Ocean Career: MBARI Research Specialist

ECO Magazine; Monterey (CA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A nonprofit oceanographic research center in California seeks a Research Technician or Research Specialist focused on data management and cyberinfrastructure support. The role involves tasks like maintaining data systems, leading projects, and supervising staff, requiring a Master’s degree in relevant fields. The salary ranges from $95,000 to $125,000 annually, alongside opportunities for fieldwork and collaboration within a multidisciplinary research environment.

Qualifications

• Experience supervising data management staff or tasking.
• Proficiency in operating and maintaining data-processing tools.
• Commitment to excellence and strong work ethic.

Responsibilities

• Identify actions for staff to maintain systems across the data life cycle.
• Develop capabilities to visualize or process CeNCOOS data holdings.
• Plan and lead meetings for ocean observing practitioners.

Skills

Data integration skills

Project management skills

Collaboration skills

Education

Master’s degree in oceanography, marine science, geology, geophysics, engineering, or data science

Tools

Data-processing tools

Job description

Founded in 1987 by the late David Packard, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) is a nonprofit oceanographic research center advancing marine science and engineering to understand our changing ocean. Located in Moss Landing, California, the heart of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, MBARI offers ready access to the open ocean and deep sea. Ongoing research programs range across autonomous and remotely operated underwater vehicle systems, control technologies, ocean physics, chemistry, geology, biology, ocean instrumentation, and information management. MBARI hosts approximately 200 employees, with shore facilities that include state-of-the-art science and engineering laboratories, manufacturing and electrical fabrication shops, and dock facilities for MBARI vessels.

MBARI is hiring for one of two levels of career stage, Research Technician or Research Specialist with a focus on data management and cyberinfrastructure (DMAC) support for the Central and Northern California Ocean Observing System (CeNCOOS). The earlier career stage Research Technician will focus on data integration and visualizations, whereas the Research Specialist also entails management and coordination of CeNCOOS data systems and other responsibilities.

CeNCOOS is a Regional Association of the US Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS®) and works to address societal challenges to realize a safe, healthy and prosperous California coastal ocean powered by information solutions. We expect to appoint one of either the Research Technician or Research Specialist, and are accepting applications across two levels of qualifications and experience, with corresponding differences in roles, responsibilities, and career tracks.

In close collaboration with the CeNCOOS Director, Deputy Director, and diverse regional and national expert teams, the position will support the integration and processing of new and existing data streams. This work populates our website data products and portal systems California Ocean Observing Systems Data Portal, as well as related systems including the California Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia Portal and a Harmful Algal Bloom Data Assembly Center. It also supports DMAC efforts for CeNCOOS’s role in the Marine Biodiversity Observation Network Program of IOOS. CeNCOOS focus areas include:

• Ocean & Weather Predictions – e.g. Collection of observations and use in forecasting
• Safe and Efficient Shipping and Navigation – e.g. Surface currents, search and rescue
• Preparedness and Risk Reduction – e.g. Harmful algal bloom monitoring
• Robust Ocean Resources – e.g. Information for aquaculture and fisheries management

This position will work across the domains of physics, biogeochemistry, biology, and ecosystem variables. As CeNCOOS enhances service delivery, this work will also benefit from understanding of the collective and the integration of data through forming and applying best practices, which make data findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable (FAIR). This work includes authority to control, responsibility, and ethics (CARE) principles of data management.

The Research Specialist will serve as the Technical Manager for CeNCOOS and provide specialized technical or analytical expertise in support of CeNCOOS. This position requires a high level of independence, coordination and problem-solving to support and execute complex research projects, inclusive of advanced data handling skills.

Primary responsibilities:

• Working with the Director and Deputy Director, identify actions / tasks for other staff to maintain systems across the data life cycle and CeNCOOS subsystems
• Maintain data and operations tools/dashboards and use this to identify and solve issues, including through assistance from the Data and Information manager, data providers and others
• Develop capabilities to visualize or process CeNCOOS data holdings, including via knowledge and context gathering facilitated through work of the CeNCOOS Engagement Specialist
• Work with the CeNCOOS Place-Based Management Data Specialist to streamline the production of analytics to underpin data syntheses and condition reports on the status and trends, such as for California marine protected areas, Integrated Ecosystem Assessments, National Marine Sanctuary Condition Reports and information to support decision making
• Prepare data for integration into CeNCOOS DMAC systems including alignment of data to national and/or international metadata formats and standards (e.g. NetCDF, EML, OBIS)
• Oversee task teams of data and technical experts, often distributed across CeNCOOS-linked project partners from academia to government, tribes, and private industry with the aim to link new and existing data sources to end-users through the development of information products
• Plan and lead meetings and workshops for current and prospective ocean observing practitioners and information users that reach new communities
• Lead or contribute to the dissemination of CeNCOOS products and tools, including maintaining Internet-based education and outreach materials or data access training tutorials to improve data accessibility, e.g. via documents or presentations
• Contribute to project administration, including logistics and financial aspects. E.g. Provide technical project management and oversight including CeNCOOS tracking and reporting progress towards strategic goals and metrics, ensuring available resources are being utilized to meet objectives, including from extramural grants and sub-awardees
• Potentially supervise and/or mentor staff, postdoctoral fellows, students and interns
• Participate in hiring processes and committees as needed
• Contribute to the development of research proposals and funding acquisition efforts

Required qualifications:

• A Master’s degree (or equivalent experience) in oceanography, marine science, geology, geophysics, engineering, data science, or a related field
• Experience in supervising data management staff or tasking
• Proficiency in operating and maintaining data-processing tools
• Proven ability to learn and apply new methods and technologies
• Strong organizational and project management skills
• Experience conducting independent work and contributing to high-quality scientific data and information products
• Commitment to excellence, efficiency, and a strong work ethic
• Excellent collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary research environment

Salary range: $95,000-$125,000

The post will be based at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) located in Moss Landing, CA, where CeNCOOS is housed. Opportunities for participating in fieldwork are expected, which can enhance system understanding.