Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Survey Lead

About the role

The Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Survey Lead will coordinate at-sea survey operations, lead an assigned survey or data component, support underwater video annotation and data management, and assist with scientific analyses, reports, publications, and presentations.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a Field Party Chief, Watch Leader, or Survey Watch Stander during Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities surveys aboard NOAA ships and small research vessels.
• Participate in other Population and Ecosystems Monitoring Division resource surveys, as requested.
• Assist project management leads with survey preparation, execution, and completion.
• Help establish survey schedules, coordinate equipment and supply requirements, and support the selection of survey vehicles such as autonomous underwater vehicles.
• Prepare cruise instructions and cruise reports and complete required participant-clearance documentation.
• Lead or support at-sea mapping and visual ground-truthing missions in accordance with established survey standard operating procedures.
• Complete pre-survey and post-survey inventories and maintain survey equipment and gear.
• Cookordination daily vessel activities, field personnel, vessel positions and movements, ports of call, and weather and sea-condition considerations.
• Conduct biological and environmental sampling and log and process data or samples under field conditions.
• Provide weekly progress updates to project leads and promptly report issues that may require changes to the survey plan.
• Serve as a subject-matter expert and component lead for an assigned aspect of the survey or associated data activities.
• Identify marine fishes in all life stages from mesophotic and deep reef habitats in the Gulf of America.
• Annotate, review, and perform quality assurance and quality control on remotely operated vehicle video footage.
• Review data entry and manage annotation review and tracking sheets.
• Lead or support data projects involving Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities databases, associated applications, metadata, and survey procedures.
• Help ensure data standardization, quality, delivery, backup, and security.
• Compile existing bathymetric and biological information for mesophotic and deep benthic reefs in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone of the Gulf of America.
• Coordinate applicable bathymetric data activities with the National Centers for Environmental Information and National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Biogeography Branch.
• Work with program personnel to integrate automated data outputs and support the interoperability of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms and libraries.
• Manage video annotation data-entry projects and maintain project management tools.
• Prepare and validate data for scientific analyses.
• Aid in statistical approaches and the synthesis of survey data, including species-density calculations, graphs, and other scientific products.
• Maintain knowledge of relevant scientific literature and develop data summaries.
• Develop reports and presentations and assist with manuscripts prepared for publication.
• Coordinate abstracts, presentations, and resulting publications.
• Attend professional meetings and present or publish scientific results, as required.
• Participate in marine science outreach and education activities, including school programs, science fairs, laboratory and ship tours, fairs, and festivals.

Qualifications

• A master’s degree in marine science or a related field of study; or a bachelor’s degree in marine science or a related field of study and at least three years of relevant experience.
• Computer literacy and experience with common word-processing, database, statistical, and graphics programs.
• Ability to prepare reports at the college level and deliver oral presentations.
• Knowledge of ArcGIS, including the Spatial Analyst and 3D Analyst extensions, for mission planning and evaluation of spatial distributions.
• Knowledge of Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities field-sampling protocols sufficient to lead or participate in surveys.
• Functional knowledge of remotely operated vehicle, autonomous underwater vehicle, and uncrewed underwater vehicle operations.
• Ability to develop logistical plans for at-sea operations involving remotely operated, autonomous, or uncrewed underwater vehicles.
• Experience serving as the lead data collector during at-sea surveys.
• Knowledge and skill using shipboard software that manages hydrological and biological data streams.
• Proficiency using fish, invertebrate, and protected-species identification books and keys.
• Knowledge of and ability to identify reef taxa from the Gulf of America.
• Expert knowledge of major structure-forming invertebrates found in mesophotic and deep benthic communities of the Gulf of America.
• Knowledge of procedures to follow when encountering endangered or threatened species.
• Ability to coordinate field personnel and troubleshoot operational issues with limited resources while at sea.

Benefits

Lynker offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Comprehensive healthcare for the employee at no monthly cost
• Healthcare benefit covers medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision
• Personal Time Off (PTO) Policy plus paid holidays
• Highly competitive compensation plan regularly calibrated against industry and location benchmarks
• 401(k) retirement plan with company-matching
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) – we’re all company owners!
• Flexible spending accounts
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• Life and accident insurance
• Tuition assistance/Training/Workforce improvement reimbursement per year
• Spot bonuses for exceptional performance
• Annual Employee Recognition Awards with bonuses
• Employee Referral Program
• Free centralized, self-directed Learning Management System to learn at your own pace
• Personalized career growth plans for every employee

Pay

USD $70,000.00 - USD $95,000.00 /Yr.

Schedule

Remote Work Only