Protected Species Observer
This is a sea-based field biology position that requires you to work long hours (12 hours daily), odd hours, endure heat, cold, rough seas, sun, rain, insects, and more. You are responsible for knowing the biology and ecology of the local species (marine mammals, sea turtles, birds) and local environment in addition to provided regulatory requirements. You are working aboard client-owned vessels and are subject to any regulations for those vessels. This position requires you to live on vessels for weeks at a time working 7 days a week, holidays, day and night shifts. Occasionally we also do work observing from small aircrafts.
You can live anywhere in the United States and we will fly you to and from work, spending 3-6 weeks at sea looking for marine mammals and sea turtles!
The work we do is mainly compliance for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to mitigate sound sources, harmful operations, or vessel strikes that can potentially impact protected species. We conduct visual and acoustic surveys for protected marine species for clients primarily in the offshore wind industry off the U.S. East Coast in the Atlantic Ocean. We also work in the Pacific, Arctic, Alaska, and internationally. We aim to keep our level of data collection high and approach this from a scientific perspective while working closely with the client to maintain their objective.
We monitor mitigation requirements to ensure no protected species are within a specified exclusion zone around an offshore platform or vessel. You will be expected to:
- Accurately identify marine species and their behaviors
- Collect and catalog very detailed quality data
- Provide biological expertise to crews
- Know the regulations and guidelines for each specific project
- If PAM qualified, you must be proficient operating the hardware, software, and in detecting marine mammals
Other skills and qualities required include:
· Good leadership/cooperation skills
· Regular travel via car, plane, boat, etc.
§ If you are prone to sea sickness, this is not the job for you! You need to be ready and capable handling hurried and hectic travel circumstances. You might be asked to rent cars and/or make hotel reservations. Logistics are typically set up for you, but things in this industry can change erratically and you need to be able to “roll with it” and plan quickly. All approved travel expenses are fully reimbursed.
· You need to be physically fit, able to carry gear, move around boats, and stand for a minimum continuous 4-hour shift.
Qualifications:
The following credentials must be submitted to be eligible for deployment:
- BOSIET: the industry standard, satisfying the requirement for ALL projects. BOSIET is offered only in Houston and Louisiana.
- OGUK Medical
- Negative drug screen within the last year
- BOEM/BSEE/NMFS-approved PSO training course (e.g., we offer PSO COURSES )
- US Passport
Additional Desirable Qualifications (leads to quicker approval by)
- Degree in a biological science discipline
- List of completed relevant science classes
- Experience with databases (e.g., Excel, Access, data collection programs) data QAQC, and/or report writing
- List of marine mammal and sea turtle species seen
- Experience on the water/vessels (aerial experience observing over water helps too)—listing hours or days of this experience helps (e.g., on a sailboat, fishing boat, research boat, etc.)
- Experience working with teams in remote or tight conditions (similar to a boat), including sharing housing on shore, bunk rooms on a boat, or remote camping/hiking
- References of character/experience (names and numbers/emails)
- Safety or first aid training certifications, SCUBA, etc.
Additional Background Information:
BOEM Renewable Energy Framework (our current involvement is in support of wind energy projects): https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy
Example BOEM Lease with Monitoring and Mitigation Requirements for Operators (Addendum C, Section 4, Page C-7): https://www.boem.gov/NJ-SIGNED-LEASE-OCS-A-0498/