Azura Consulting LLC Diadromous Fisheries Analyst – Prey Buffer Project Orono, ME · Remote · Full time Company website

Apply for Diadromous Fisheries Analyst – Prey Buffer Project

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.

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.

About Azura

Azura is a woman-owned small business headquartered in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. We offer '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. Please see our website above for more information.

Background

Remnant populations of U.S.-origin Atlantic salmon are located within the State of Maine and are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Maine has 11 additional native species of diadromous fish, and over the past 20 years, restoration efforts have been undertaken to restore these populations across the Gulf of Maine watersheds. Restoring these populations may provide utility to the broader ecosystem that they inhabit and may also benefit Atlantic salmon restoration efforts through a series of salmon-centric ecosystem services. One hypothesized benefit is that restored river herring populations (e.g., alewife and blueback herring) may positively affect Atlantic salmon lower river and estuarine smolt migration survival by providing a more abundant alternative prey source for predators to predate upon (i.e., prey buffering).

The Diadromous Fisheries Analyst will develop models to statistically evaluate the effect of increased river herring populations on the survival of immigrating Atlantic salmon juveniles within the lower Penobscot River. The models will combine reconstructed downstream migration tracks of individual Atlantic salmon based on telemetry data, potential alternative prey species composition, abundance and distribution datasets based on concurrent hydroacoustic surveys, and wide suite of environmental and biological datasets (e.g., temperature, salinity, discharge, turbidity).

Place of Performance and Work Schedule

Work is anticipated to be remote or conducted at the University of Maine in Orono, Maine. Work is full-time (40 hours per week, Monday through Friday) and expected to last at least 2 years. During workdays, candidates must be able to respond to all communications within 24 hours and conduct calls and meetings as necessary during normal business hours. Some travel to in-person meetings may be required.

Compensation and Benefits

• Hourly rate depends on skills, education, and work experience
• Competitive benefits includes medical, dental, and vision insurance and life and disability insurance. You will be eligible for a 401(k) retirement plan with employer match and will receive paid time off for vacation, sick leave, and federal holidays.

Duties

The employee will perform a variety of tasks to support the prey buffer project. Specific tasks are expected to include the following:

• Develop models to statistically evaluate the effect of increased river herring populations on the survival of immigrating Atlantic salmon juveniles
• Work collaboratively with a Scientific Oversight Committee consisting of representatives from NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center and the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, the U.S. Geological Survey, the University of Maine and others as appropriate
• Facilitate monthly meetings with the Scientific Oversight Committee and that group’s members will provide expertise and guidance on Atlantic salmon management, the Penobscot River and various datasets relevant to this effort
• Prepare for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal a manuscript evaluating the effect of the abundance and distribution of alternate prey (e.g., alewife and blueback herring) on Atlantic salmon lower river and estuarine smolt migration survival within the Penobscot River

Required Qualifications

• Master’s of Science or a Doctor of Philosophy degree in biological sciences, natural resource management, fisheries, quantitative ecology, or a related field
• Familiarity with Atlantic salmon and other diadromous fishes native to the Northeast U.S.
• Experience managing large datasets
• Familiarity with hydroacoustic, telemetry, and varied environmental datasets
• Spatial analysis and modeling experience
• Eligibility to work in the U.S.
• Process-oriented and attentive to detail
• Excellent reading comprehension and writing skills
• Ability to multitask and work with short deadlines
• Must have strong skills with MS Office and Google Suite applications
• 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) who can provide a knowledgeable assessment of your job-specific qualifications.
• 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 Fisheries Analyst.
• 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 Fisheries Analyst.