Large Whale Policy Environmental Specialist Needed

Integrated Statistics is looking for an Environmental Specialist to work with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), which administers NOAA's programs in the Northeastern United States to manage living marine resources for optimum use. NMFS’s Protected Resources Division (PRD) is dedicated to managing, conserving, and rebuilding populations of marine mammals and endangered and threatened marine and anadromous species in rivers, bays, estuaries, and marine waters of the Northeast. The Environmental Specialist will work closely with the Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Program within PRD, which implements conservation programs for endangered and protected marine mammals and sea turtles.
The Environmental Specialist assists in the implementation of conservation programs to reduce interactions between commercial fisheries and the North Atlantic right whale under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, as well as programs to reduce the impacts of vessels on right whales. Tasks include assisting in the development and implementation of policies and biological, social and economic impact analyses and to support the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan and the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team.
This position is concerned with regulatory and analytical processes, and does not involve field research.
Duties
The specific tasks for this position include:

• Helping to assess and create mitigation measures associated with emerging threats outside of the take reduction process, including evaluating stranding data to identify threats related to vessel impacts, ocean noise, and aquaculture.
• Assisting in the development and implementation of policies and regulations under the MMPA's take reduction process, including efforts to reduce entanglements of North Atlantic right whales in commercial fisheries and the impacts of vessel strikes.
• Conducting analyses and other preparatory work for meetings of Take Reduction Teams, and particularly the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team.
• Assisting in the preparation of environmental impact statement and associated analyses related to reducing protected species bycatch in commercial fisheries including developing supporting biological, social and economic impact analyses pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and other relevant statutes and policies.

Qualifications

• Excellent communication skills. A writing sample may be requested.
• Familiarity with R, ArcGIS, and other analytical tools.
• A demonstrated understanding of policies, regulations, and processes for fisheries and protected species management, particularly those related to marine species listed under the Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, Magnuson-Stevens Act and other Atlantic Coastal Acts, and environmental analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act or other appropriate legislation.
• Ability to work independently, and to meet appropriate project milestones.
• A Bachelor’s or higher degree (or a grad student working toward a higher degree) in marine science, fisheries science, fisheries economics, environmental management, natural resource management, marine policy, ecology, public policy, or a related field of study.
• US citizenship and presence, and the ability to comply with EO 14042.
• At least three years of specialized work or educational experience in marine environmental regulatory, policy, economic or social science analysis.

Integrated Statistics is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Consistent with its obligations under federal law, Integrated Statistics is committed to taking affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified women, minorities, disabled individuals, special disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam era, and other eligible veterans. For assistance with accessibility of applications, posters, forms, and/or documents, please email the Integrated Statistics office.