Biological Technician

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

  Biological Technicians – NOAA Fisheries Sea-Going Surveys (Levels I–III)

Location: Woods Hole, MA (with assignments on NOAA and partner vessels throughout the Northeast U.S.)

Position Summary

Orchard is hiring Biological Technicians (Levels I–III) to support NOAA Fisheries’ Ecosystem Surveys Branch (ESB). Technicians collect and process biological samples and environmental data during fishery-independent resource surveys. Work includes at-sea survey participation (5–140+ days annually), data QA/QC, sample processing, and equipment support. This is a hands-on science role that directly supports stock assessments and ecosystem-based fisheries management.

Responsibilities

• Participate in sea-going surveys aboard NOAA and partner vessels (sorting, identifying, weighing, measuring fish/invertebrates, collecting biological samples for age, growth, maturity, genetics, diet).
• Stand scientific watches of up to 12 hours/day at sea.
• Operate electronic data acquisition systems for fisheries and oceanographic sampling.
• Assist with deployment, calibration, and maintenance of survey gear, acoustics, and optical/video equipment.
• Conduct QA/QC of survey data using NOAA protocols; prepare documentation of sampling procedures and metadata.
• Annotate benthic imagery and optical survey data as directed.
• Maintain, repair, and inventory sampling hardware (measuring boards, motion-compensated scales, barcode systems, touch screens).
• Support cruise staging/de-staging, equipment prep, and vessel logistics.
• Contribute to laboratory analysis of biological samples and assist with database management.
• Train new staff (Levels II & III) and provide leadership of field parties/watches at sea (Level III).
• Summarize survey data, assist with reports, and contribute to outreach materials (manuals, protocols, blogs, newsletters).

Qualifications

General Requirements (all levels):

• Experience working aboard research or commercial vessels.
• Ability to work 12-hour shifts at sea for trips lasting up to 3 weeks.
• Strong teamwork and communication skills in challenging field environments.
• Must meet NOAA OMAO sea duty health criteria and provide proof of recent TB test.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; familiarity with data entry and QA/QC practices.
• Valid driver’s license.

Level I (Entry/Seasonal Technician):

• Basic familiarity with marine species ID in the Northwest Atlantic (fish/invertebrates).
• Coursework or experience in biological sciences preferred.
• Able to assist with sampling, data recording, and shipboard organization under supervision.

Level II (Experienced Technician):

• Minimum 2 years’ experience identifying fish and invertebrates in the Northwest Atlantic.
• At least 1 year of experience with survey bottom trawls or shellfish dredges.
• Experience with fishery sampling hardware (electronic boards, scales, barcode systems).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to work independently.

Level III (Senior Technician):

• Minimum 200 days at sea (Bottom Trawl Survey) or 100 days (Shellfish/Advanced Tech Surveys).
• At least 2 years’ experience with electronic data acquisition systems.
• Experience leading watches/field teams of up to 7 at sea.
• Familiarity with acoustic net mensuration systems (Scanmar, Simrad, Marport).
• Experience querying/analyzing fishery-independent data from relational databases (e.g., Oracle).
• Ability to train staff, conduct QA/QC, and contribute to protocol development.

Requirements: