I'd like to take an opportunity to let people know about a job opportunity to be a lead whale scientist in an active research program at the Maine Department of Marine Resources in West Boothbay Harbor, Maine. The program is currently conducting research that centers around the North Atlantic right whale. This includes broad-scale passive acoustic monitoring in the Gulf of Maine, the development of habitat driven forecasting models, siting and monitoring potential offshore wind arrays, and the development and testing of fishing gear modifications, including weak links, sub-surface gear location, and ropeless fishing technologies. This position will have the flexibility to bring new skills, projects, and funding to the program that fits within the successful applicants skill sets. See below for the position listing and link for more information or to apply. Feel free to contact me directly with any questions regarding the position. Thanks! https://mainebhr.hire.trakstar.com/jobs/fk0sg2n/ - Erin Summers Lead, Division of Ecology and the Environment Bureau of Marine Science erin.l.summers@maine.gov<mailto:erin.l.summers@maine.gov> Opening Date: February 11, 2022 Closing Date: March 11, 2022 Location: W. Boothbay Harbor Position #: 07200-2682 Position Type: Permanent Full Time Class Code: 9364 Grade/Salary: 28 $59,176.00 - $80,808.00/Annually* (*Includes 5.5% Stipend) ________________________________ The Department of Marine Resources (DMR) is seeking applicants with strong scientific skills to fill a Marine Resource Scientist III position in the Ecology and the Environment Division/Bureau of Marine Science located at the West Boothbay Harbor Laboratory. BRIEF JOB DESCRIPTION: This is a new position created to be the independent scientific lead for DMR's large whale research program. The position will be responsible for designing and implementing high priority research that will support and expand on current monitoring programs, as well as feed directly into management and modeling initiatives. Currently, a large focus of the work is on the endangered North Atlantic right whale, including understanding their distribution and habitat use along Maine's coast and how the resulting overlap with fixed gear fisheries impacts both right whale conservation and management of the fishery. In addition to the biological research outlined above, the position will work directly with fixed gear fisheries to develop and test mitigation measures, including new technologies and gear modifications to reduce the risk of gear entanglement. This position will also represent DMR at state, regional, and federal meetings and working groups as appointed. The position will lead and support partners in collaborative research projects, including pursuing external funding opportunities that align with DMR's priorities. The position will provide recommendations, scientific analyses, and input to the policy group at DMR on large whale conservation, fishery management, offshore wind development, and other related issues as needed. Finally, the position will work across programmatic lines within the DMR to foster collaboration and maximize DMR's strengths. This is a supervisory position that will include the direct supervision of multiple DMR staff members and contractors, as well as the oversight of other programs within the Division as assigned. Work will include other duties as assigned by the supervisor. Applicants should be able to demonstrate knowledge of large whale biology and related bycatch issues. Preference will be given to candidates with experience working collaboratively with the fishing industry, as well as an expertise in an area of study such as passive acoustics, telemetry, risk mitigation, or habitat modelling. A successful candidate should demonstrate strong supervisory, analytical, project design, and writing skills. Experience in Microsoft Access, R, and GIS are preferred but not required. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A Bachelors Degree in a scientific, technical, or engineering discipline, or equivalent in directly related work experience and eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in the field of marine resource research and management or related field which includes supervision and coordination of research and support functions. Erin Summers Director, Division of Ecology and the Environment Maine Department of Marine Resources PO Box 8 West Boothbay Harbor, ME. 04575 (207) 350-6076 phone (207) 633-9579 fax www.maine.gov/dmr<http://www.maine.gov/dmr>