Field Party Chief / Survey Component Lead - Level II (Mesophotic Deep Benthic Communities)

Job Description

Job Description

*US Citizenship Required

*Position is Subject to Contract Award

Location: Panama City, FL (with at-sea travel on NOAA Ships and research vessels)

Client Organization: NOAA Fisheries – SEFSC, Population & Ecosystems Monitoring Division

Overview

Serve as Field Party Chief and Survey Component Lead for MDBC surveys (50–1,800 m), providing subject matter expertise and leadership on a specific component of the MDBC survey program (e.g., ROV operations, acoustic mapping, data management) in support of DWH restoration.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist MDBC Project Management Leads in coordinating survey preparation, execution, and completion including scheduling, supply/equipment coordination, and AUV/ROV selection.
• Write cruise instructions and cruise reports; manage participant clearance paperwork.
• Execute at-sea mapping and ground-truthing missions as Field Party Chief or Watch Leader per MDBC SOPs.
• Coordinate daily vessel activities, movements, ports of call, and weather conditions.
• Conduct biological and environmental data collection, logging, and sample processing per MDBC SOPs.
• Report weekly progress to MDBC Project Leads; complete incident reports per NOAA Small Boat Program requirements.
• Serve as subject matter expert for marine fish identification from mesophotic and deep reef habitats.
• Annotate ROV-based video; conduct QA/QC review and data entry into GCRF Oracle databases.
• Lead component-level data management on MDBC databases; manage backups, security, and data standards.
• Utilize existing bathymetric inventory; coordinate with NCEI and NCCOS Biogeography Branch.
• Support AI/ML data output integration; collate biological data inventory and mine acoustic bathymetric data.
• Assist with manuscript preparation; attend professional scientific meetings.
• Participate in public outreach and education activities.

Required Qualifications

• MS Degree in Marine Science or related field, OR BS Degree plus 3 years of relevant experience.
• Computer proficiency including ArcGIS (Spatial Analyst and 3D Analyst); college-level writing and oral presentation skills.
• Knowledge of MDBC field sampling protocols.
• Functional knowledge of ROV, AUV, and UUV operations; ability to develop logistical plans for at-sea operations.
• Experience as lead data collector on at-sea surveys; proficiency with shipboard hydrological and biological data software.
• Proficiency in fish, invertebrate, and protected species identification; knowledge of reef taxa from the Gulf of America.
• Expert knowledge of major structure-forming invertebrates in mesophotic and deep benthic communities.
• Knowledge of procedures when encountering endangered or threatened species.
• Must meet NOAA OMAO sea-duty medical fitness requirements; current tetanus vaccine required.