Job Type Permanent
Salary Details Commensurate with experience.
Required Experience 2 – 6 years

Ocean Associates, Inc. (OAI) is seeking a Scientist to provide support to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The position can be based out of Lacey, WA, Seattle, WA, or Portland, OR. OAI supplies personnel support services on contract to government and industry clients for marine fisheries and protected species. This position will support the NMFS West Coast Region (WCR) Oregon Washington Coastal Office (OWCO) and other programs as they pertain to conservation and management of federal fisheries, protected species, and their habitat. The incumbent will assist with ESA section 7 and EFH consultations and the development of consultation documentation adhering to regional standards and procedures. They will provide consultation support and review submissions under existing programmatic consultations with a variety of Federal action agencies and other partners.

Expected position start date: Starting 10/1/20

Location: Lacey, WA, Seattle, WA, or Portland, OR

Salary and Benefits: Full time schedule, 40 hrs /wk. Salary commensurate with experience.

Duties

  • Respond to inquiries from action agencies and their representatives or applicants, providing pre‐consultation technical assistance to action agencies and their representatives or applicants during regular business hours.
  • Review consultation initiation packages for completeness and develop requests for further information sufficient to support initiating consultation under each statute, as needed.
  • Consult with action agencies and their representatives or applicants ensuring action agency compliance with each statute, as needed. Communicate with the Geographic Branch Chief for the assigning Branch in the OWCO, to coordinate NMFS response to each consultation.
  • Prepare appropriate documentation for each consultation and follow West Coast Region protocol for quality assurance.
  • Regularly coordinate with the NMFS Geographic Branch Chief for the assigning geographic Branch on assignments and work products.

Required Knowledge and Experience

  • Education and Experience Required— Bachelor’s degree, or higher, from an accredited college or university, with a major in a field of study related to the requirements of this position with emphasis in fisheries, oceanography, social science, natural science, mathematics, or hydrology, plus five (5) years of experience in a related field or combination of such totaling nine (9) years combined education/experience. A Master’s Degree in a related field plus one (1) year of experience or a Ph.D. may be substituted for experience.
  • Experience with, or knowledge of, the requirements of the ESA, MMPA, and/or MSA and the consultation processes.
  • Background in biology, natural resource management, and salmonid and/or marine mammal species.
  • Significant Endangered Species Act Section 7 experience.
HOW TO APPLYIf you are interested in being considered for this position, you MUST APPLY THROUGH OAI’s WEBSITE ONLY. Go to OCEANASSOC.COM, click on Careers, then click on Job Openings, find the position you wish to apply for.

Only qualified applicants that meet minimum experience or background requirements stated above need apply. When applying for this position you will be asked to upload your resume at the end of this online application.

Applicants should submit a resume that includes the following:

  • Cover letter that briefly describes how you meet the required and preferred qualifications listed.
  • Work history for past 10 years or since last full-time education.
  • Education.
  • Previous experience or training with similar requirements.
  • Three professional references.
  • Include your name in the document file name.
  • Upload your resume in readable, not scanned, PDF or Word format (PDF is preferred).

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States, complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire, and successfully complete a federal government background check.  Ocean Associates Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable federal or state law.

OAI is a government contractor and is required by law to invite applicants to self-identify their race, gender, national origin, disability status and veteran status. OAI is required to use the information it collects as part of its future affirmative action efforts in hiring. The information is collected anonymously by computer and is not connected to your application. You will see a place to check certain boxes in OAI’s online application. Even though the information is anonymous, self-identification is voluntary. You can always check the box that says you decline to self-identify.

Note:  If you are not selected, your materials may be retained for present or future opportunities. We may use your resume in bidding on a project and if we are awarded the work we will contact you before seeking further applicants. If you do not wish us to retain or use your resume to seek work for you, please let us know in the “Notes” section on the second page of the online application.