural/Applied Economics, Marine Science, Fisheries, Marine Policy, or a closely related field, and a minimum of six years of experience in seafood-related business management or consulting