Regulatory and Harvest Management Support Scientist; Remote

Position: Regulatory and Harvest Management Support Scientist (Remote)
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Ocean Associates Inc. (OAI) is seeking a Regulatory and Harvest Management Support Scientist to provide support to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), West Coast Regional Office. OAI is a Virginia corporation established in 2003 that provides consulting and technical services to the U.S. government, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, and the private sector. We specialize in scientific program and project management, strategic planning, professional and technical services, and stakeholder engagement, supporting government contracts.

We are seeking applicants for this position prospectively, which is dependent on award of contract.

Description

Scientific Analyses of Harvest Management:
Over the next several years, state, tribal and federal managers will negotiate new harvest and hatchery plans for Puget Sound Chinook, steelhead, and summer chum, modifications to harvest management frameworks for California Chinook salmon stocks, and renegotiate harvest management plans for U.S. v Oregon and the Pacific Salmon Treaty Agreement. These agreements are expected to span three to ten years and include fisheries along the full migration corridor for salmon stocks returning to Puget Sound, the Columbia River and north/central California.

The state, tribal, and federal managers will submit plans for assessment of the adequacy of the agreements under section 10, section 7(a)(2), or Limits 4, 5 or 6 of the salmon and steelhead rules under section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). They will also require assessment under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The work may require assembling information on species status and life history specific to the stocks at issue using the Viable Salmonid Population framework and technical analysis including trend analysis and risk assessment.

Tasks

Tasks entail providing technical analysis and scientific writing services as directed by NMFS's Sustainable Fisheries Division (SFD) associated with:

Evaluation and assessment of fishery and hatchery management frameworks under ESA sections 7(a)(2), 10(a)(1), Limits 4,5, 6 of the ESA 4(d) Rule, or the ESA Tribal 4(d) Rule. The evaluations will describe and assess harvest and hatchery related impacts to ESA-listed Puget Sound, Columbia River and California salmon stocks depending on the plan under evaluation.

Completion of NEPA documents associated with these projects or in close coordination with other contractors.

Assisting NMFS staff as requested on work related to implementation of provisions of the  US v Oregon Agreement and the  Pacific Salmon Treaty Agreement and successor agreements.

These tasks may involve some statistical analysis (e.g., trend analysis and risk assessment). Actions under evaluation shall include management strategies proposed by state and tribal managers and alternatives strategy developed as part of associated NEPA evaluation as required (e.g., comparison of exploitation rate, escapement goal based and hybrid fishery management strategies). Progress on Tasks and Deliverables will depend on receipt of management plans from the state, federal and/or tribal managers that are sufficient to meet ESA requirements.

These tasks will require close coordination with SFD staff, general counsel, and NEPA staff in the NMFS WCR regional offices in Seattle and Lacey, Washington and Portland, Oregon who are familiar with the scope and content of the proposed hatchery and harvest strategies and management plans. This coordination will necessitate frequent contact with the project specific NMFS Project Leaders via email and by phone.

Key tasks include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:

• Development of project workplan and schedule for each project. Weekly check-ins with the designated NMFS Team Lead(s). Coordination calls and meetings as necessary with Project Team members or as directed by the NMFS SFD Team Lead(s).
• Following guidance from the designated NMFS SFD Team Lead and working with the Project Team, completion of draft and final versions of ESA effects evaluation and determination documents for fishery management plans and/or hatchery management plans for ESA-listed Puget Sound, Columbia River and California salmon and steelhead species that meet the requirements of the sections 7(a)(2), 10(a)(1) or limits 4,5 or 6 of the salmon and steelhead 4(d) Rule of the ESA.
  
  This task includes following NMFS' internal review and QA/QC protocols. The NMFS SFD Team Lead and WCR leadership are responsible for approval of the final documents and decisions, including signature.
• Following guidance from the designated NMFS SFD Team Lead and coordination with Regional NEPA staff, complete draft and final versions of NEPA documents for fishery management plans and/or…