Fisheries Science And Compliance

At Saltwater Inc. we believe that high-quality data is vital to the health of our fisheries and oceans: our mission is to provide that data. We are a Women-Owned Small Business and are constantly seeking new team members who share our passion for innovation and environmental wellness. We are currently recruiting for Level 2 Fisheries Science and Compliance Support to fulfill duties including actions under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) such as: conducting section 7 consultations; reviewing species' status to determine if listing is warranted; developing protective regulations to conserve protected species; designating critical habitat; reviewing and drafting National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents; and issuing permits.

Work will be conducted primarily off-site, although limited onsite work may occur at the West Coast Regional Office at 501 West Ocean Blvd Suite 4200, Long Beach, California, or at 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, Washington, as coordinated on a case by case basis. The base period is expected to begin October 1, 2023, and end September 30, 2024, with four (4) option periods.

Duties

• Assist NMFS with the development and implementation of any fishery management activity associated with compliance with MMPA section 118 for West Coast fisheries, including any Take Reduction Teams or Plans for West Coast fisheries that are or become active, and the MMPA List of Fisheries. The Contractor shall lead or support technical and analytical work that is needed to support these activities, as needed.
• Coordinate with the West Coast States and the Office of Protected Resources on the development and evaluation of Conservation Plans in support of applications for permits under ESA section 10. The Contractor shall provide technical support to NMFS in the review of Conservation Plans and assist with the completion of the associated ESA section 10 and section 7 documentation, as well as MMPA and NEPA compliance, as needed.
• Lead, coordinate, or participate in fisheries bycatch science initiatives with internal and external partners and stakeholders including NMFS Science Centers and the Office of Protected Resources, as well as industry, academic, NGO, and other agency representatives. Lead completion of analysis and technical reports as needed to advance the state of science on West Coast fishery bycatch issues in support of improved assessment of impacts to protected species, and the consideration of impact/effectiveness of any management measures that may be implemented to minimize bycatch.
• Participate/or present protected species information at local and regional coordination meetings and participate in a Protected Resources Division workshop.
• Assist with other MMPA and ESA matters related to ESA-listed species, critical habitat, and EFH.
• Prepare appropriate documentation for each consultation and analytical report prepared, including assembling and managing administrative records as necessary to provide adequate and proper evidence of agency business, timely response to requests for information, and compliance with NMFS internal directives, including memos to the file that show compliance with West Coast Region quality assurance process.
• Facilitate and/or complete formal and informal consultations on fisheries-related actions under section 7 of the ESA according to West Coast region policies and practices. The contractor shall review documents associated with proposed or final fishery actions, and provide comments on protected resources and listed species sections.
• Participate in meetings with action agencies, applicants or permittees, special interest groups, state officials, and tribal representatives, as necessary, and provide responses to data requests and other inquiries with appropriate attention to detail.

Minimum Qualifications

In addition to basic computer skills (MS Office, etc.) and excellent written and verbal communication skills, the contractor shall provide support by providing personnel with the following minimum level of education/experience:

• Knowledge of West Coast fisheries and State/Federal fishery management schemes.
• Experience and proficiency with an assessment of the impacts of human activities on protected species and/or evaluation of measures to reduce those impacts.
• Knowledge of biology, natural resource management, and West Coast marine species ecology.
• Proficiency with regulatory and conservation actions under species-protected sections 7, and 10 of the ESA, and management of fisheries under section 118 of the MMPA.
• Experience with the production of scientific, technical, or other professional reports.
• Knowledge of the Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, Magnuson Stevens Act, and National Environmental Policy Act.

The proposed Contractor must possess and maintain the following skills/certifications and/or credentials during the period of performance:

• Valid driver’s license required for operation of government vehicles.
• Completed a graduate degree from an accredited college or university with an emphasis on biological or fisheries science, conservation biology, wildlife or natural resource management, or related fields of science or policy.
• Computer skills including basic word processing, spreadsheet creation, and manipulation are a must.
• Advanced technical and analytical skills capable of producing original data analysis and synthesis in support of fisheries science. This should include previous experience with modeling/programming and other quantitative skills, as well as working with database management and manipulation. Experience with GIS is a plus.

Salary range is dependent upon experience.

Saltwater Inc. is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and a VEVRAA Federal Contractor and does not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, parental status, veteran status, or disability status. We strive to create an inclusive workplace culture to attract the best talent and allow each member of our team to achieve their full potential and maximum productivity. Furthermore, Saltwater Inc. highly encourages qualified individuals with disabilities and protected veterans to apply for positions for which they are qualified and to notify us if there are any needs for accommodation throughout the application process and/or upon hire.

Only qualified applicants with the requisite experience need to apply.

Saltwater’s mandatory employee COVID-19 policy requires proof of Covid-19 vaccination to safeguard the health of our employees and their families.

We will honor all requests for application confidentiality.

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