Senior Field Research Support Specialist

Description

Fisheries Immersed Sciences Hawaii, Inc. (FISH) is a Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB) skilled in fisheries observation, marine biology, island coastal resource management, scientific research, and innovative technology. As part of our ongoing growth and expansion, we are seeking to hire a Senior Field Research Support Specialist, to support an upcoming long-term contract that we are bidding on (This will be a contingent position, based upon contract award). FISH will be operating under FLOAT – A “Fish” and “Lynker” Ocean Alliance Team – a Joint Venture Prime contract holder for NOAA ProTech Fisheries*.

Key Responsibilities

  • Participate in aerial surveys. Due to the multidisciplinary nature of aerial surveys, there are different tasks simultaneously occurring. Each task requires specialized skills (described below). The Contractor personnel must possess specialized skills for multiple tasks; however, a contractor is not required to possess the skills for all the tasks.
  • Participate in shipboard surveys. Due to the multidisciplinary nature of shipboard surveys, there are many different tasks simultaneously.  Each task requires specialized skills (described below). The Contractor personnel must possess specialized skills for multiple tasks; however, a contractor is not required to possess the skills for all the tasks.
  • Participate in alternative platform surveys (and survey design) including, but not limited to unmanned systems (e.g. drones, gliders, saildrone, satellite etc)  to support aerial and shipboard surveys (tasks 7a and 7b below).
  • Participate in handling animals and biological samples in the field and in a lab. This includes, but is not limited to the collection, processing, and storage of biological materials.

All tasks include:

  • The target species are survey-specific and may include, but are not limited to: marine mammals, sea turtles, seabirds, fish, plankton, and invertebrates.
  • Use and maintenance of Government provided equipment, protocols (such as for data collection, recording, and editing, processing, and archiving), manuals, training, and electronic data entry systems
  • Assist preparations for and de-staging from field projects.
  • Contribute to cruise reports. 

Field Research Support: Specialized Skills for Tasks 3a- 3d (providing data analysis and project management services on distribution, abundance and trends of protected species [marine mammals, sea turtles, seabirds, fish and invertebrates] and anthropogenic interactions) include but are not limited to a subset of the following:

  • Visually identify and record marine mammals, sea turtles, seabird or fish species.
  • Take photographs (from various devices such as handheld cameras, mounted camera systems, drones, or other similar devices) that are of sufficient quality to be used to identify species and to identify the individual animal for only relevant species using Government provided protocols.
  • Assist in operating, deploying and retrieving Government- provided acoustic instruments.
  • Assist in operating Government-provided active acoustic instruments (such as EK60s).
  • Assist in operating Government-provided biological sampling devices (such as, but not limited to, bongo nets, trawls, visual plankton recorders) or physical oceanographic instrumentation.
  • Assist in collecting, recording, processing, editing, and archiving data (collected from any platform) using government-provided protocols and equipment.
  • Assist in collecting, tagging, recording, processing, analyzing, editing, shipping, and archiving biological sampling data (including whole bodies) using Government provided protocols and equipment, including but not limited to full animal necropsies, identifying prey items in stomach samples, dealing with biopsy and tissue samples.
  • Assist applying and maintaining animal-borne tags (such as, but not limited to flipper, PIT, satellite, and suction cup), where type of tag is species- and purpose-specific using appropriate capture and handling methods.

Requirements & Minimum Experience

  • Proficient computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel); some experience with data management, analytical reporting, and environmental and biological data is strongly preferred.
  • Must have an advanced degree (PhD or Veterinary), as well as 450+ hours of experience successfully performing one or more of the Field Research Support Specialized Skills below:
  • Task 7a: Aerial surveys 
    • The surveys are conducted from cities with appropriate fixed based operations that can support the aircraft and are conveniently located to the at-sea study area. Traditionally the main airport used is in Hyannis, MA, but other US or international airports may also be used.
  • Task 7b: Shipboard surveys 
    • The surveys are conducted, primarily in the North Atlantic U.S. waters, though international and waters of other countries may also be surveyed.
  • Task 7c: Alternative platforms 
    • The surveys are conducted, primarily in the North Atlantic U.S. waters, though international and waters of other countries may also be surveyed.
  • Task 7d: Handling biological samples 
    • These activities are conducted on or related to one of the platforms in Tasks 7a-7c or in a land-based laboratory located primarily in the U.S., though may also be in other countries.

About FISH

FISH is a growing, woman owned small business, specializing in professional, scientific and technical services. FISH, a trusted provider of resource management solutions, was established  by a passionate marine and fisheries scientist who calls Hawaii her home  and is driven by a profound commitment to the betterment of the marine ecosystem. FISH is a Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) endowed with a diverse set of proficiencies in fisheries observation, marine biology, island coastal resource management, scientific research, policy and permitting, human dimensions, and cutting-edge technologies for applications such as electronic monitoring. FISH’s team of experts brings decades of applied  experience and is well-equipped to tackle complex marine challenges, offering a comprehensive suite of services designed to address the most  pressing issues facing the world’s oceans. With a track record of excellence,  we stand at the forefront of the industry, continuously innovating to advance  sustainable solutions for marine conservation and management. 

Our Employees are what makes us great! We work hard to help you advance your career and we continuously evaluate the compensation, benefits, and opportunities we provide you for professional and personal growth because our success depends on you! FISH’s benefits include the following:

  • Comprehensive healthcare for the employee
  • Healthcare benefit covers medical, with optional coverage for prescription drug, dental, and vision
  • Personal Time Off (PTO) Policy plus paid holidays
  • Highly competitive compensation plan regularly calibrated against industry and location benchmarks
  • 401(k) retirement plan
  • Flexible spending accounts
  • Employee assistance program (EAP)
  • Short- term disability insurance
  • Long- term care insurance
  • Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
  • Lifestyle benefits including access to financial planning, as well as discounted rates on services and memberships such as AAA
  • Spot bonuses for exceptional performance
  • Personalized career growth plans for every employee

FISH is an E-Verify employer.

* This position is advertised through our joint venture, FISH and Lynker Ocean Alliance Team (FLOAT), a partnership between Lynker and Fisheries Immersed Sciences Hawaii (FISH) serving the NOAA ProTech Fisheries 2.0 IDIQ contracting vehicle. 

FISH is an equal opportunity employer and makes all employment decisions based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other legally protected status under federal, state, or local laws.

Apply For This Position

To apply, please email your resume and current contact information to
[email protected] attention Josee Vincent.