Dear MARMAM community,

 

The Makah Tribe is looking to hire a Technician for its Marine Mammal Program. The Technician’s time will be split between helping our Marine Mammal Biologist with marine mammal studies and our Biometrician with studies of Lake Ozette sockeye salmon.

 

We are looking for a Technician who is an experienced boat operator and is also good at writing and conducting field work.

 

Marine mammal work will include surveys of the marine waters of northwest Washington where we mostly focus on the nearshore habitat used by gray whales. During surveys, we will conduct photo-identification of whales; survey pinniped haulouts for abundance, brands, entanglements, and injuries; and record the position and behaviors of all marine mammals observed. The technician will be in charge of maintaining all photographs and data after surveys.

 

The salmon research will focus on monitoring acoustically tagged adult Lake Ozette sockeye salmon. The Technician will maintain an array of 80 acoustic receivers and manage the associated data. The Technician will also assist with surveys of spawners during the winter and with capture and tagging of salmon during the spring and summer of 2027. The Technician will assist with analyzing the data and writing the final manuscript.

 

The Technician will have the opportunity to help write papers for submission to peer-reviewed journals. This will include papers on sockeye salmon survival and movements, a methodology paper on how to identify if a photographed PCFG gray whale is a calf, and an evaluation of the behaviors and site use of gray whales in northwest Washington.

 

This position is not for everyone. The pay for this position is not great with an annual salary of $33,109 - $33,349. The Technician must work at the office, which is located in Neah Bay, Washington. Neah Bay is very remote (it is 50 miles to the nearest stoplight) and it rains over 100 inches a year here.

 

However, the position offers a great opportunity to gain experience for individuals wanting to study marine mammals professionally. The Technician will be exposed to a number of research techniques, have an opportunity to write manuscripts and grant applications, and will learn first hand about tribal politics and treaty rights.

 

Interested applicants should visit Career Center | Recruitment to find the job description and application material for the Technician position. Applicants are encouraged to submit their resume, cover letter, and transcripts with their application. All applicants must fill out and submit an application.

 

Please share this announcement with individuals that would excel in the position.