Environmental Scientist

Job Description

Job Description

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 five Environmental Scientists to provide Technical Assistance with Protected Species recovery efforts, Endangered Species Act Section 7 Consultation support, Economic Analyses, NEPA Preparation, Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation, Stranding, and Disentanglement Response Programs. This work will support the Great Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO) by providing cross-program assistance to GARFO PRD in implementing mandates under Section 4, 7, and 10 of the ESA, under Section 401-404 and 118 of the MMPA, as well as under NEPA. This includes supporting work associated with the following primary areas: consultations under section 7 of the ESA; responding to animals in distress through the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program, Atlantic Large Whale Disentanglement Network, and Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network; recovery planning and implementation; and the preparation and review of NEPA documents in support of federal actions.

Please note that we are recruiting proactively and do not yet have this position available. If awarded the work, this will be a full-time position. Work will be performed remotely. The contract has a one-year base period with a potential of three option periods.

Duties:

B.2.1. Endangered Species Act Section 7 Consultation Support

1. Provide technical assistance/pre-consultation review supporting the development of biological assessments, or equivalent, that analyze the effects of federal actions on GAR listed species and critical habitat. Participate in meetings and work within GARFO (SFD and HESD, as applicable), with NEFSC, and others to coordinate effectively and/or to ensure best available information and feedback is provided to federal partners. Support development of briefing materials, meeting summaries, or other documentation as requested. Provide assistance and guidance to federal partners, supporting them through the consultation process.
2. Support development of and appropriately document formal consultations (biological opinions and/or programmatic consultations). Follow all internal clearance procedures, as directed by the program manager for section 7 consultations. Maintain records in the ECO database. Coordinate with species experts to ensure awareness of upcoming consultations and contribute to kickoff meetings for formal consultations. Ensure incorporation of the best available scientific information into all section 7 consultations. Coordinate the review of section 7 and related documents with branch chief and general counsel and incorporate edits and comments as necessary. Work with OPR and action agencies/applicants on ESA/MMPA coordination. Ensure awareness of deadlines and provide early alerts for potential missed deadlines. Keep NMFS co-workers informed of important correspondence, events, decisions, and documents that may affect them. Coordinate closely with other team staff to maximize information transfer and sharing for consistency and efficiency. Keep senior staff informed.
3. Contribute to and appropriately document informal consultations responding to an action agency’s determination that a proposed action is not likely to adversely affect any species or critical habitat listed/designated. This includes contributing to completion of any letters of concurrence or documents required under a programmatic consultation. Follow all procedures for section 7 consultation as outlined above.
4. Monitor existing consultations to track implementation of the activity and any required measures (e.g., reviewing reports, monitoring compliance with the respective Incidental Take Statement, etc.). Contribute to monitoring needs related to programmatic consultations. Organize all submitted documents/records and document any incidental take and coordinate with the appropriate species leads and/or researchers. Ensure that RPMs and T&Cs are adhered to. Meet with action agencies as necessary to evaluate effectiveness of measures, when applicable. Review and file reports from action agencies to ensure data is included in Division wide databases, reports, or meetings, where applicable. Assist in assessing the need for reinitiation of consultation based on monitoring outcomes
5. Develop white papers on particular topics determined to be necessary by the program to support effects analyses, such as acoustic stressor models, aquaculture, climate change, and researching best management practices designed to minimize and monitor effects of Federal actions on ESA listed species and critical habitat.
6. Conduct literature reviews on topics necessary to support the division’s duties under section 7 and shall provide summaries of that literature for division staff.
7. Assist in discussions with other federal action agencies to identify potential means of efficiencies in the ESA consultation process, such as establishing programmatic consultations
8. As needed, assist other NMFS divisions (most commonly Office of Sustainable Fisheries) in identifying actions that may trigger reinitiation of biological opinions. This may include reviewing fishery or other actions and supporting staff in documenting their analyses of these actions.

B.2.2. Stranding and Disentanglement program support:

1. Provide recommendations and analytical support for the development of recommendations to reduce entanglements of marine mammals through the amendment of take reduction plans;
2. Conduct data entry of various marine mammal and sea turtle stranding and disentanglement data and perform audits and quality control to ensure accuracy. This includes data on large whale unusual mortality events (UME) and sea turtle cold stun and entanglement events. Also, obtain large whale data from the network, and compile and deliver reports to inform Northeast Fisheries Science Center serious injury/mortality determinations on a monthly basis;
3. Provide coverage, as needed, to sea turtle and marine mammal stranding and disentanglement coordinators on regional stranding and disentanglement response hotlines;
4. Provide assistance in conducting stakeholder engagement pertaining to the MMPA and ESA;
5. Prepare reports summarizing data generated from stranding or entanglement events including marine mammal UMEs and sea turtle cold stun events, if triggered;
6. As needed, coordinate and support analysis of gear that has been removed from marine mammals and sea turtles; and
7. As needed, respond to animals in distress, attend/support necropsy events, support disentanglement operations, and provide assistance and support to cold-stun coordination/transportation events.

B.2.3. Preparation and review of NEPA[1] documents to support NMFS activities

1. Coordinate with staff carrying out analyses on the effects of fishing activities on ESA listed species and critical habitat, with particular attention to North Atlantic right whales and if needed, harbor porpoise.
2. Collaborate with the take reduction team coordinator, as needed, to ensure that relevant information regarding the rulemaking and NEPA process are available for Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team meetings (and the Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Team if needed).
3. Assist the take reduction team coordinator, as needed, in the development, assessment, and implementation of a regulatory amendment to the ALWTRP, including performing duties pursuant to the requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act, NEPA, MMPA, ESA, and other applicable statutes and policies.
4. Assist the take reduction team coordinator, as needed, in the development, assessment, and implementation of a regulatory amendment to the ALWTRP, including performing duties pursuant to the requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act, NEPA, MMPA, ESA, and other applicable statutes and policies.
5. As needed, assist in the review and development of comments on NEPA documents and preparation of analyses under NEPA and the ESA
6. As needed, review applications for Exempted Fishing Permits and provide guidance on measures and best management practices designed to minimize and monitor effects on right whales and other protected species.

B.2.4. Recovery and conservation planning and implementation:

1. Provide support for recovery efforts and/or the take reduction team in planning and executing meetings and workshops;
2. Develop and assemble meeting and workshop materials, conduct literature reviews, liaise with meeting and workshop facilitators, take notes and draft meeting key outcome reports, maintain research and management priority lists to support right whale recovery.
3. Provide assistance in conducting stakeholder engagement pertaining to the MMPA and ESA;
4. Assist in drafting technical reports, stakeholder engagement documents, taskers, and briefing materials as needed; and
5. As needed, review right whale serious injury and mortality data and coordinate and support analysis and curation of gear that has been removed from marine mammals and sea turtles.

B.2.5. General PRD Support Tasks that common to all categories:

1. As needed, provide administrative assistance to PRD Grant and Scientific Permit Review Programs by tracking incoming review requests for permits and projects;
2. Provide administrative support including providing support for ordering supplies and equipment; organizing, indexing and numbering all relevant documents; answering phones, note taking, arranging meetings, setting up and providing technical support for webinars, and preparing reference documents; and
3. Prepare administrative records or FOIA response for actions including compiling, organizing, reviewing, and, as necessary, redacting electronic records;

Minimum Qualifications:

Possess a degree (i.e., bachelors or masters) in an environmental science or associated discipline (e.g., biology, ecology, fisheries biology, marine biology, natural resource management, conservation biology, landscape ecology, or restoration ecology). A relevant degree may be substituted by two additional years of relevant experience.

Salary range is $35 - $50 per hour, 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.

We will honor all requests for application confidentiality.