PacFIN Data Management Specialist

Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission is recruiting candidates to fill the role of a Data Management Specialist 2 based in Portland, Oregon. This is a full‑time, benefits‑eligible position working within the Pacific Fisheries Information Network (PacFIN) project. PacFIN is a regional program that consolidates and supports the collection, processing, analysis, and reporting of fisheries statistics for West Coast fisheries. PacFIN integrates this information into a single data management system using consistent methods and standardized formats.

More specifically, PacFIN reports catch data, harvest and value from commercial fisheries using the best available data from the data source agencies. Once data are incorporated into its system, PacFIN reports information from several critical perspectives to analyze impacts of changes in fishery management. These include species, area, gear, vessel, processor, community, and fishery participants by season.

• Day-to-day responsibilities include:
  • Respond to data requests:
    • Develop SQL scripts for data retrieval and validation procedures
      • Write documentation defining the purpose, business rules, data dictionary, and data caveats.
      • Communicate with data requestor
  • Produce written research and statistical reports
  • Analyze and define database requirements based on user needs
  • Plan and complete assignments that create new database objects (views and related retrieval objects) so users can retrieve PacFIN data in consistent, reusable ways.
  • Participate in team and 1-on-1 meetings.
  • Communicate issues and needs to source agency technical and non-technical staff.
  • User Account Requests:
    • Manage confidentiality signatures and data access methods
    • Create and manage database accounts
    • Manage account information, roles, and policies
  Supervisory Controls:

  Work is assigned in terms of project goals, objectives, priorities, and, at times, specific tasks. At the lower end of the range, the employee will exercise initiative in solving common technical and procedural problems. Unusual issues are referred to the supervisor or higher-graded employee for consultation or review.

  At the upper end of the range, the employee plans and carries out assignments with independence, guided by experience and knowledge to complete the objective. He/she seeks assistance only on the most unusual issues. Sufficiency of planning and execution, and accuracy of the data produced are normally accepted without detailed review, even for customized assignments.

  Guidelines:

  Guidelines include PSMFC standards and policies; project work plans; data submission protocol documents; established database structures, data definitions, and data standards; and various hardware and software manuals.

  At the lower end, the guidelines are clear and provide little room for deviation, except as provided in documented precedents or suggestions for alternative data entry and retrieval strategies. New or revised job requirements or requests for data that cannot be processed within the existing guidelines are discussed with the supervisor or higher level employee.

  At the higher end, the employee reviews each work request and selects and interprets guidelines to achieve the desired end product.

  Complexity:

  At the lower end, the employee decides what to do by identifying the data content and information structure needed for each processing request and selecting the appropriate routine to set up and format each job.

  At the higher end, data will be in any number of formats. Computerized data may not be in a form that matches user needs exactly and therefore requires translation into a common format. Data may be missing or in a format that requires conversion to defined standards.

  Scope and Effect:

  A high quality,…