Azura is seeking an organized HMS Ecosystem Services Policy Analyst to support the NOAA Fisheries Office of Sustainable Fisheries (OSF). OSF supports consideration and resolution of national domestic policy issues, provides support to the regional fishery management councils (councils), manages fisheries for Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS), and works with federal partners to ensure the safety of seafood sold in the United States. OSF is a headquarters office and works closely with the five NOAA Fisheries regional offices and six science centers and in partnership with the councils, interstate marine fishery commissions, and states to ensure U.S. fisheries are sustainably managed. OSF also engages the fishing industry (both commercial and recreational) seafood dealers, environmental groups, other federal agencies, and academia to ensure sustainable fisheries and sustainable economies and healthy and nutritious shellfish and finfish.

The Ecosystem Services Policy Analyst would support the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Management Division. The Atlantic HMS Management Division manages HMS fisheries – tunas, sharks, swordfish, and billfish – in the U.S. Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean waters. We develop and implement fishery management plans in cooperation with the HMS advisory panel and in accordance with national policies and procedures, monitor commercial and recreational catches to ensure compliance with domestic and international quotas/catch limits, issue permits for commercial and recreational HMS fishing and scientific research, and implement domestic requirements and support international negotiations for international management bodies.

Program Description - The Atlantic HMS Management Division is involved with several projects contributing towards the agency’s efforts to address climate change in U.S. fisheries. These include, but are not limited to, implementation of the NOAA Fisheries Climate Science Strategy, the Atlantic HMS ecosystem-based fishery management plan (EBFM), the NOAA Fisheries Integrated Ecosystem Assessment (IEA) program, the Climate, Ecosystem and Fisheries Initiative (CEFI), and participation in regional initiatives or other national policies or procedures concerning EBFM and climate change. Specifically, this position will assist with the “HMS Indicators Project”, which will identify, operationalize, and automate a suite of appropriate HMS indicators into annual operations, and generate visualization products that would help inform management actions and science products. Indicators are measurable signals that can be used to monitor trends related to ecosystem condition, and can include biological, physical, or social and economic indicators. NOAA is increasingly using ecosystem indicators and reference points to monitor managed resources, identify trends, and establish triggers for management action in a changing environment. The current suite of indicator portals and ecosystem products reliant on indicators generally do not include Atlantic HMS or poorly represent HMS, and/or have not been developed with HMS management needs in mind.

Having high attention to detail and the ability to manage short project timelines are critical skills for this position. Potential candidates must also possess the curiosity and ability to find solutions and resolve issues based on available resources and also have strong client and team communication skills. Applicants must be able to operate independently, manage their own work schedule, and dedicate blocks of time for uninterrupted focus.

Place and Period of Performance

Work is anticipated to be conducted remotely and is part-time (minimum 20 hours per week) with an expected duration of 1 year. This position will require that most work be conducted during Eastern Standard Time working hours. During workdays, candidates must be able to respond to all communications within 24 hours and conduct calls and meetings as necessary during normal business hours. Some travel to in-person meetings may be required (3+ trips/year).

Benefits

• Competitive benefits include paid time off for vacation and sick leave.

Duties

The employee will perform a variety of tasks related to project management support. Specific tasks are expected to include the following:

• Research, develop and document an appropriate process and framework to evaluate candidate HMS indicators (pros, cons, risks, benefits, costs, long-term feasibility).
• Create decision and communication products to inform leadership and participants of analysis results and recommendations.
• Create and complete a communications plan that summarizes all potential participants identified in scoping and appropriate communication channels for these individuals.
• Develop specific communication strategies for participants and users of selected indicators.
• Create appropriate communication channels and organizational processes to ensure timely delivery of data and data products.
• Initiate work on visualizations, data summaries, and reports that are compatible with non-HMS end user product and documentation requirements.
• Coordinate, plan, provide staff support, and provide in-person facilitation support for a meeting with regional participants and project team staff.
• Attend meetings conducted by the Atlantic HMS Management Division or other entities within NOAA Fisheries to conduct outreach, improve coordination, and increase project visibility (e.g., Advisory Panel meetings, division meetings, regional office or in-person core plan team meetings).
• Assist with or lead finalization of a project work plan, a scoping document, and other products – including drafting, analysis, publication, outreach, and incorporating feedback from managers, data analysts, scientists and other participants.
• Leverage effort and crosswalk information from related division projects (e.g., the HMS Predictive Spatial Modeling Tool (PRiSM), HMS Climate Vulnerability Assessment, Essential Fish Habitat, Ecosystem Based Fishery Management, Regulatory Amendments) and other agency initiatives (e.g., CEFI, IEA, EBFM, Climate Regional Action Plans, other strategic plans) that can inform the HMS Indicators Project.
• Assist with other aspects of the HMS Indicators projects as needed and assigned (e.g., the evaluation of candidate indicators using the selected process and framework).

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree with a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience
• Experience working collaboratively in an online team to ensure proper communication regarding deadlines and project directives
• Ability to effectively and efficiently work under tight deadlines and scheduled action dates
• Strong organizational, analytical, written, and verbal skills
• Proficiency in working with Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel), and Google Suite
• Candidate must be able to obtain a Public Trust Clearance which requires passing a thorough background check

• Eligibility to work in the United States

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree
• Specialized advanced studies, degrees, or applicable work experience with Atlantic Highly Migratory Species, fisheries management, and ecosystem-level research, modeling, and/or management
• Familiarity with climate change, climate indicators, and related management issues, especially as it pertains to the marine environment

Azura Consulting LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable federal or state law. We strongly encourage all qualified persons to apply for this position.

Azura Consulting LLC is an economically disadvantaged woman-owned small business specializing in protected species conservation, management, and research.