Job Description

*Position is Subject to Contract Award

*Onsite Position at SEFSC Laboratory or at Sea in Pascagoula, MS or Panama City, FL

Perform as Survey Coordinator, Field Party Chief, or Survey Watch Stander for reef fish surveys on NOAA Ships and Small Research Vessels, participating in other PEMD resource surveys as requested. Critical analytical skills are required for estimating abundance trends and representing the survey during stock assessment processes. This role emphasizes survey coordination over at-sea technical duty but may still require filling personnel gaps for technical jobs at sea and during video review, and requires analytical skills to create abundance indices and support SEDAR data workshops and additional analysis.

Key Responsibilities

Task #1 - Survey Duties

• Assisting the GCRF Branch Chief in coordinating all aspects of preparation, execution, and completion of the G-FISHER and PRDW surveys.
• Writing/reviewing survey instructions and reports; following through on approval paperwork.
• Setting survey schedules and coordinating logistical support with the Branch Chief.
• Managing the GitHub project management tool for consistent communication.
• Serving as liaison between ship and lab/participants/TAS program.
• Coordinating daily vessel activities, personnel, vessel position/movements, ports of call, and weather/sea conditions (FPC sea duty).
• Conducting data collection and sampling per prescribed SOP while at sea (FPC sea duty).
• Completing incident reporting procedures per NOAA Small Boat Program requirements (FPC sea duty).
• Unloading, cleaning, and storing equipment; logging and storing data (FPC sea duty).
• Working with OMI personnel to manage Oracle databases and data-entry applications.
• Ensuring staff follow provided SOPs; coordinating data backups with the Field Party Chief.

Task #2 - Laboratory Duties

• Video annotation reviewer; subject-matter expert identifying marine fishes in all life stages from Gulf of America and Caribbean Sea habitats.
• Assisting in implementing VIAME into the QA/QC review process.
• Updating and managing the GitHub project for status updates.

Task #3 - Data Management Support

• Serving as data steward and liaison with OMI.
• Helping integrate SEAMAP Reef Fish Video and Panama City Video datasets into a single Oracle database for GFISHER.
• Managing data backups and security with OMI personnel.
• Working with FATES personnel to integrate new automated data outputs and meet AI/ML interoperability standards.
• Managing video data annotation entry projects and the GitHub project management tool.

Task #4 - Analytical Support

• Maintaining knowledge of relevant literature; supporting data analyses and summaries.
• Managing analysis projects via GitHub.
• Estimating relative abundance indices for focal GCRF species in support of SEDAR and SEAFiSh.
• Estimating species distribution models of reef fish abundance using GIS and advanced statistical methods.
• Providing annual support for SEFSC Ecological Status Reports.
• Developing data reports, publications, and presentations; preparing manuscripts per SEFSC publication procedures.
• Coordinating abstracts, presentations, and publications with the GCRF Branch Chief.
• Attending professional meetings and publishing in peer-reviewed literature.

Task #5 - Outreach & Education

• Participate in public outreach and education efforts, e.g., school programs, science fair judging, facility/ship tours, and outreach booths.

Task #6 - Scientific Meetings

• Prepare for and present, facilitate, or participate in position-related workshops, scientific meetings, symposiums, and public forums (e.g., American Fisheries Society, Larval Fish Conference, ASIH, ICCAT, AIFRB, ASLO), presenting scientific results as required.

Qualifications (Required)

• MS degree (or higher) in Marine Science or a related field, or a related field plus 5 years of relevant experience.
• Computer literate with common word processing, database, statistical, and graphics programs; capable of writing reports at advanced (publication) levels and making oral presentations.
• Knowledge of SEAMAP field sampling protocols for reef fish to lead or participate in GCRF surveys.
• Experience as lead data collector on at-sea surveys; skilled with shipboard software handling hydrological (SCS) and biological (SEAL) data streams.
• Proficient in fish, invertebrate, and protected species identification; knowledge of Gulf of America reef taxa.
• Knowledge of procedures for encountering endangered or threatened species.
• Sea-going contractors on OMAO NOAA ships must submit a NOAA Health Services Questionnaire (Form 57-10-01) and Tuberculosis Screening Form (NF 57-10-02) annually/biennially, and must have a current tetanus vaccine (within 10 years).