The Protected Species Branch of NOAA's Northeast Fisheries Science Center in Woods Hole, MA, is recruiting a Supervisory Research Ecologist/Zoologist, full-time permanent position to lead its Large Whale Team. The Large Whale Team Lead's primary role will be to lead NOAA's North Atlantic large whale ecological research program. This research will focus on the population dynamics and ecology of large whales to achieve such objectives as better defining critical habitat for whale species in the Northwest Atlantic and providing guidance for NOAA managers on conservation topics such as the development of protective measures to reduce gear interactions and ship strikes. The incumbent will design and direct studies of right whale ecology. The incumbent will also lead a number of other cooperative research projects, including our continuing research with the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary on right and humpback whales. A secondary responsibility of this position will be to assist in the development and implementation of short to long-term extramural research on large whale ecology in New England. The individual should have at least a MS in Biological Sciences (PhD preferred), experience leading small research teams, and experience publishing and presenting. Large whale or marine mammal experience is not a requirement. The position is advertised as a Supervisory ZP-IV (equivalent to GS-13/14) with promotion potential to ZP-V (equivalent to GS-15).The opportunity is posted for both "status" (e.g., current federal employees) and "non-status" (general public) candidates.The "status" announcement number is NMFS-NEFSC-2011-0085, and the "non-status" announcement number is NMFS-NEFSC-2011-0087. The opportunity will close on 4 July 2011.The short open period reflects NOAA's new expedited hiring schedule. -- Mike Simpkins, Ph.D. Chief, Protected Species Branch Northeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA/NMFS 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543 Phone: 508-495-2358 Fax: 508-495-2032