Biological Technician - Fisheries Survey Support

Job Description

Job Description

Biological Technician – Fisheries Survey Support

Falmouth, MA (WHOI); Pocasset, MA; and Narragansett, RI

A significant portion of this work is based on on-board research vessels and commercial fishing partners, with other tasks working in research laboratories for the North East Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC)

Join @Orchard in supporting a critical national mission with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC). This opportunity places you at the heart of marine science, working within the Population and Ecosystems Monitoring and Analysis Division (PEMAD) and the Cooperative Research Branch (CRB).

Our team will provide the essential data streams that underpin the health and sustainability of our nation's living marine resources. By collecting biological and environmental data from fishery resources in the Northwest Atlantic, you will directly contribute to tracking fish stock health, assessing population dynamics, and enabling effective ecosystem-based fisheries management. This is a chance to turn your passion for field-based science into a tangible impact, ensuring the stewardship and protection of U.S. marine ecosystems for generations to come.

@Orchard is actively seeking dedicated and experienced Biological Technicians to provide hands-on, sea-going support for pivotal research surveys. In this role, you will work aboard NOAA research vessels and in partnership with the commercial fishing industry to execute ecosystem monitoring and collaborative research projects.

You will be a key member of a dynamic team of technicians, scientists, and operations staff, responsible for the rigorous collection and processing of scientific data. This work is foundational to the success of NOAA's mission. If you are a sea-ready professional with hands-on marine sampling experience and a commitment to collaborative science, this role offers a strong opportunity for career growth and meaningful contribution.

Key Responsibilities

As a Biological Technician, you will be integral to the success of at-sea and onshore operations. Your primary duties will include:

• Participating in fishery-independent research cruises for periods ranging from 60 to 120 days at sea annually.
• Providing technical services to collect high-quality physical and biological data during marine resource surveys.
• Assisting with the identification, measurement, and dissection of fish and invertebrate specimens collected during research cruises.
• Utilizing and helping to administer and troubleshoot research vessel-based electronic data acquisition systems (e.g., electronic measuring boards, motion-compensated scales, barcode readers).
• Performing Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) of collected data using standardized auditing procedures.
• Participating in survey gear standardization studies to ensure long-term integrity and comparability of survey data.
• Aiding with the leadership of field parties or watches of up to seven individuals at sea.
• Supporting vessel staging and de-staging, including supply and equipment preparation, sampling gear inspection, maintenance, and transportation.
• Assisting with the summarization and analysis of survey data.
• Keeping an up-to-date inventory, organizing, and maintaining research cruise sampling equipment.
• Annotating benthic imagery as directed by program leads.

Required Qualifications & Experience

Candidates must possess a strong background in marine field research and data collection. The following qualifications are required:

• Minimum of two (2) years of demonstrated experience identifying fish and invertebrate species of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean.
• A minimum of two (2) years of experience or 100 days at sea conducting fishery-independent marine research.
• Experience working aboard research vessels conducting fishery-independent research.
• Minimum of one (1) year of experience with research survey gear such as bottom trawls and/or scallop and clam dredges.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience with electronic data acquisition systems used during fishery-independent research.
• Minimum of one (1) year of experience with the maintenance, setup, and use of fishery sampling hardware (e.g., electronic measuring boards, motion-compensated scales, barcode readers/printers, touch screen monitors).
• Experience working with acoustic net mensuration equipment (e.g., Scanmar, Simrad, Marport).
• Minimum of one (1) year of experience querying and summarizing fishery-independent data from relational databases such as Oracle.

Essential Conditions of Employment

• Sea-Readiness: Must be capable of working at sea for extended periods (60 to 120 days annually) in potentially demanding weather conditions.
• Medical Clearance: Must be able to meet the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) health criteria questionnaire for sea duty on NOAA vessels.
• Location: Must be accessible to the primary work locations in Falmouth, MA; Pocasset, MA; and Narragansett, RI for vessel and lab operations.
• Driver's License: Must hold a valid state driver’s license with the ability to operate a Federal motor vehicle.

This position includes authorized overtime, travel, and training as required by the project scope. If you are ready to contribute to a vital environmental mission, we encourage you to apply.

Established in 2010, @Orchard LLC has an exceptional reputation, providing staffing solutions to time-sensitive, talent scarcity issues to deliver better talent management ROI. Our specialty lies in the critical area of program talent acquisition and resource management, not in one narrow skillset, but across many areas of technical and functional delivery. To learn more about our other exciting opportunities, visit our Jobs Page at .