Instructions

• Click the link above or at the bottom of the page to apply.
• The application will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete.
• Some questions may not apply to the position, but please answer to make our candidate database more complete. Candidates who do not advance may have the experience for another open position.
• 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).
• Required Documents:
• 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)_Water Temp Modeler.
• 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_Water Temp Modeler.

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

Azura is looking for a Water Temperature Modeler to support the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Northeast Fisheries Science Center and the Office of Habitat Conservation, as it develops a spatially explicit water temperature model across the Atlantic salmon freshwater distribution in Maine.

The modeler will focus on tasks related to adapting, calibrating, and validating a statistical water temperature model developed by Siegel et al. (2023). The main goal is to adapt the model to Maine’s rivers and test the spatial resolution and accuracy of the model in comparison to field-measured data. A successfully validated model will be used with other spatial data to identify suitable Atlantic salmon thermal habitats today and in projected future climates.

The modeler will work closely with an oversight group consisting of NMFS NEFSC and OHC staff in collaboration with the Atlantic Salmon Federation, who will help guide the work to ensure it adequately addresses the needs of NMFS and partners and advances water temperature modeling in Maine.

The position is full-time (40 hours per week) and is expected to last one year starting in the fall of 2024, with the possibility of extension. The duty station for the position will be Gloucester, MA, or could be remote. If remote, the Modeler should be prepared to attend periodic in-person meetings in Gloucester. For remote work, the Modeler should demonstrate a track record of success in remote working.

Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive benefits include 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 modeler will take responsibility for these tasks:

• Developing a spatially referenced, statistical water temperature model to predict water temperature regimes at a stream reach scale.
• Identifying model covariates that are suitable, or need to be adapted, to capture Maine rivers’ thermal regimes.
• Using climate change scenarios to predict future water temperatures.
• Fostering integrated development of the water temperature model with ongoing and future modeling of physical habitat and hydrology models. Completion of the temperature model will support habitat suitability model efforts.
• Developing user interfaces and documentation for the analyses and model. The model should be easily updatable as new information becomes available.
• Working with the oversight group to complete a submission-ready, peer-reviewed publication draft, including identifying an appropriate venue for publication.

Deliverables

The modeler will take responsibility for the timely production of these deliverables:

• The model-adapted script and final list of selected covariates. A geospatial layer of water temperature, along with user interface and instructions.
• A submission-ready, peer-reviewed publication draft describing the model development.
• Curated data submitted to a public repository (usually NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information) for any non-public data used.
• An optional, funding-dependent deliverable, consisting of a geospatial layer of the thermal habitats from least to most suitable based on hydrological, water temperature, and climate projection models along with user interface, maintenance, and end-user and data steward instructions.

Qualifications

• Minimum qualification: advanced degree in natural sciences (with preference for PhD)
• Documented work experience in modeling and in using GIS products to manage, analyze, and display environmental geospatial data (e.g., biotic and abiotic features on the landscape and raster data useful to characterize landscape features).
• Experience with database management with Oracle, Microsoft Access, or SQL Server.
• Proficiency in R and/or MATLAB, with experience in ArcGIS.
• Demonstrated skills in statistical analyses of geospatial data and quantitative modeling.
• Demonstrated writing skills and a history of successfully delivering timely and clearly written communications.
• Ability to work independently and effectively in a team setting.
• Knowledge of water temperature models.
• Experience presenting at local, domestic, and/or international scientific conferences and/or public meetings. Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally to attend meetings as needed.
• Eligibility to work in the United States
• Candidate must be able to obtain a Public Trust Clearance which requires passing a thorough background check.