Join our Virginia Beach-based team involved in cutting-edge marine science!
HDR is currently in need of a Technical Project Manager / Research Biologist for our Virginia Beach, VA location. The ideal candidate will have project management experience, an extensive knowledge of marine science emphasizing the effects of underwater sound to marine mammals and/or experience monitoring marine mammal abundance, distribution, or behavioral responses to stimuli. This position will assist in a wide range of project management, boat and aircraft-based fieldwork, and team support roles with our current clients and expand our client-base in the Norfolk and Virginia Beach, VA area with an anticipated concentration of work assignments concentrated on the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Ocean areas but also including occasional projects in the Pacific Ocean region.
Primary Responsibilities
In the role of Technical Project Manager / Research Biologist, we'll count on you to:
• Provide Navy client project-management, fieldwork, and reporting.
• Assist as needed in Atlantic-based small boat tagging efforts, data processing, and annual reporting efforts.
• Manage multiple projects from conception, planning, budgeting, and completion.
• Generate new ideas and foster collaboration with others to successfully achieve various programmatic goals.
• Anticipated concentration of work assignments would be concentrated on the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Ocean areas.
• This position will assist in a wide range of project management and team support roles with our current clients and expand our client-base in the area with an anticipated concentration of work assignments concentrated on the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Ocean areas but also including the Pacific Ocean region.
• This position will most likely require effort monitoring from small twin-engine aircraft and/or from small and large vessels.
• Perform other duties as needed
Required Qualifications
• Masters or Ph.D. Degree in Marine Biology or a related field
• Must have a minimum of 3+ years of experience managing scientific research projects focused on marine mammal biology or behavior in a consulting or university-related research capacity; ideally this would include a background of direct interface with clients and regulatory processes involved.
• Have successfully managed marine science projects with specific interests focused on one or more of the following: marine mammal behavior, abundance, distribution, behavioral responses to stimuli, and/or understanding the effects of underwater sound on marine mammals.
• Be detail oriented to perform work accurately in a team-oriented environment and have the demonstrated ability to direct the work of others including subcontractors.
• Demonstrated history of reliability, strong work ethic, solid time management skills, and a demonstrated history of team-oriented performance.
• Self-starter with excellent writing and communication skills such as writing procedures, guides, and/or studies
• Strong conceptual, organizational, problem-solving and research skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must
• Ability to travel up to 25%. Applicants can anticipate limited travel throughout the U.S.
• Qualified candidates MUST have the ability to obtain a security clearance at the secret level.
Preferred Qualifications
• Knowledge of U.S. Navy training, oil and gas development, construction noise monitoring, or offshore renewable energy activities a plus.
• Small boat handling and photography skills a plus but not required to apply.
• Unmanned aerial systems (a.k.a. drone) experience with FAA certification a plus but not required to apply.
• MATLAB and/or R Studio programming experience a plus but not required to apply.
Please contact Dan Engelhaupt (Daniel.Engelhaupt@hdrinc.com) for details on how to submit an application.