Research Analyst

Azura is seeking a Diadromous Fisheries Analyst to support the NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) Protected Species Division (PSD). The Gulf of Maine Distinct Population Segment (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 considers the present and future threat of climate change remains challenging. To overcome this, the Northeast Atlantic Salmon Team is following a 5-step approach to advance climate mitigation ideas into tangible climate actions to recover the species. This 5-step approach consists of: 1) developing National Climate Science Strategy/Regional Action Plans, 2) performing Climate Vulnerability Assessments, 3) conducting Scenario Planning, 4) conducting identified science and modeling efforts, and 5) developing climate-ready conservation and management actions. NEFSC has completed steps 1 through 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, which have the highest probability of achieving the recovery criteria outlined within the final recovery plan of the GOM DPS. 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 GOM DPS. The successful candidate for this position will work closely with other collaborators on this project, while possibly contributing to these additional products. Having high attention to detail and the ability to manage short project timelines are critical skills for this position. Potential candidates must also possess the ability to manage a project to its completion, resulting in a peer-reviewed manuscript and identify and mine scientific publications for relevant information. Applicants must be able to operate independently, manage their own work schedule, and dedicate blocks of time for uninterrupted focus, while effectively working and communicating with collaborators to meet project objectives. Place of Performance and Work Schedule The preferred place of performance is the Woods Hole, Massachusetts area or the Greater Orono or Bangor, Maine area. A remote location within the U.S. may be considered as an alternate place of performance. 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. Work is full-time (40 hours per week, Monday through Friday) and expected to last approximately three years, with the possibility of extension. The estimated start date is October 1, 2026 (pending security investigation). Travel is anticipated to occur at least three times per year. This position is not open to visa sponsorship or relocation assistance. Compensation and Benefits Rate: $35.34/hour Competitive benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; 401k with employer match; life and disability insurance; and paid time off for vacation, sick leave, and company-observed holidays. Duties 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 and communicate with relevant experts; 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 ( and 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 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 options that may increase smolt output, in light of the challenging conditions faced by salmon in the marine environment; and lead the development of a peer-reviewed publication summarizing the outcomes of Objective 2. Facilitate monthly meetings with the Oversight Committee (group members will provide expertise and guidance on identifying stressors to Atlantic salmon and available management interventions). Required Qualifications Master’s or Doctorate degree in biological sciences, natural resource management, fisheries, quantitative ecology, or a related field Familiarity with Atlantic salmon Process-oriented and attentive to detail Excellent reading comprehension and writing skills Ability to multitask and work with short deadlines Strong skills with MS Office, Google Suite applications, and statistical packages (i.e., R) Eligibility to work in the U.S. Candidate must be able to obtain a Public Trust Clearance which requires passing a thorough background check. 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. Review Process 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. Please be advised that applicants will not receive an email confirmation upon submission. Azura kindly requests that candidates refrain from contacting the company to inquire about the status of their application. All applications will be reviewed and considered. Azura reserves the right to close job postings at any time once a sufficient number of qualified applicants has been identified. #J-18808-Ljbffr