Senior Analyst: Quieting Technology Support

Ocean Associates, Inc. (OAI) is seeking a candidate to support to the NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Protected Resources (OPR) in Silver Spring MD. The employee will assist OPR on approaches to reduce ocean noise from vessels and other sound generating activities impacting marine mammals. This is a full-time position based on 40 hrs. /week with generous employee benefits. OAI is a Virginia corporation established in 2003 that provides consulting and technical services to the U.S. government, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, and the private sector. We specialize in scientific program and project management, strategic planning, professional and technical services, and stakeholder engagement, supporting government contracts.

NOTE: A cover letter that describes how your skills, experience and education meet the required qualifications of the position must be included with your resume when submitting the application and is mandatory.

Duties:

• Support NOAA Program Offices to coordinate and build relationships with U.S. (Federal and non-Federal) and international partners to evaluate and support the development, incentivization, and use of quieter technologies for vessels (primarily shipping) and other sound generating activities (e.g., geological and geophysical surveys, offshore wind construction).
• Work across NOAA programs, including NMFS OPR and National Ocean Service Office of National Marine Sanctuaries to ensure quieting efforts and actions are aligned and prioritized in consideration of the goals and objectives of applicable programs and mandates, including the Ocean Noise Strategy, NOAA regulatory authorities (e.g., Marine Mammal Protection Act, Endangered Species Act, and the National Marine Sanctuaries Act), international agreements, and the Advanced Sampling and Technology for Extinction Risk Reduction and Recovery initiative, among others).
• Compile, organize, assess, synergize, and effectively communicate the best available science, as well as the policy and management actions of other agencies and governments, to inform the development of recommended actions for NOAA to better support quieting goals, both within its regulatory frameworks and more broadly, in assistance to Federal staff.
• Review, evaluate, and compare, as assigned, acoustic models, research/monitoring plans, and quieting programs to support the quieting goals and duties indicated above.
• Support the development and implementation of technical guidance, methods, and analytical tools for both internal and/or external use, to better forward the quieting goals of the agency

Required Experience/Skills:

• A detailed understanding of the properties of underwater sound sources (biotic and abiotic), how their signals propagate in the environment (e.g., based on water depth, substrate, temperature), and the mathematical principles underlying how these sources and environmental properties inform transmission loss and sound propagation from specific activities (e.g., vessel operation, pile driving, geophysical sources).
• Master’s Degree or higher in a physical science (e.g. acoustics, physics, engineering , oceanography and three years of relevant experience or PHD and one year of relevant experience
• Experience handling and analyzing passive acoustic data, monitoring/analyzing acoustic data associated with underwater sound sources (e.g. vessels, air guns, pile driving).
• Relevant research publications

Start Date: To be Determined

Location: Work may be performed offsite

Salary and Benefits: This is a full-time position with benefits. Salary: $34.00 to $38.00 per hour.