The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has an open position for a Marine Reserves Ecologist (Natural Resource Specialist 1).  Join the Marine Reserves team to work in majestic Oregon nearshore waters!

Position description: 

As a Marine Reserves Ecologist (Natural Resource Specialist 1) based in Newport, Oregon, you will work with the Marine Reserves Project Leader, Assistant Project Leader, and Quantitative Ecologist to carry out the ecological monitoring for Oregon’s five marine reserve sites. Work tasks include assisting with sample design and planning, leading collection of data at-sea, data entry, database maintenance, data analysis, GIS mapping, presenting information in public forums, and report writing.This position is a member of ODFW’s Nearshore Ecology Program, which houses the marine habitat and marine reserves teams. The interdisciplinary nine-person marine reserves team is responsible for leading the management and scientific monitoring of Oregon’s marine reserves. This is a long-term monitoring and research program designed to meet the state’s goals, objectives, and policy mandates for marine reserves. This is a complex, multidisciplinary research effort with numerous monitoring and research projects conducted simultaneously.

Duties include: 

• Conducting extractive surveys (e.g. hook-and-line), and non-extractive surveys (e.g., intertidal, overseeing SCUBA surveys). Deploying oceanographic sensors (e.g., temperature and oxygen) and participating in underwater visual surveys (e.g., using remotely operated vehicles).
• Coordinating and leading volunteers in the field, deploying and retrieving equipment (e.g., moorings, oceanographic sensors, crab pots), overseeing vessel deck operations (e.g., providing direction and instructions to vessel captain and crew), and recording field data.
• Maintaining databases, analyzing ecological data, using GIS software for study design, trip planning, and analyses.
• Working as part of a team to produce products from the collected data, including data summaries, graphics, reports, and presentations.

Desired Attributes: 

• Experience working in marine environments, preferably the Pacific Northwest, and able to work at sea for multi-day surveys 
• Experience coordinating and leading volunteers in the field
• Experience with marine ecological surveys
• Experience presenting research to technical audiences (e.g., scientific conferences), to policy decision makers, and the general public
• Experience writing outreach material, reports, and peer-reviewed publications
• Experience in database maintenance and use (e.g., Microsoft Access)
• Experience with oceanographic sensors and their calibrations (e.g., oxygen) as well as post-processing of collected data
• Experience using R software to evaluate, combine, summarize, visualize and statistically analyze complex datasets
• Experience with ArcGIS, including creating and editing shapefiles, and spatial analyses
• Preference may be given for a graduate degree with a focus in marine science 

Apply and view additional details here: Marine Reserves Ecologist Application 

Close date: September 17, 2026 

Agency: Department of Fish and Wildlife 

Salary Range: $4,519 - $6,276

Position Type: Employee (Permanent)