Azura Consulting LLC Diadromous Fisheries Analyst – Passage and Assessment Orono, ME · Full time Company website

Apply for Diadromous Fisheries Analyst – Passage and Assessment

Azura Consulting LLC (Azura) is a woman-owned small business offering 'big city' resources with 'small town' customer service. Our primary consulting services are focused on natural resources, professional writing and editing, and educational outreach and communication. We are a diverse team of expert scientists, professional writers and editors, and informal educators who are passionate about our work and dedicated to our clients' needs and employee satisfaction. Through great attention to detail, and a bit of wit, we provide innovative solutions and high-quality products that empower our clients to meet their consulting needs. Azura is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable federal or state law. We strongly encourage all qualified persons to apply.

Azura is seeking a Diadromous Fisheries Analyst to support the NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) Protected Species Division (PSD).

The Atlantic salmon population in the Gulf of Maine (GOM) is protected as endangered under the Endangered Species Act and is a top conservation priority for NOAA, requiring specialized assistance to implement critical plans and actions. This contract position will assist with implementation of four primary objectives: 1) developing, implementing, and evaluating a new Atlantic salmon marking and monitoring program on the Penobscot River; 2) assisting with activities related to a parentage analysis study using archived tissue samples to understand genetic contributions of wild versus hatchery origin individuals to annual adult returns; 3) analyzing archived smolt telemetry data to describe migration dynamics and support management thought the development of publication(s); and 4) provide general support for field activities, boat operations, maintenance, and meeting facilitation. The employee will work with the NEFSC and others, as appropriate, to advance progress under these objectives.

Having high attention to detail and the ability to manage short project timelines are critical skills for this position. Potential candidates must also possess the ability to manage a project to its completion, resulting in a peer-reviewed manuscript, and identify and mine scientific publications for relevant information. Applicants must be able to operate independently, manage their own work schedule, and dedicate blocks of time for uninterrupted focus, while effectively working and communicating with collaborators to meet project objectives.

 

Place of Performance and Work Schedule

The place of performance is the Greater Orono or Bangor, Maine area. Work is full-time (40 hours per week, Monday through Friday) and expected to last approximately three years, with the possibility of extension. The estimated start date is October 1, 2026 (pending security investigation). Travel is anticipated to occur at least three times per year. This position is not open to visa sponsorship, relocation assistance, or remote work.

 

Compensation and Benefits

• Rate: $35.34/hour
• Competitive benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; 401k with employer match; life and disability insurance; and paid time off for vacation, sick leave, and company-observed holidays.

 

Duties

The employee will perform a variety of tasks to support this project.

• Under Objective 1, the employee will:
• work with identified collaborators to evaluate the current monitoring of stocking and adult returns on the Penobscot River while identifying key benefits limitations and current and future monitoring needs;
• based on the previous assessment, propose and analyze alternative monitoring methods, including detailed resource requirements and a pros/cons analysis for each;
• work with identified collaborators to facilitate discussions regarding feasibility, strategic alignment, and resource needs for proposed alternative methods;
• synthesize collaborator feedback and prepare detailed work plans, budgets, and operational considerations for the implementation of the preferred adoption(s); and
• work with identified collaborators to implement the preferred monitoring method.
• Under Objective 2, the employee will:
• inventory, organize, and catalog agency and partner tissue samples archives;
• generate a working summary database/spreadsheet to continue future inventory of samples collected; and
• provide support for transport of these samples for shipment to collaborators for analysis.
• Under Objective 3, the employee will:
• investigate archived agency telemetry datasets to understand data structure, metadata, and study objectives;
• identify datasets that have the potential to inform current management challenges and questions; 
• use statistical packages to analyze selected datasets (e.g., estimate survival, migration dynamics); and
• lead the development of peer-reviewed publication(s).
• Under Objective 4, the employee will:
• assist with day-to-day field activities; 
• participate in training required to be a NOAA small boat operator;
• assist with NOAA small boat maintenance;
• work with identified collaborators to initiate and further Atlantic salmon projects as directed; and
• participate in and/or lead meetings.

 

Required Qualifications

• Master’s or Doctorate degree in biological sciences, natural resource management, fisheries, quantitative ecology, or a related field
• Familiarity with Atlantic salmon
• Process-oriented and attentive to detail
• Excellent reading comprehension and writing skills
• Ability to multitask and work with short deadlines
• Strong skills with MS Office, Google Suite applications, and statistical packages (i.e., R)
• Eligibility to work in the U.S.
• Candidate must be able to obtain a Public Trust Clearance which requires passing a thorough background check.

 

Instructions

• Click the link above or at the bottom of the page to apply.
• The application will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete.
• If you want to provide more information for any of your responses, please use the Applicant Comment section to elaborate.
• You will need to provide 2 to 4 references with contact information (name, email, and phone number).
• Application Review: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Priority consideration will be given to applications received by August 25, 2026. Applications received after this date may still be considered.
• Required Documents:
• Cover Letter - 1 page that specifies the position to which you are applying; your earliest available start date; and your level of knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience as they pertain to the key responsibilities and desired strengths of this position. Label this file as Lastname-Firstname_Cover Letter_Diadromous Fish Analyst_Pass & Assess.
• Resume/CV - 3 pages or less targeted specifically towards the duties and qualifications of this position. Label this file as Lastname-Firstname_Resume (OR CV)_Diadromous Fish Analyst_Pass & Assess.

Thank you for applying. Azura Consulting LLC (Azura) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable federal or state law. We strongly encourage all qualified persons to apply for this position.

Review Process

This recruitment process can take several weeks. Once we narrow the applicants, we conduct virtual interviews with chosen applicants and make a final selection. The chosen candidate then undergoes a federal background investigation which often takes 6 to 16 weeks; the candidate either passes or fails based on NOAA's regulations. Contingent upon satisfactory completion of this investigation and United States work authorization verification, Azura will formally offer the position to the preferred applicant. If the applicant fails this investigation, the next applicant who meets the position's criteria will be contacted. Azura will notify all other applicants if they are not chosen for the position.

Please be advised that applicants will not receive an email confirmation upon submission. Azura kindly requests that candidates refrain from contacting the company to inquire about the status of their application. All applications will be reviewed and considered. Azura reserves the right to close job postings at any time once a sufficient number of qualified applicants has been identified.