Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission is recruiting candidates to fill the role of 4 Data Management Specialist I positions to support the implementation of the Pacific Islands Electronic Monitoring Project. The Pacific Islands Electronic Monitoring Project is on the leading edge of deploying electronic monitoring in the region’s commercial pelagic longline fishery. The successful candidate(s) will help the program collect, review, and process fishery data integral to regional fishery management.

These positions will be located in Honolulu, Hawaii. They are full-year, full-time positions with benefits.

The PSMFC Hawaii program is adding multiple positions. We encourage you to review all open job postings and apply for any roles that match your skills.

Role/Project Specifics:

This position involves the collection, review, interpretation, and data entry of information from video footage recorded on commercial fishing vessels in the Pacific Islands region. This includes documenting trip and haul information, as well as catch species identification, quantification, and fate from pelagic longline fishing trips. The successful candidate(s) will have a working knowledge of at-sea commercial fishery practices, experience as an at-sea fisheries observer, proficiency in visually identifying fish by species, attention to detail, and strong organizational skills. This position also requires the ability to board active longline vessels to retrieve and replace Electronic Monitoring (EM) system storage drives, then process and log the collected data into our data storage system. This role is computer-intensive and requires prolonged periods of reviewing and analyzing video footage.

Group Definition: Data Management Specialists (Natural Sciences) use a background in the natural sciences as they assist in the population, maintenance, enhancement and distribution of databases.  They locate, obtain, standardize, enter, verify, and correct various data sets related to project goals and work plans.

Essential Functions: The functions listed below are characteristic of the type and level of work associated with this group and pay band.  They are not all-inclusive. Individual positions may perform some or all, as well as other similar work.

At the lower end of the range, employees:

• Compile natural resources data from pre-existing data sources.
• Assist biologists with simple analysis and interpretation of data.
• Keep records on methods and parameters of data collection.
• Present information in common graphical formats.

At the upper end of the range, employees:

• Compile project data into standardized electronic data formats. This includes accessing filed information and verifying its accuracy and completeness,  performing data entry, electronic data transfer, editing, and error checking.
• Extract relevant data and present it in a variety of text and numeric formats, reports, tables, graphics, or figures.

Knowledge Required by the Position:

The employee must have knowledge of:

• Natural sciences
• At-sea fisheries observer experience, preferably in the Pacific Island region, and on pelagic longline vessels
• Familiarity with visual identification of pelagic and HMS fish species with preference for those occurring in the Pacific Island region
• Familiarity with visual identification of marine mammals, sea turtles, and sea birds
• Personal computers and software packages and applications for databases, spreadsheets, and word processing
• Computing experience, including good data entry skills sufficient to:  input data; structure information retrievals; edit, combine and manipulate data; and/or provide reports for users.  This knowledge allows the employee to assess or interpret the significance of the results and relate that to the overall objective of the assignment

Additional Desirable Knowledge and Skills: 

• Video Review Experience 
• Installation and maintenance of Electronic Monitoring systems     
• Knowledge of Quality Assurance principles
• Strong Organizational Skills
• Data Management concepts, principles and methods   
• Ability to effectively communicate with scientists, managers and fishers
• Ability to use field guides or dichotomous keys    

Physical Demands:

The work is a hybrid of sedentary office tasks and active field duties. Office work involves sitting for extended periods or carrying light loads of papers, books, reports, data storage media, etc. Significant amounts of time may be spent on the phone or computer. Field duties require the ability to safely embark and disembark commercial longline vessels, walking and maneuvering on uneven, wet or moving surface,

Work Environment:

The office work area is adequately lit and ventilated.  The work involves the common risks or discomforts typical of office, meeting rooms, libraries, and the like. Work environment for field duties will be outdoors on a commercial pier, which includes moving of heavy machinery, loud noises and varying weather conditions. While onboard vessels may involve confined spaces, diesel fumes, wet, uneven and moving surfaces.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualification Requirements:

A range of experience and education may be presented. 

At the lower end of the range, candidates must present one year of Specialized Experience** OR four years of successfully completed education above high school leading to a bachelor's degree in the natural sciences (biology, fishery biology, environmental science, aquatic science, geology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, statistics), or any other field that provides the same knowledge.  An equivalent combination of experience and education is also qualifying.

At the upper end of the range, candidates must present one year of Specialized Experience** OR one year of graduate education that is directly related to the work of the position. An equivalent combination of experience and education is also qualifying.

**Specialized Experience is experience that equips the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position being filled.  To be creditable, Specialized Experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. 

Closing Date Disclaimer: PSMFC reserves the right to close the position prior to the posted close date once a sufficient number of applicants have been received. 

LocationHonolulu Ala MoanaProject Length12 months or morePosition TypeFull-YearTravel RequirementsUp to 10%