Job description
Join our team as a Fisheries Sustainability Specialist based in Portland, Maine. This role blends fieldwork, data science, and policy to support sustainable fisheries and responsible seafood sourcing. You will collaborate with researchers, managers, and industry stakeholders to deliver actionable insights that protect marine ecosystems and support local communities.
As a cornerstone of our fisheries program, you will:
- Apply rigorous data analyses and stock assessment methods to inform management decisions.
- Design and execute field sampling campaigns for coastal and offshore fisheries.
- Integrate fishery-dependent and independent data to evaluate stock status and trends.
- Develop GIS-based maps and spatial analyses to identify habitat hotspots and fishing pressure.
- Translate complex scientific findings into clear reports, briefs, and presentations for diverse audiences.
- Collaborate with government agencies, industry partners, and communities to advance responsible practices.
- Support grant writing, project management, and dissemination of results to stakeholders.
Responsibility
- Lead data-driven stock assessments and trend analyses to guide sustainable harvesting decisions.
- Design and supervise field sampling and data collection protocols for both coastal and offshore fisheries.
- Curate and harmonize fishery-dependent and independent datasets for integrated analyses.
- Develop GIS maps and perform spatial analyses to assess habitat use and pressure points.
- Prepare technical reports, policy briefs, and stakeholder presentations.
- Collaborate with regulators, industry, and community representatives to implement science-based recommendations.
- Manage project timelines, budgets, and grant reporting to ensure timely delivery.
Qualification
- Master’s degree or PhD in Fisheries Science, Marine Biology, Ecology, or related field.
- 3+ years of experience in fisheries data analysis, stock assessment, or related research.
- Proficiency in R and Python; experience with GIS (ArcGIS or QGIS) and relational databases.
- Strong field sampling and data collection skills; experience with surveys or catch data collection is a plus.
- Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to translate complex science for diverse audiences.
- Knowledge of US fisheries management policies (e.g., Magnuson-Stevens Act) and conservation frameworks.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a cross-functional team; willingness to travel.