Group Definition: Data Management Specialists (Natural Sciences) use a background in the natural sciences as they assist in the population, maintenance, enhancement and distribution of databases.  They locate, obtain, standardize, enter, verify, and correct various data sets related to project goals and work plans.

Position/Project Specifics: The Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) is seeking a self-motivated and high performing Data Management Specialist 1 (Natural Sciences). The Specialist will be assisting primarily with data entry and data QA/QC of two PSMFC projects: the Pacific Coast-wide Salmon Fishing Regulations Database project and the Northern Pikeminnow Sport-Reward Program project. This position is anticipated to last 14 months, with the potential to be extended depending on funding.

The position requires working at the PSMFC office in Portland, Oregon. The individual will work within a PSMFC team as well as engage with agency partners involved with these projects through the support of collaborative meetings and through seeking clarification on data issues. The main duties of this position include

1. reading salmon fishing regulations from publications to extract content aligning with the database fields and entering this information in the database following the data specifications.
2. reviewing Northern Pikeminnow Sport-Reward Program vouchers and entering the data within the database following the data specifications
3. supporting project meetings by taking meeting notes, assisting with preparation of meeting material and presentations.
4. supporting other PSMFC collaborative data projects with similar meeting support and data related tasks.

The selected individual will plan and carry out assignments independently under the general guidance of senior team members and the Senior Program Manager.

The candidate must be comfortable working on multiple tasks, able to re-prioritize their work, be a proven team player, and understand the criteria for respectful collaboration. Applicants should be able to think and work independently, self-learn, and be self-motivated to complete tasks.

Background Project Information:

The Pacific Coast-wide Salmon Fishing Regulations Database project is a new data system that is being developed in collaboration with state and tribal agency partners that aims to facilitate accounting for mark-selective impacts in the Pacific Salmon Commission Chinook Technical Committee exploitation rate analysis by facilitating linking fishing regulations to existing catch information systems such as the Regional Mark Processing Center's Regional Mark Information System (RMIS) that houses coded-wire tag data [https://www.rmpc.org/ ]. The purpose of this project is to compile Pacific salmon fishing regulations in a structured database to enable fishery recovery data to be linked to specific regulations, and could be used to validate the ad-clipped selective field in RMIS. This project is entering the second phase of its development, which is focused on developing version 2.0 of the database, data model, and of the data entry form, and with developing the initiate on version 1.0 of the data query web-based interface. During 2025, data entry will continue by PSMFC to further inform development and populate the database with fishery regulations, prioritizing Chinook mark-selective fishery regulations from 2009 to present.

The Northern Pikeminnow Sport Reward Program [https://www.pikeminnow.org/] was started in an effort to reduce predation by Northern Pikeminnow on juvenile salmonids during their emigration from natal streams to the ocean. The reward program is implemented by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife on the Columbia and Snake Rivers from about May through September using a recreational fishery that rewards recreational anglers for harvesting Northern Pikeminnow of a specific size. Anglers earned tier rewards at the rate of $6 each for the first 25 qualifying Northern Pikeminnow vouchered, $8 each for 26-200 fish and $10 each for 201 fish and greater. In addition to the tier rates, anglers earned incentives for two categories of tagged fish. A Northern Pikeminnow with an external tag was worth $500, while the detection of a program verified internal tag without the presence of an external tag was worth $200. The PSMFC team is responsible for processing vouchers and applying the tiered incentives in calculating the reward payments to participants in the sport-reward fishery.

Essential Functions:  

At the lower end of the range, employees:

• Compile natural resources data from pre-existing data sources.
• Assist biologists with simple analysis and interpretation of data.
• Keep records on methods and parameters of data collection.
• Present information in common graphical formats.
• Write narrative descriptions of communities according to standardized format. Assure data is handled consistently across different communities.

At the upper end of the range, employees:

• Compile project data into standardized electronic data formats. This includes accessing filed information and verifying its accuracy and completeness, performing data entry, electronic data transfer, editing, and error checking.
• Extract relevant data and present it in a variety of text and numeric formats, reports, tables, graphics, or figures.
• Maintain local versions of datasets in accordance with established regional database exchange formats and standards.
• Maintain a local archive of current and historical reports and documents. Coordinate the regular transfer of reference materials to archives and libraries.
• Create queries, summaries, and/or maps for recurring reports.
• Assist biologists with simple analysis and interpretation of data.

Knowledge Required by the Position:

The employee must have knowledge of:

• natural sciences
• personal computers and software packages and applications for databases, spreadsheets, and word processing
• data management concepts, principles, and methods
• quality assurance principles

sufficient to input data; structure information retrievals; edit, combine and manipulate data; and/or provide reports for users.  This knowledge allows the employee to assess or interpret the significance of the results and relate that to the overall objective of the assignment. 

Additional Mandatory Knowledge and Skills:                             

• MS Excel                                            
• MS Word
• MS PowerPoint

Additional Desirable Knowledge and Skills:

• MS Publisher   
• MS SQL                                              
• MS Access  
• Oral communication skills
• Writing technical documentation
• Google Sheets
• Google Form
• ESRI
• Fisheries Management

Physical Demands:

The work is generally sedentary, although there may be some nominal walking or standing for short periods of time, or carrying of light loads of papers, books, reports, etc., that require only moderate physical ability and physical stress.  Significant amounts of time may be spent on the phone.

Work Environment:

The works area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated.  The work involves the common risks or discomforts typical of office, meeting rooms, libraries, and the like.   

PSMFC is an EEO/AAP employer. We maintain a drug free workplace.