ESA Support Services-Ecologist

Ocean Associates Inc. (OAI) is seeking an ecologist for ESA support at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington Fish and Wildlife Office, in Lacey, WA. OAI is a Virginia corporation established in 2003 that provides consulting and technical services to the U.S. government, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, and the private sector. We specialize in scientific program and project management, strategic planning, professional and technical services and stakeholder engagement, supporting government contracts.

Background

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Office (WFWO) in Interior Region 9 of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service implements a broad range of programs under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and other Service authorities. These include, but are not limited to, reviewing the status of species to determine if they should be federally protected under the ESA; recovering candidate, threatened, and endangered species; conserving coastal areas; restoring natural resources injured by hazardous substances; conducting environmental reviews of federal projects; fostering conservation; and implementing voluntary habitat conservation and restoration projects. The WFWO delivers these programs and services through three Field Offices located across the state of Washington.

Duties

Assist WFWO in carrying out its trust responsibilities for protected species, birds, fish, marine mammals and habitats.

General areas of assistance to include:

Conducting literature reviews;

Collecting, compiling and analyzing data;

Drafting responses, letters, reports and reviews;

Evaluating the effect of proposed actions on species and habitats;

Conducting and documenting site visits;

Preparing draft Service documents, such as Letters of Concurrence, Biological Opinions, Environmental Action Statements, Species Status Assessments, formal correspondence, etc.

Entering data and conducting quality control reviews and querying databases to extract data or determine the status of actions;

Attending meetings, conferences, site visits;

Copying documents, compiling records (including responses to Freedom of Information Requests and Administrative Records), organizing and maintaining filing systems (including electronic filing);

Conducting biological analysis of proposed actions;

Preparing maps and other geographical displays and analysis;

Scanning files to a PDF format and filing or uploading to a FTP site and other services as required and necessary;

Providing meeting support including organizing meetings, finding locations, assisting participants, preparing materials and a variety of support services during the meeting itself; taking meeting notes and other meeting products and outcomes;

Evaluating the effectiveness of management decisions on species and habitats.

Start Date: ASAP

Location: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington Fish and Wildlife Office, Lacey, WA

Salary: The rate of pay will be commensurate with experience. Excellent benefit package.

Travel: Travel within the state of Washington may be required.