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Protected Species Observers Needed

Location: Various locations within the U.S.

Job Type: Independent Contract Opportunities

About Us: REMSA, Inc. is a leading environmental consulting firm dedicated to providing comprehensive solutions for the protection and conservation of natural resources. We specialize in conducting environmental assessments, monitoring, and compliance services for a wide range of industries. Our team of experts is committed to ensuring the sustainable management of ecosystems and the preservation of protected species.

Job Summary: We are seeking highly motivated and experienced Protected Species Observers (PSO)s to join our team of Independent Contractors. Selected Contractors will be responsible for conducting field surveys and monitoring activities to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and the protection of endangered and threatened species. A PSO willing to perform subcontract work alongside our clients requires a strong understanding of local and federal regulations, excellent observational skills, and the ability to work independently in challenging field conditions.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

– Conduct field surveys and monitoring activities to identify and document the presence of protected species in designated project areas.

– Implement appropriate mitigation measures to minimize potential impacts on protected species.

– Collect accurate data on species abundance, behavior, and habitat use through visual observations, acoustic monitoring, and other appropriate techniques, as required.

– Prepare detailed reports and maintain accurate records of survey findings, including species identification, location, and any observed impacts.

– Collaborate with project managers, clients, and regulatory agencies to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and permit requirements.

– Stay updated on relevant local, state, and federal regulations pertaining to protected species and incorporate them into survey protocols and mitigation plans.

– Provide training and guidance to project personnel on protected species identification, monitoring techniques, and best practices.

– Participate in meetings, workshops, and conferences related to protected species conservation and management.

Requirements:

Be a US Citizen or authorized to work in the U.S without sponsorship or restrictions.
Must have an Endangered/Protected Species Certification (approval) from National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).
Have a valid Transportation Worker's Identification Card (TWIC).
Valid Driver’s License & Clean Driving Record.
Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in biology, ecology, environmental science, marine biology, or a related field.

– Minimum of 1-2 years of experience to start as a Protected Species Observer or similar role.

– Strong knowledge of local and federal regulations related to protected species, including the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).

– Demonstrated experience conducting field surveys and monitoring activities for protected species.

– Proficiency in species identification, including birds, marine mammals, sea turtles, and other relevant taxa.

– Excellent observational skills and attention to detail.

– Ability to work independently and in a team environment, often in remote and challenging field conditions.

– Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare detailed reports and effectively communicate findings to diverse stakeholders.

– Proficiency in using GPS, GIS, and other relevant software for data collection and analysis.

– Willingness to travel to project sites as required.

Compensation: -REMSA offers Competitive negotiable.
Pay Rates based on qualifications and experience (Negotiable).

How to Apply: Interested candidates are invited to submit their resume, cover letter, and any relevant certifications (copies of NMFS Certifications/approval) email to info@remsainc.com. Attachments as PDF files or MS Word files. Please include "Protected Species Observer Application" in the subject line.

Only candidates meeting the required qualifications will be considered.

Pathology & Diagnostics Apprentice

We’re Hiring!
Pathology & Diagnostic Apprentice

Location of Position: Marin Headlands, Sausalito, California
Reports to: Necropsy Manager
Position Classification / Expected Time commitment and work schedule:
• Full-time, non-exempt position, 5 days a week, 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week.
• Apprenticeship will last for one (1) full year.
• Regular onsite work is required.
• Evening, weekend, and holiday work is required.
• Occasional travel to satellite facilities and/or fieldwork is required.
Compensation Range: $20 – $22 per hour
Full Benefits:
• Holidays
• Sick Time
• Vacation
• Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability Insurance
• 401k Retirement Plan
• Employee Assistance Program

Team Overview:
The Pathology & Diagnostic team at The Marine Mammal Center performs necropsies and samples up to 500 cases a year on various pinniped species, large and small cetaceans, southern sea otters, and a few sea turtles.

Job Summary:
The Pathology & Diagnostic Apprentice will observe, assist, and contribute to necropsy, histopathology, clinical laboratory techniques, biobanking, and research at a marine mammal rehabilitation hospital. The apprentice will work closely with the Pathology and Diagnostic team under the supervision of the Necropsy Manager to facilitate the core daily activities of the diagnostic service.

Essential Functions:
Necropsy: 60%
• Assist in sampling during necropsy.
• Enter specimens and data into the database.
• Keep the necropsy lab clean and stocked.
• Assist in maintenance of necropsy lab, equipment, and supplies.
• Assist/perform necropsies on carcasses as needed or directed.
• Assist/participate in large whale necropsy response.
• Assist in fulfilling sample requests and collaborative research projects.
• As needed or directed, assist, or perform the trimming of formalin fixed tissues for histology.

Research: 12.5%
• Assist in sample collection and storage for research purposes.
• Assist in data collection through use of clinical laboratory equipment (serum chemistry analyzer), urinalysis, histology trimming, etc.
• Inputting data into database.
• Data and statistical analysis.

Biobank: 12.5%
• Archive specimens collected at necropsy and updating the database.
• Participate in freezer inventory and updating the database.
• Assist with archive of histology samples, including the formalin fixed tissues, glass slides and paraffin blocks.

Clinical Laboratory: 10%
• Shadow clinical laboratory personnel.
• Observe clinical laboratory techniques such as microbiology, hematology, parasitology, urinalysis, and cytology.

Administration & Other Duties as Assigned: 5%
• Attend meeting with Necropsy Manager on Performance Evaluation and Planning.
• Attend research meetings, and other appropriate meetings/seminars as assigned.
• Perform special projects and research as assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibility:
None

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Ability to work collaboratively and maintain open communication in a team environment.
• Knowledge of basic principles of mammalian anatomy and physiology.
• Skills operating Microsoft Office Suite, including spreadsheet, word processing, presentation, and email programs.
• Attention to detail with ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks at once.
• Ability to operate equipment safely and competently to carry out their duties.
• Understand and follow written and oral instructions and priorities as set by management.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, which includes internal co-workers (volunteers, interns, staff, and others) as well as external partners.
• Communicate and interact effectively with people across cultures, ethnic groups, and identities.
• Practice self-awareness and respect while engaging with people of diverse backgrounds.
• Willingness to support and participate in The Marine Mammal Center’s diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

Certifications and/or Licenses:
• Valid driver license with acceptable motor vehicle record to maintain standards of insurability.
• Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination or waiver (medical or religious)
• Respirator Fit Test required which will be provided upon hire.

Preferred Education and Experience:
This position requires a combination of education and/or experience equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in biology, marine science, or related field.

Preference for experience with research, specifically laboratory techniques that require pipetting and working with laboratory equipment. Research experience can be from undergraduate course work. Previous experience, exposure to necropsy, bio sampling, and/or data entry is a plus.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements:
• This position operates in a professional office, laboratory, and hospital environment both indoors and outdoors with access to other parts of the facilities via outdoor pathways.
• Exposure to slippery surfaces and working in outdoor weather conditions and elements.
• Routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, scanners, and filing cabinets.
• Ability to work at a desk for extended periods using a computer.
• Ability to perform physical work requiring manual dexterity, agility, strength, and coordination including ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to walk/hike/cover up to five miles during a shift on a frequent basis.
• Ability to spend extended periods on your feet, walking, standing, crouching, and climbing stairs (potentially in inclement weather conditions).
• Ability to drive/operate a vehicle or plan for transportation between sites.
• Exposure to allergens and zoonotic diseases through bio samples.
• Exposure and working with laboratory chemicals, including formalin.
• Expose to sharp instruments and needles.
• Involves strong smells associated with animals and the care of animals.

Position Type, Expected Hours of Work, and Travel:
• This is a full-time, on-site position.
• Work hours are generally Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm, with some seasonal variability.
• Evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand. Specifically, weekend work due to cetacean response is to be expected.
• Some travel within California is expected for this position.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY
The Marine Mammal Center actively engages individuals from all backgrounds. We are committed to embracing diversity within our organization because we firmly believe that diverse employee teams help us to achieve our best organizational outcomes and provide the most effective support to the communities we serve. We are deeply dedicated to creating and maintaining an inclusive, equitable and supportive work environment. We strongly encourage people from underrepresented groups to apply. The Marine Mammal Center believes in growth and supporting our employees as best we can so they can become their best selves in and outside of work. We believe that a healthy work environment means building an inclusive culture where people can thrive together and feel supported and empowered. We believe in stretch versus constraint.

OUR MISSION
The Marine Mammal Center advances global conservation through marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation, scientific research, and education.

ABOUT THE MARINE MAMMAL CENTER
The Marine Mammal Center is leading the field in ocean conservation through marine mammal rescue, veterinary medicine, science, and education.

For more information, please visit our “About Us” page at www.marinemammalcenter.org

To Apply: Please submit a cover letter and resume and provide a brief description about how your experience aligns with the role.
Note that applications without a cover letter will not be considered.
In your cover letter, please feel free to note which pronouns you use (For example – she/her/hers, he/him/his, they/them/theirs, etc).
We strongly encourage people of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and non-binary people, veterans, parents, and individuals with disabilities to apply. The Center is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes everyone to our team. If you need reasonable accommodation at any point in the application or interview process, please let us know.

2024 Soundwatch Program Vessel Operator/Educator

he Soundwatch Boater Education Program is seeking a vessel operator for the 2024 summer field season. Soundwatch is a research, education and monitoring program operated by The Whale Museum (TWM), a not-for-profit organization located in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island in Washington State. The Soundwatch program mission is to reduce vessel disturbance to marine wildlife, particularly the endangered Southern Resident killer whales, in the Salish Sea region of Washington State (USA) and British Columbia (Canada). Soundwatch is looking for vessel operators/educators to carry out program objectives; educate boaters on best practices for viewing marine wildlife before they leave the shore; reinforce the learning experience in the actual context where disturbances take place; develop and evaluate community-based voluntary guidelines; and provide a scientific platform to monitor vessel activities around marine mammals. To learn more, please visit our website and read Soundwatch’s most recent Contract Report and publications.

Vessel operators/educators will conduct seasonal vessel patrols, educate boaters on regional/federal Be Whale Wise guidelines and regulations, and collect data while monitoring vessel activity around whales. Data from this critical program characterizes vessel activity trends around endangered killer whales and other marine wildlife. The data is used to promote better boater compliance and to inform marine mammal management strategies such as state and federal vessel laws and guidelines.

Vessel operators/educators report to the Soundwatch Program Coordinator and work cooperatively with other museum staff, program interns and volunteers. This position is classed as Seasonal Field Work Contractor, June-September. Hourly wage for this position is commensurate with experience and starts at $25.00/hour.

VESSEL OPERATOR/EDUCATOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
Seasonal field operations:
· Conduct full- or half-day on-the-water educational patrols and monitoring of whale watch activities May-September.
· Maintain daily boat patrol protocols and data collection procedures on whale watching and marine wildlife viewing trends, guideline compliance measurements and educational materials distribution.
· Prevent wildlife disturbance by intercepting boaters before they reach wildlife areas.
· Monitor activities within San Juan County Marine Stewardship Area including recreational and fishing pressure in reserve areas, including National Wildlife Refuge Areas and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Biological Preserve Areas.
· Maintain equipment and collection materials.
· Work with Soundwatch volunteers and interns.
· Maintain communications with whale research and commercial whale-watch community.
· Report marine mammal strandings to the San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network.
Small Vessel operations:
· Operate 17’-20’ outboard vessels.
· Perform routine maintenance and minor boat/engine repair, maintain vessel/engine/operation and safety equipment, communicate with coordinator and/or mechanic for troubleshooting advice, provide vessel operation briefing to interns and volunteers.
Education/Outreach on marine stewardship:
· Distribution of educational materials on-the-water, regional boating facilities and organizations.
· Participate in local education and outreach events.
Soundwatch field data-entry:
· Assist with field season data entry. Assist with the update of annual commercial whale watch industry information and ID book.
· Assist with training of volunteers and interns. Keep track of volunteer activities for future reporting.
APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS:

Bachelor’s degree in marine/wildlife sciences.
Valid US passport or an enhanced driver's license (for the entirety of their position) and CPR/First Aid certification.
A Washington state boater license.
Minimum 3 years of small vessel operation with experience operating around marine wildlife.
Familiarity with recovery priorities related to endangered SRKWs.
Soundwatch operates under a NOAA NMFS research permit which requires vessel operator candidates to have relevant field experience. The successful candidate must be approved for operation by NMFS as a condition for hiring.

HOW TO APPLY FOR POSITION:

Please send a letter of interest, a resume, and contact information for three references. Please include any start/end dates and passport status.
Submit application materials via email as one PDF.
Please include in your subject line: Soundwatch Vessel Operator Application (Last Name).

Soundwatch Vessel Driver/Educator should plan to be in place by May 1, 2024 (Exact start date negotiable). Active review of submitted applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

PLEASE SEND APPLICATION MATERIALS TO:
Alanna Frayne
Soundwatch Boater Education Program Coordinator
alanna@whalemuseum.org

Please feel free to contact with any questions.

Assistant Scientist – Tenure Track

Tenure-track Faculty Position in Behavioral Ecology of Top Predators,
Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)

The Biology Department at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) invites applications for a full-time tenure-track position at the Assistant Scientist level on our Scientific Staff (www.whoi.edu/biology). We seek outstanding candidates to complement our existing interdisciplinary strengths in biology, biological oceanography, and marine ecology. We are particularly interested in applicants who conduct research in behavioral ecology of marine top predators; areas of focus may include (but are by no means limited to) social, ecological, evolutionary and anthropogenic determinants of behavior.

Applicants should have a doctoral degree and a record of scholarly publications commensurate with their career stage. Scientific Staff members are expected to develop independent, externally-funded, and internationally-recognized research programs. They also have the option of advising graduate students and teaching courses through the MIT/WHOI Joint Program in Oceanography and Oceanographic Engineering.

Opportunities for interdisciplinary research exist through collaborations with colleagues in the other science departments, centers, and labs as well as with researchers in the broader Woods Hole scientific community. WHOI’s Scientific Staff are expected to provide for their salaries from grants and contracts. The Institution provides salary support when no other funding is available, as well as significant internal funding opportunities for developing innovative research projects. Candidates hired at the junior level will receive an initial appointment for four years.

WHOI is the largest private, non-profit oceanographic institution in the world, with staff and students numbering approximately 1,000. Its mission is to advance our understanding of the ocean and its interaction with the Earth system, and to communicate this understanding for the benefit of society. The Institution is located in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, a world-renowned center of excellence in marine, biomedical, and environmental science. An additional 500 affiliates are associated with the scientific endeavors of the Institution, many of whom are foreign nationals from the international community.

WHOI is committed to supporting a diverse and inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. WHOI believes diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential components that support our academic excellence. We strive for a diverse and inclusive workforce, and encourage women, minorities, veterans and those with disabilities to apply.

WHOI offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical and dental plans, child care subsidy, an employer contribution retirement plan, vacation time, flexible scheduling, and family illness days. WHOI also provides dual career services for assisting your spouse or partner should they be impacted by your career decision. We have a dedicated team who will work with applicants to identify and explore available options within WHOI or the broader community.

HOW TO APPLY:
Please visit http://careers.whoi.edu and respond to Job Reference XXXXXX. Applicants should include, as a single PDF document: a cover letter, curriculum vitae, three-page research statement, names and contact information of four references, and copies of up to three relevant publications or preprints. In addition to the online application, please email the PDF document directly to the chair of the Biology Department at biologychair@whoi.edu with the subject “Biology Scientist Application”. Applications received by Dec 17 2019 will be given full consideration.
WHOI is a member of the Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC). Please visit HERC for more information.

Who is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants that require accommodation in the job application process are encouraged to contact the EEO Officer at eeo@whoi.edu or at 508-289-2705 for assistance.

Whale Watching Handbook Contractor

The International Whaling Commission is seeking a contractor to help develop the IWC’s Whale Watching Handbook. Communications skills are required, including experience translating scientific information for different target audiences, and generating and organising website content. Experience working on issues relating to marine biodiversity and marine tourism is also required. For more information and the Invitation to Tender see www.iwc.int.

Marine Project in the Caspian Sea

For a project in the Caspian Sea we are currently seeking a Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) with a Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) certificate / experience to support the team there. At the moment there is a project where a lot of noise/sound is produced. Limits that could potentially be dangerous to the marine mammals are already known but it is unknown how much noise is produced by the machines. Due to this it is required that the sounds are recorded several times a day. Additionally it is important that the marine mammals are observed.

Details of the project:

–           Duration: 10 – 12 weeks in August / September (or April)
–           Flight, accommodation and your stay will be paid for (additional to the salary)
–           A requirement (!) is that you live in The Netherlands, Belgium or Germany and you speak Dutch fluently (or English)

If you are interested and meet the requirements, you can contact me via phone (+31(0)345 – 516100 / +31(0)6 – 53136768) or by E-mail (l.wijnants@deltamilieu.nl) Details of the company who is hiring is: http://deltamilieu.nl/projecten