Ocean Career: PSMFC Alaska Marine Mammal Observer Program

ECO Magazine; Florida; On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission is recruiting a Data Management Specialist for the Alaska Marine Mammal Observer Program. This full-year, full-time role supports the electronic monitoring project to document harbor porpoise bycatch and involves collaboration with NMFS AFSC, state agencies, and industry partners.

The position emphasizes data management, reporting, and coordinating vessel deployment, training materials, and budgets, with a November 15, 2026 start date in SE Alaska or

Qualifications

• Strong communication, collaboration, facilitation and leadership skills.
• Data analysis and project management skills related to natural sciences.
• Ability to analyze and summarize data for reporting to diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with vessels and EM equipment provider to get equipment on vessels and operational.
• Coordinate with AFSC staff on development of communications and training materials, data workflow, QA/QC processes.
• Support administrative obligations including budget management and equipment acquisition.
• Write, edit and assemble progress reports; contribute to technical and annual reports as required.
• Represent the AMMOP project and PSMFC in meetings with agencies, tribes, industry reps, universities and consultants.

Skills

Data analysis

Project management

Communication

Leadership

Facilitation

Collaboration

Budget management

Written reports

Tools

Databases

Spreadsheets

Word processing

Query languages

Job description

• 9 October 2026

Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) is recruiting candidates to fill the role of a Data Management Specialist in the Alaska Marine Mammal Observer Program. This is a full-year, full-time benefits-eligible position with an expected start date of November 15th, 2026.

In southeastern Alaska, mortality and serious injury of harbor porpoise incidental to the salmon drift gillnet fishery is of conservation concern. The person hired for this position will work collaboratively with staff from Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC), the National Marine Fisheries Service Alaska Fisheries Science Center (NMFS AFSC), State of Alaska, and industry members of the SE Alaska gillnet fleet implement and manage an electronic monitoring program to document marine mammal interactions (Alaska Marine Mammal Observation Program, or AMMOP). In its initial years, this new EM program will collect data required to evaluate harbor porpoise mortality incidental to the state-managed salmon drift gillnet fishery operating within the inland waters of southeastern Alaska. The overarching goal of the project is to design and implement a monitoring program which will provide comprehensive assessment of protected species bycatch.

Our initial scoping phase was implemented in 2024 and 2025 to help us gain knowledge about the SE Alaska drift gillnet fishery, assess logistics involved in the collection of statistically reliable information using electronic monitoring. The continuing scoping years (2026 and beyond) are focused on optimizing the tools necessary to support a long-term scalable electronic monitoring program, responsive to management needs.

We are seeking a person who is a self-starter, can work well with diverse stakeholders, and is proactive and flexible. This person will be key to getting vessels recruited to the electronic monitoring program and building the relationships with industry so that this is a collaborative and mutually beneficial program.

Position Duties:

• Coordinate with vessels and electronic monitoring (EM) equipment provider (vendor) to get equipment on vessels and operational during 2027.
• Coordinate with AFSC staff on the PSMFC development of communications and training materials, data workflow, database, and data QA/QC processes.
• Support the administrative obligations of the project (supporting the leads at PSMFC and NMFS), including budget management, equipment acquisition, and other related duties.
• Write, edit, and assemble progress reports on achievement of project deliverables; contribute to technical reports and annual reports, as requested and as required by fiscal and grant award reporting guidelines.
• Represent the AMMOP project and PSMFC in meetings with agencies (federal and state), tribes, fishing industry representatives, universities, and consultants. Coordinate activities with affected parties and gain support and acceptance of proposals and recommendations.

Knowledge Required by the Position:

The successful candidate will require strong communication, collaboration, facilitation and leadership skills, as well as data analysis and project management skills related to the natural sciences. Key attributes include but are not limited to:

• Knowledge of principles, methods, techniques, and systems of project management. This includes the ability to provide support to leadership in the areas of:
  • goal setting, budgeting, direction of personnel, travel management, time and attendance management, procurement, contract administration
• Ability to apply sound judgment in the solution of organizational and operational problems in a timely, economical fashion.
• Ability to analyze and summarize data for reporting to a diverse set of stakeholders.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of key management, staff, government agencies, and private concerns. This requires tact, ingenuity, and resourcefulness.
• Ability to communicate effectively, in both written and oral form, with individuals and groups having diverse backgrounds and technical expertise.
• Knowledge of data and data systems:
  • computers and software packages and applications for databases, spreadsheets, and word processing
  • data management concepts, principles, and methods
  • quality assurance principles
  • technical documentation methods and procedures
  • analytical methods and common query languages
  • the organization’s data sets sufficient to:
    • input data; structure information retrievals;
    • edit, combine and manipulate data; and/or provide reports for users.

Essential Functions relative to data management:

At the lower end of the range, Data Management Specialists (Natural Sciences):

• Compile project data into standardized electronic data formats. This includes accessing filed information and verifying its accuracy and completeness, performing data entry, electronic data transfer, editing, and error checking.
• Extract relevant data which may be presented in many different text and numeric formats, reports, tables, graphics, or figures.
• Maintain local versions of datasets in accordance with established regional database exchange formats and standards.
• Maintain a local archive of current and historical reports and documents. Coordinate the regular transfer of reference materials to archives and libraries.
• Train technical and general users in the use of database applications through individual instruction and/or group presentations.
• Create queries, summaries, and/or maps in response to requests for customized data.
• Prepare and manipulate various data and graphic outputs for use in reports, presentations and internet applications using standardized retrieval scripts.

At the upper end of the range, employees:

• Develop and implement databases and libraries. Includes acquiring new data as well as taking previously created or historical databases or spreadsheets and integrating them. Data sources vary in format including database, spreadsheet, and survey data sets. Custom interfaces may be required.
• Produce written research and statistical reports (including graphs, tables, maps, and text), data sets, and data summaries using a variety of analytical techniques and software tools. This involves the master-level use of database retrieval scripts.
• Document data handling and reporting to ensure consistency and validity of data between and within sites. Files may come from sources that use different computer hardware, software systems/protocols, and different communication packages.
• Maintain and update data catalogs, data catalog directories, and metadata.
• Perform system maintenance and backups. This includes routine database checkpoints, checkpoint verification, tuning, data-process merges, and user account management. Restore files when required.
• Perform Help Desk functions, responding to on-line user inquiries about access to the database and data retrievals, the execution of query scripts, and standard report programs.

Location: Preference is for work location to be out of Juneau, AK but will consider applicants located in SE Alaska port cities, Anchorage and Seattle.