Senior Data Scientist, Fisheries & Water Resources

ICF; San Francisco (CA); À distance; USD 81 000 - 167 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

ICF seeks a Senior Data Scientist in San Francisco, CA, with flexible remote options. You will work with fish biologists, hydrologists, and project managers on Chinook Salmon and water-management projects, delivering robust analyses and decision-support models.

The role emphasizes reproducible workflows, cross‑disciplinary collaboration, and high-quality reporting, including publications, proposals, and client communications. A strong data-science background is essential.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in fisheries biology or related field.
• 5 years of increasingly complex fish data science experience.

Responsabilités

• Conduct analyses and lead writing of scientific documents, reports and manuscripts.
• Develop and update statistical, population, and decision-support models for fish and water resource management.
• Build and maintain reproducible codebases and automated data pipelines.
• Meet with water resource clients to discuss planning, implementation and monitoring.
• Describe projects and analyses through reports, presentations, and interactive visualizations.

Connaissances

Fish data

Water management

Quantitative analysis

Open science

Scientific writing

Stakeholder comms

Project management

Team leadership

Science‑business balance

Formation

Master's in fisheries biology

Outils

R

Python

SQL

Description du poste

ICF’s Fish and Aquatic Science and Technology Team is in an exciting period of expansion and invites applications for a Senior Data Scientist position. The Senior Data Scientist will work closely with fish biologists, hydrologists, and project managers to assist water resource clients with quantitative analysis, decision support modeling, and publication of applied science. Most immediate assignments will focus on statistical and decision support modeling and publishing work on Chinook Salmon in California’s Central Valley, though there will be opportunities for future work in other regions. The position is available in San Francisco, CA, with the flexibility to work remotely. Generally, the Senior Data Scientist will manage data and conduct scientific analysis, develop and maintain models and data pipelines, and contribute to proposal writing, study planning, fieldwork, and final deliverables, including report and manuscript preparation.

The Successful Applicant Will Demonstrate The Following

• Fish Data Expertise with knowledge of and experience with key issues confronting fish management in Northern California, including Chinook Salmon population dynamics, endangered species recovery, habitat restoration, flow management, and monitoring program design.
• Water Management Expertise with knowledge of and experience with key issues confronting water management in California, including reservoir and conveyance operations, water supply and allocation, environmental flows, and drought and flood management. Ability to understand and interpret water operations, hydrologic and hydraulic information, and their implications for fish populations, habitat, and management decisions. Familiarity with California water policy and the legislative process.
• Quantitative and Problem-Solving Expertise: Knowledge and aptitude for quantitative analysis to evaluate the effects of clients’ proposed actions; ability to design and apply sophisticated, robust, and creative analytical approaches, including hierarchical and Bayesian statistical models and machine learning; ability to interpret hydrologic, hydraulic, and telemetry modeling outputs and integrate them into fish population and decision‑support models; ability to conduct and interpret advanced statistical analyses; and proficiency in R, Python, and SQL.
• Open and Reproducible Data Science: Demonstrated ability to design and implement transparent, reproducible, and collaborative scientific workflows consistent with U.S. federal Open Science and Open Data expectations. Experience developing documented, version‑controlled analytical workflows; maintaining clear data provenance; automating data processing, analysis, and reporting; and producing reusable data, code, and analytical products. Ability to establish shared workflows and documentation that facilitate collaboration, scientific review, knowledge transfer, and reuse across interdisciplinary teams and agency partners.
• Excellent Verbal and Written Communication Skills: Peer‑reviewed scientific publication record and experience presenting at professional conferences. Strong ability to accurately and effectively translate scientific findings to inform policy recommendations in workshops and structured decision‑making processes.
• Ability to express results of analyses to technical and non‑technical audiences, including multi‑agency stakeholder groups, through technical reports, presentations, and interactive data visualization tools (e.g., R Shiny applications), sometimes in stressful and contentious settings.
• Project Management Skills: Ability to manage several simultaneous long‑term projects, including budget tracking, staff coordination, client relationship management, and completion of all required products/reports.
• Team Leadership Skills: Demonstrated track record of setting high personal performance and quality standards and enabling the team to be successful; viewing all team members as critical and treating team members with respect and professionalism; collaborating and leveraging team member strengths; and mentoring/developing junior team members, including through code review and documentation practices.
• Science‑Business Balance: Expertise and passion for science, natural resources, and resolving complex fish problems while balancing the need for business acumen, marketing, and expansion opportunities.

Specific Job Duties Will Include

• Conducting analyses and leading or assisting with writing scientific documents, technical reports, and peer‑reviewed manuscripts for fish‑related projects
• Developing, updating, and documenting statistical, population, and decision support models for fish and water resource management (e.g., Chinook Salmon recovery and flow decisions)
• Building and maintaining reproducible codebases and automated data pipelines that connect monitoring data to models
• Meeting with water resource clients to discuss technical aspects of planning, implementation, and monitoring of fish and water resource management projects
• Describing projects and interpretation of analyses through written and oral communication and interactive visualizations to a broad audience, sometimes in contentious environments
• Conducting scientific research leading to develop of knowledge to inform resource management.
• Working with a team of technical staff from multiple disciplines to complete analyses and documentation on time and within budget
• Developing scope and budget and writing proposals
• Building and maintaining client relationships
• Mentoring junior biologists

Education/Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in fisheries biology, fisheries and wildlife, quantitative ecology, or equivalent science‑related field or
• 5 years of increasingly complex assignments in fish data science

Additional Desired Qualifications

• Ability to demonstrate expert‑level integration of complex data sets to facilitate analyses
• Demonstrated expertise in quantitative fish science field
• Experience conducting scientific research using fisheries expertise
• Peer‑reviewed publication record in quantitative fisheries science
• Experience applying hierarchical or Bayesian modeling tools (e.g., Stan, Template Model Builder) to fisheries data
• Experience supporting structured decision making for California water and fish management

Working at ICF

ICF is a global advisory and technology services provider, but we’re not your typical consultants. We combine unmatched expertise with cutting‑edge technology to help clients solve their most complex challenges, navigate change, and shape the future.

We can only solve the world’s toughest challenges by building a workplace that allows everyone to thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer. Together, our employees are empowered to share their expertise and collaborate with others to achieve personal and professional goals. For more information, please read ourEEO policy.

We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Read more aboutworkplacediscriminationrights or our benefit offerings which are included in theTransparency in (Benefits) Coverage Act.

Work Authorization and Sponsorship

All candidates must be authorized to work in the United States. This position is not eligible for new H‑1B visa sponsorship by ICF. Candidates who currently hold valid work authorization may be considered for a change of employer petition, subject to company policy and applicable immigration requirements.

Reasonable Accommodations are available, including, but not limited to, for disabled veterans, individuals with disabilities, and individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs, in all phases of the application and employment process. To request an accommodation, please [e-mail] we will be happy to assist. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations.

Candidate AI Usage Policy

At ICF, we are committed to ensuring a fair interview process for all candidates based on their own skills and knowledge. As part of this commitment, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to generate or assist with responses during interviews (whether in‑person or virtual) is not permitted. This policy is in place to maintain the integrity and authenticity of the interview process.

However, we understand that some candidates may require accommodation that involves the use of AI. If such an accommodation is needed, candidates are instructed to contact us in advance [e-mail]. We are dedicated to providing the necessary support to ensure that all candidates have an equal opportunity to succeed.

Pay Range

The pay range for this position based on full‑time employment is:

$81,147.00 - $166,919.00

San Francisco, CA (CA87)