[Coral-List] Job Announcement - Key Reef Species Biologist and MPA Program Leader

[Marlowe Sabater]

Hello everyone,
 
The Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources-American Samoa Government is seeking applicants to fill soon to be vacant positions: (1) Key Reef Species Biologist; and (2) MPA Program Leader; in the Fishery Division. The position descriptions are detailed below:
 
Job Title:                    Key Reef Species Biologist
Job Family:                Science
Job number:              400001 (Fishery Biologist III, Supervisor)
Salary Grade:            GS15
 
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: The Key Reef Species Biologist is a professional level biologist in charge of the Key Reef Species Program of the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources-American Samoa Government. This position involves active field research, planning, grant management, logistics, data analysis, report writing, and personnel management.
Serve as the Project Leader of the Key Reef Species Program;
Plan and coordinate research direction with the Chief Fishery Biologist;
Estimate and obtain approval of project budgets and narrative, respectively;
Supervise and regularly assign tasks to research technicians;
Conduct ecological field and laboratory work;
Perform logistic coordination for fieldwork and follow ups on project administration-related activities;
Provide technical expertise to other resource management agencies and the public as needed about the territory’s marine resources;
Draft and publish department biological reports and submit performance reports; and
Represent DMWR at international, national, and regional technical meetings where appropriate.
SPECIFIC DUTIES:  This position is responsible for the implementation of Key Reef Species Program research projects specified under the American Samoa Sportfish Investigation and Conservation 5-year Grant Proposal. These projects are research oriented and the candidate is expected to collect the necessary data, perform data analysis, draft department biological reports and eventually publish the results in peer-reviewed journals. Descriptions of the projects are found below:
 
Monitoring of key reef species at various spatial and temporal scales within the American Samoa Territory: This project involves annual monitoring of sportfish populations at the 24 permanent monitoring sites around Tutuila and possibly expanding to other island groups to determine the status of the population across space and time. Habitat and environmental variables are used as a covariate to explain the patterns in the population distribution. This project also aims to look into the impacts of habitat degradation on juvenile fish habitat as one of its objectives.
 
Age and growth studies on dominant key reef species: This project aims to determine age and growth patterns of the dominant key reef species as influenced by fishing pressure and other environmental variables. This involves a lot of back calculations from the otolith archives and some hatchery experiments to calibrate growth readings. 
 
Characterizing Tutuila shelf habitat:   This project involves population and habitat assessment of sportfish found at the continental shelf of Tutuila and possibly other island groups of American Samoa. This would involve basic mapping of habitat and resources.
 
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITY:     Knowledge of fisheries management and conservation issues, tropical fisheries, statistical analyses, field survey methods, sampling equipment, computer, and data management. Ability to fluently communicate orally and in writing (in English). Must be comfortable in a multicultural working environment. Must be physically fit and able to work independently under challenging circumstances. Scuba certification required. Must be experienced in diver surveys of reef fishes.
 
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:    Priority is given for candidates with Master of Science degree from accredited institution with a major in marine biology, fisheries management AND two years of experience in a closely related field. Must have a track history of peer-reviewed journal publication of which the candidate is the lead author. Candidates with a Bachelor of Science degree of the same field of expertise will also be accepted but must have at least 5 years of working experience in similar field. Candidate with GIS experience is a merit.
 
SALARY:       $30,000 U.S. per year with a two year contract renewable by mutual consent.  Annual and sick leave accumulate at 8 hours and 4 hours per bi-weekly pay period.  Subsidized housing (80% subsidized) and medical care.
 
APPLICATION:        Send or fax cover letter, resume, name and phone numbers of 3 references
 
Attention: Marlowe Sabater, Chief Fishery Biologist
E-mail: mgsabater at yahoo.com
Fax no : (684) 6335944
 
Application deadline: February 22, 2008. Estimated date of hiring May 01, 2008.
 
 
 
JOB TITLE:                                       MARINE PROTECTED AREA (MPA) PROGRAM LEADER, AMERICAN SAMOA
JOB FAMILY:                                   Science
JOB NUMBER:                                 400001 (Fisheries Biologist III, Supervisor)
SALARY GRADE:                             GS15
 
 
A.  ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
The Marine Protected Area (MPA) Program Leader provides technical and scientific guidance for conservation actions including planning, field operations, data collection and analysis, measures of conservation success and reporting. This may include some or all of the following functions:
Serve as the Program Leader of the Marine Protected Area Program.
Develop and implement defensible no-take MPA implementation efforts, including prioritization of sites and management actions for protection, with an emphasis on biodiversity benefits.
Coordinate and facilitate public meetings.
Collect biological and socioeconomic field data in potential MPA locations.
Associated administrative duties include development of annual work plans and budgets, grant applications, preparation of reports, supervision of 2-4 technicians, and ensuring ESA compliance.
B.  REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS: 
·         A Masters degree (preferred) in natural resource management, natural sciences, or social science area relevant to the themes of the MPA Program (such as ecology, botany, conservation biology, anthropology, geography, law, economics, natural resources management policy, education, or business administration).  The ideal candidate will have a degree mixture that bridges the biological and social sciences in the context of biodiversity conservation – AND – two years of experience in a closely related field.
·         A Bachelor’s degree in related field – AND - five years of experience in a closely related field can substitute for above education requirements.  
·         One year of experience must have included lead work or experience supervising others in the completion of tasks in an indoor and outdoor setting where responsibilities include training others and communicating goals.
·         Scuba diving certification and/or snorkeling experience and ability to swim (a swim test is required).
·         Ability to collect, analyze, and interpret biological and socioeconomic scientific data and prepare reports of findings.
·         Experience living in remote Pacific Islands, and American Samoa experience, strongly preferred.
·         Work and communicate effectively with a diverse group of people, including scientists, staff and others, providing and obtaining needed information.
·         Ability to write grants and research proposals.
 
SALARY:   $30,000 U.S. per year with a two year contract renewable by mutual consent.  Annual and sick leave accumulate at 8 hours and 4 hours per bi-weekly pay period.  Subsidized housing (80% subsidized) and medical care.
 
TO APPLY:
Send or fax cover letter, resume, name and phone numbers of 3 references.
 
Attention:  Marlowe Sabater, Chief Fishery Biologist
E-mail: mgsabater at yahoo.com
Fax no: (684) 6335944
 
Application deadline:  February 22, 2008.  Estimated date of hiring May 01, 2008.
 
Marlowe G. Sabater, M.Sc.
Chief Fishery Biologist
Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources
PO Box 3730 Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799

Tel No: 684 6334456
Fax No: 684 6335944

"When the search for truth is confused with
political advocacy, the pursuit of knowledge
is reduced to the quest for power"
- Alston Chase


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