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 three Assistant Operation Specialists to assist the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) Fishery Monitoring and Research Division (FMRD) by providing assistant operations specialist support.
This will be a full-time position. Work will be on-site only at the NOAA Facility at Tech Park East Falmouth, MA. Work may be performed at other than the government facility (i.e. off-site) on a limited basis in coordination with the Program Manager, Task Monitor and COR. The contract has a one-year base period and will have up to four (4) 12-month option periods.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must have a minimum of seven (7) years of relevant experience working with marine fisheries information programs or other science-based programs
• B.S. degree in Marine Biology, Fisheries, or a related field.
• Knowledge of fishery science, fishery management and analytical techniques.
• Ability to communicate well in both the office and field environments.
• Proficiency in GIS, Oracle or other relational database management systems and SQL programming language.
• Proficient in current MS Office software programs.
• Proficient in the primary G Suite tools include Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, Calendar, Google+, Sites, and Hangouts.
• Previous or current Northeast Fisheries Observer Program (NEFOP), At-Sea Monitoring (ASM), Industry-Funded Scallop (IFS ) observer experience, small boat operator, and/or working on commercial fishing vessels is desired but not required
  Salary range is $60,000 - $70,000 annually, 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.

• Contractor shall assist the Operations Specialist with planning, coordinating and executing observer coverage in fisheries throughout the Region. This will require field (dock) visits to meet with vessel captains, observers and Area Coordinators to locate and identify fishing effort by area and gear type to ensure that coverage rates are in keeping with end-user needs.
• Contractor shall work on understanding program protocols, general Standardized Bycatch Reduction Methodology (SBRM) processes, and possible solutions to problems observers may encounter in the field.
• Contractor shall recommend changes and improvements to data/sample collection procedures and protocols, as necessary.
• Contractor shall create, mail and track vessel selection letters in communication with provider, if necessary, to target specific vessels for coverage.
• Contractor shall ensure that vessel selection is random, equitable, and without bias; researches quarterly vessel selection accomplishments.
• Contractor shall monitor compliance of call-in regulated fisheries and report monthly to the Operations Specialist.
• Contractor shall work to understand how observer program data is used by end-users and stakeholders in order to educate fishermen and observers.
• Contractor shall conduct interviews with vessel captains and report to the Operations Specialist. Assist with evaluating observer and provider performance.
• Contractor shall observe commercial fisheries not yet covered that may require outreach, research and protocol development, or observe currently covered fisheries to maintain or become observer certified or as a trip trainer.
• Contractor shall schedule and conduct, dockside, post-trip interviews with fishing vessel captains to answer questions or concerns, resolve problems, schedule future trips and monitor the observer’s performance.
• Contractor shall provide observers with guidance for data quality improvement when necessary by providing feedback.
• Contractor shall provide performance and background information for observer debriefings, when requested.
• Contractor shall conduct exit interviews and in-house debriefings, when requested and update protocols and plan for exit and in-house debriefings.
• Contractor shall inform the Operations Specialist of important and controversial data and compliance issues.
• Contractor shall follow-up on incident reports including safety deficiency and refusal reports.
• Contractor shall develop program level memos that consist of information necessary to support a ‘refusal’ case for use by the Office of Law Enforcement.
• Contractor shall keep the Operations Specialist informed of any substandard data collection performance by observers; works with TDQ on any data collection issues and potential falsification.
• Contractor shall research and track vessel of concern issues and communicate with the Operations Specialist.
• Participates on research cruises aboard NOAA research vessels as time/funding allows.
• Contractor shall travel to various fishing ports, as part of outreach, meeting with the commercial fishing industry to explain or answer questions concerning the observer program. Such outreach will be conducted to help improve industry/observer program relations and facilitate observer placement.
• Contractor shall travel to Fishery Management Council meetings, Plan Development Team/committee meetings or other meetings that are relevant to coverage of fisheries. Shall produce/present information to the councils, as necessary in collaboration with FMO operational staff
• Contractor shall maintain and update regulatory compliance information for observer dissemination.
• Contractor shall respond to information requests and coordinates with Operations Specialist and Data Processing Lead. Coordinates data quality checks with data debriefers and Data Quality Lead.
• Contractor shall track seaday accomplishments monthly. Tracks tasking request changes monthly and coordinates with Operations Specialist. Assists with other reporting tasks, as necessary.
• Contractor shall complete general office tasks as necessary: filing, organizing, compiling information. General research projects: gathering information on the internet, researching a problem or issue that has arisen that needs a response. Documenting decisions and communicating with the Area Lead. Field testing of computer equipment, observer gear or supplies or fishing gear related to local fisheries, as required.
• Contractor shall develop and implement research projects and protocols in collaboration with the fishing industry and scientific community.
• Contractor shall provide field and laboratory support for all data collection and monitoring initiatives of the NESFC Fisheries Monitoring Operations (FMO) Branch.
• Contractor shall coordinate technical assistance at sea and ashore, coordinate training and equipment deployment aboard commercial fishing vessels, troubleshoot electronic data acquisition systems, collect data, and maintain scientific protocols that ensure research results meet research objectives.
• Contractor shall support NEFOP external sample request, collecting, organizing, checking on sample status and communication with external users and coordinate sample delivery.
• Contractor shall view and analyze video data as needed.
• Contractor shall deploy as needed on shadow trips, trip trainer trips and probation/priority (Data Field Quality) trips.
• Contractor shall be available for periodic overtime as well as regular weekend assignments.
• Contractor shall provide support for phone and email trip notifications and entering trips as needed.
• Contractor shall be responding to industry, provider, and internal questions and inquiries in a professional manner.
• Contractor shall assist with routine database maintenance tasks.
• Contractor shall assist with training providers, industry, and industry representatives on PTNS protocols and functions as needed.
• Contractor shall assist with the maintenance and updating of Pre-Trip Notification System (PTNS) documentation, instructional materials, and troubleshooting guides.
• Contractor shall assist with the monitoring of the PTNS website and its system performance, and with monitoring vessel coverage metrics.
• Contractor shall assist with monitoring vessels’ PTNS compliance.
• Contractor shall support some on-call after-hours work; shall participate in the inreach monitoring after hours support rotation.
• Contractor shall maintain regular office hours at the observer program facility at least two days per week
• Contractor shall support the dockside/portside sampling program as needed. Works closely and cooperatively with the FMRD program manager (PM), EFP Principal Investigators (EFP PI), participating vessels and dealers. The Dockside Monitoring (DSM) coordinates directly with assigned Captains and dealers to arrange for offload monitoring. The DSM provides completed weigh-out and biological data reports in a timely manner. Data entry and quality assurance/quality control activities will be undertaken. Activity summaries and analytical support (descriptive statistics etc.). The contractor shall participate in initial and periodic training at assigned docks and at NMFS facilities.
• Contractor shall track assigned vessel(s) activity via email, text and Vtracks.
• Contractor shall coordinate with the FMRD PM, vessel and dealer representatives to ensure timely arrival at dock/dealer for offloads.
• At times, the contractor may be required to meet vessels at remote locations to perform hold verification (see below) and then follow catch to the dealer for weigh-out.
• Contractor shall observe and document offload/processing at the dealer, ensuring that species, market categories and weights are recorded accurately.
• Contractor shall enter the fish hold to verify all catch was processed. Requires climbing ladders.
• Contractor shall sort, weigh and measure sub-legal groundfish.
• Contractor shall complete a weigh-out report for sub-legal catch and provide a copy to the dealer.
• Contractor shall obtain a copy of the weigh-out report for legal catch from the dealer. Upon completion of paperwork, the contractor shall provide a catch summary to the PM via email.
• Contractor shall scan logs and other associated paperwork and email to PM, maintaining originals until transfer at bi-monthly meetings.
• Contractor shall enter data for trips accomplished into the DSM database.
• Contractor shall provide Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) activities for offloads accomplished by other DSMs.
• Contractor shall provide analytical support such as developing descriptive statistics for catch and biological data.
• Contractor shall meet regularly (every other month) with PM and other DSMs to debrief on activities, discuss issues, potential enhancements and provide original paper-work for permanent archiving.
• Contractor shall maintain in good working order all assigned sampling equipment.
• Assists with oversight of port sampling or general monitor duties, as necessary
• Support safety training conducted by internal FMO and TDQ staff, this may entail development of lesson plans, researching protocols, presenting at training, creating homework assignments, communicating with observers, participating in meetings, maintaining a current MSIT certification, and cross training with other observer programs as requested.
• Communicate daily with FMO Operational staff regarding fishing effort by area and gear, observer and contractor performance, research and protocol development, regulatory requirements, content as a result of observer debriefings daily.