Aquaculture

Role Description

We are seeking an Aquaculture / Fisheries ESA-MSA Consultation Specialist to support NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, West Coast Region, Oregon Washington Coastal Office. This role focuses on ESA, MSA, FWCA, MMPA, and NEPA consultation support for Washington aquaculture activities, including shellfish, finfish, and seaweed aquaculture, while also supporting related biological and habitat consultation work as needed.

Key Responsibilities

• Review, gather, analyze, interpret, and synthesize scientific and technical information to evaluate environmental impacts on biological resources and aquatic habitats.
• Evaluate proposed project effects from aquaculture and other human activities on fishery resources, protected species, and habitat.
• Draft combined ESA Biological Opinions and MSA responses related to Biological Assessments for listed species, designated critical habitat, and essential fish habitat.
• Draft ESA Letters of Concurrence, MSA responses, NEPA documents, and ESA Section 10 documentation, as needed.
• Review biological assessments, permit applications, and consultation initiation packages for technical sufficiency, accuracy, and completeness.
• Provide pre-consultation technical assistance to action agencies, applicants, and their representatives through written comments, oral communications, and group meetings.
• Review applications for enrollment in existing programmatic consultations and draft enrollment letters or emails.
• Coordinate with NMFS fish passage engineers on review of proposed designs.
• Prepare consultation records and follow West Coast Region and OWCO quality assurance, electronic filing, and consultation tracking protocols.
• Review habitat restoration proposals and provide technical comments.
• Attend shellfish grower meetings, Washington Sea Grant Conference for Shellfish Growers, Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association Annual Conference, and similar technical meetings when required.
• Develop schedules, track milestones, and prepare monthly progress reports.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and four years of relevant experience, or Master’s degree and two years of relevant experience, in aquatic biology or a related field.
• Knowledge of salmonid life cycles and habitat requirements.
• Experience with, or knowledge of, shellfish, finfish, and seaweed aquaculture.
• Highly proficient English composition and editing skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience working with diverse interagency teams.
• Experience with program planning and management in a team environment.
• Ability to develop performance metrics, schedules, milestones, and completion tracking.

Requirements

• This is a remote position.

Benefits

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance