Azura is seeking a Diadromous Fisheries Analyst to support the NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) Protected Species Division (PSD). This position is part of a larger project, which will culminate with the completion of a number of Management Strategy Evaluations (MSEs) on the management interventions identified to assess their likelihood to mitigate the impacts of the stressors identified and to contribute to the recovery of the Gulf of Maine Distinct Population Segment (GOM DPS) of Atlantic salmon. The successful candidate for this position will work closely with other collaborators on this project, while possibly contributing to these additional products.

Background

The GOM DPS of Atlantic salmon is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act and remains a NOAA Species in the Spotlight. Although individual factors like dams and marine survival have been identified as priorities for salmon recovery, identifying the appropriate combination of existing and potentially new specific management actions that consider the present and future threat of climate change remains challenging. To overcome this, the Northeast Atlantic Salmon Team is following a five-step approach to advance climate mitigation ideas into tangible climate actions to recover the species. This approach consists of the following steps:

• Developing a National Climate Science Strategy / Regional Action Plans
• Performing Climate Vulnerability Assessments
• Conducting scenario planning
• Conducting identified science and modeling efforts
• Developing climate-ready conservation and management.

The NEFSC has completed steps 1-3. The successful applicant will help advance steps 4 and 5. When complete, this effort will identify the appropriate combination of existing and new management actions that consider current and projected future climate impacts and determine which have the highest probability of achieving the recovery criteria outlined within the final recovery plan of the GOM DPS.

Place of Performance and Work Schedule

Work is anticipated to be performed in Woods Hole, MA or remote from a location within the United States. Work is full-time (40 hours per week, Monday through Friday) and expected to last approximately three years (March 2025 – March 2028). 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. Travel may be required (3+ trips / year). This position is not open to visa sponsorship or relocation assistance.

Compensation and Benefits

• Rate: $33.97/hour
• Competitive benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; life and disability insurance; and paid time off for vacation, sick leave, and federal holidays. You will be eligible for a 401(k) retirement plan with employer match.

Duties

The employee will work collaboratively with an Oversight Committee consisting of representatives from NOAA’s NEFSC, the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, and others as appropriate to advance progress under the two linked objectives described below:

Under objective 1, the employee will:

• Review existing syntheses pertinent to the recovery of the GOM DPS of Atlantic salmon such as the Final Recovery Plan, the Atlantic Salmon Scenario Planning exercise, the Climate Vulnerability Analysis, and related peer-reviewed and gray literature.
• Develop a semi-quantitative classification model to rank the impact of anthropogenic factors (i.e., “stressors”), considering the present and future threat of climate change on the productivity of the GOM DPS of Atlantic salmon, similar to that produced for Norwegian Atlantic salmon stocks (https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsx020).
• Lead the development of a peer-reviewed publication summarizing the outcomes of objective 1.

Under objective 2, the employee will:

• Review peer-reviewed and gray literature and communicate with relevant experts to identify and inventory the potential management interventions (i.e., “management dials”) available to address each stressor identified under objective 1.
• Summarize available empirical evidence of the effectiveness of each identified management intervention with a view to highlighting those dials that may increase smolt output in light of the challenging conditions faced by salmon in the marine environment.
• Lead the development of a peer-reviewed publication summarizing the outcomes of objective 2.

The employee will also facilitate monthly meetings with the Oversight Committee whose members will provide expertise and guidance on identifying stressors to Atlantic salmon and available management interventions.

Required Qualifications

• Master 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
• 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.

Additional Qualifications

• Ability to work independently while effectively working and communicating with the Oversight Group
• Ability to manage a project to its completion, resulting in a peer-reviewed manuscript
• Ability to identify and work with appropriate collaborators to meet project objectives
• Ability to identify and mine scientific publications for relevant information

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.