CSS is seeking a Marine Ecologist for full-time employment to support NOAA's Marine Spatial Ecology Division in the National Center for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) in Silver Spring, MD. The successful applicant will work with NCCOS and partners to develop ecosystem assessments and geospatial data products from a diversity of biological, physical, and other datasets specifically including fish telemetry and tracking. The products will contribute to understanding the distribution of fishes and their habitats in the context of ecosystem management and ocean planning. The applicant is expected to assist with the design and implementation of field projects geared toward gathering and managing scientific data, conducting analyses, writing scientific publications, and communicating the results to partners.

Core Responsibilities Include:

• Use established- and develop novel- approaches to conduct ecological assessments using fish telemetry/tracking systems, bio-physical data, remote sensing, and human-use data.
• Lead data management, statistical analysis, and development of maps and other visual tools, assist with writing and preparation of project presentations, reports, peer-reviewed publications, and outreach to communicate the outcomes in professional and public venues.
• Manage large biological and environmental datasets.
• Design, maintain, and execute custom generalizable computer code using R for data processing workflows and analysis of spatial ecological data
• Assist with design of field operations to accomplish project goals.
• Acquire and analyze fisheries independent data including fish telemetry from research vessels in marine and estuarine ecosystems.
• Organize and manage tracking data and results to ensure that products and metadata are delivered according to project timelines.
• Travel for field work and research cruises is expected.
• Contribute to the development of new projects and collaborations.

Required Qualifications:

• M.S. degree in Marine Science.
• Field experience in capturing fish and surgically implanting transmitters.
• Experience with acoustic telemetry data, systems (VEMCO/Innovasea), networks (OTN, ACT, FACT), metadata, and analysis software (e.g., VUE, Fathom).
• This position has physical requirements. Requires SCUBA diver certification and physical requirements to dive as well as long days on small boats in remote locations.
• Experience in scientific writing such as MS thesis, journal articles, or technical reports.
• Experience in presenting results to scientific groups and other
• Ability to write reproducible code for data handling, analysis, and visualization in R statistical software.
• Training in linear/generalized modeling, multivariate statistics, ArcPro, and Tidyverse experience preferred.
• The successful candidate will be organized, detail-oriented, manage time to achieve project objectives to meet deadlines on multiple projects, and work both independently and collaboratively as part of a large team located across a wide geographic area.
• Processing of a National Agency Check and fingerprinting will be required.

CSS is predominantly a Federal Contractor and is subject to following the terms of Executive Orders. CSS requires all Employees (Direct, Indirect, government, state, and commercial), including employees working from home/remotely, to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have an approved exemption. Exceptions to the COVID-19 vaccine requirements may be provided to individuals for religious beliefs or medical reasons. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the CSS HR Department.

CSS is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer who provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regards to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or genetic information. In addition to federal law requirements, CSS complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.