Assistant Data Scientist

DataJobs; Sausalito (CA); On-site; USD 51,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Sick leave

Paid vacation

Paid holidays

Dental plan (optional)

403(b) retirement plan

401(k)

Paid time off

Job summary

The Institute for Wildlife Studies (IWS) is seeking an Assistant Data Scientist to support Ecological Inventory and Monitoring across National Park Service networks. This onsite role works with SFAN, PACN, and UCBN to advance data acquisition, processing, QA/QC, analysis, reporting, and dissemination.

You will build tools for metadata extraction, automate data-release tasks, and maintain network data systems, enabling open data and FAIR compliance where appropriate.

Qualifications

• BA or higher degree.
• Strong background in data management.
• Ability to apply QA/QC measures across the data lifecycle.
• Ability to support data sustainability via metadata and documentation.
• Proficiency with multiple data platforms (Power BI, ArcGIS, AGOL, Survey123, Field Maps) and programming languages (R, Python, VBA, SQL).
• Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills.
• Natural resource management and ecological sciences knowledge beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Support annual science information lifecycles, including field data acquisition and data processing.
• Collaborate on tools for metadata extraction and creation.
• Develop scripts for data-release reports (DRR).
• Perform database maintenance and migrations to enterprise systems/cloud.
• Conduct geospatial analysis to support field data collection and monitoring.
• Develop data-visualization applications and dashboards.
• Create digital data-collection apps (Survey123, Field Maps) for high-quality data capture.

Skills

Data management

QA/QC

Metadata creation

Open data / FAIR data

Power BI

ArcGIS

SQL

R

Python

Communication

Ecological sciences

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

R

Python

VBA

SQL

Access

SQL Server

Power BI

ArcGIS

AGOL

Survey123

Field Maps

Job description

The Institute for Wildlife Studies (IWS) is looking for an Assistant Data Scientist to support Ecological Inventory and Monitoring activities across National Park Service networks. This onsite role supports annual science information lifecycles within the Inventory and Monitoring Program (IMD), partnering closely with NPS network staff for data management and data science work.

Working with the San Francisco Bay Area Network (SFAN), Pacific Islands Network (PACN), and Upper Columbia Basin Network (UCBN), you will help advance data acquisition, processing, quality control, analysis, reporting, and dissemination. The position also involves building tools, automating recurring data-release tasks, and maintaining and improving network data systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Support annual science information lifecycles, including assistance with field data acquisition (digital data collection, GIS, GPS), post-collection processing into NPS data systems (data entry, ETL), post-processing QA/QC, analysis, reporting, and data dissemination.
• Collaborate with NPS staff to develop and implement tools for metadata extraction and creation.
• Develop and implement scripts that produce data-release reports (DRR) for data packages.
• Perform database maintenance, development, and migration (including to enterprise systems and cloud environments).
• Conduct geospatial analysis as needed to support field data collection and vital sign monitoring synthesis and analysis requests.
• Develop and implement data-visualization applications and dashboards.
• Develop digital data-collection applications (including ESRI/ArcGIS Survey123 and Field Maps) to support efficient, high-quality data capture.

Required Qualifications

• B.A. or higher degree.
• Strong background in data management and well-developed conceptual competency with programming languages.
• Thorough understanding of data management theory and standards, with ability to apply them across different platforms.
• Ability to incorporate QA/QC measures effectively across the data lifecycle.
• Ability to support data sustainability and longevity through effective metadata and documentation.
• Stays current on best practices.
• Creates data systems (for example, Access, SQL Server) aligned with FAIR data and open science principles to maximize network impact.
• Ensures data is accessible in open-source formats and shared with public online repositories where appropriate.
• Strong attention to detail focused on data quality.
• Proficiency with multiple data platforms (for example, Power BI, ArcGIS, AGOL, Survey123, Field Maps) and programming languages (R, Python, VBA, SQL).
• Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills.
• Natural resource management and ecological sciences experience and knowledge would be beneficial.

Tools & Technologies

• R, Python, VBA, SQL, Access, SQL Server
• Power BI, ArcGIS, AGOL, ESRI/ArcGIS Survey 123, Field Maps
• GIS, GPS, ETL, metadata extraction and creation
• Data-release reports (DRR)

Work Location, Schedule, and Pay

• Location: Sausalito, CA (onsite). Preferred duty location is Fort Cronkhite at Golden Gate National Recreation Area, co-located with SFAN staff, with another potential duty location at UCBN (Moscow, Idaho).
• Work schedule: Standard 5-day, 40-hour work week.
• Start date: Flexible, projected start date in October or November 2026.
• Compensation: $37.00 to $45.00 per hour; overtime is paid at 1.5 times the hourly rate.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Sick leave
• Paid vacation
• Paid holidays
• Optional dental plan
• 403(b) retirement plan
• 401(k)
• Paid time off