There is a position available for a wildlife biologist in the Marine Mammals Management Office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Anchorage Alaska within the sea otter program. Activities include developing and conducting studies, implementing regulations, and policies; assisting in preparing regulations and, keeping abreast of new regulations, guidance and policy. The office is responsible for management of sea otter, polar bear and pacific walrus; the marine mammal marking, tagging and reporting program; implementation of associate specialized scientific programs; policy coordination; all activities related to preparation and implementation of international agreements and activities under the authorities of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The biologist will develop biological study proposals, survey designs, and scopes-of-work and will conduct complex biological field investigations involving northern sea otters; including population and harvest surveys, biological sampling, population health studies, animal collecting, food habit studies and population modeling. They will review proposed biological studies and survey designs of peers for biological integrity and statistical validity and rigor. Will prepare issue papers, briefing documents, and provide verbal briefings to supervisor, regional directorate and others. They will need to maintain a working knowledge of emerging and current international, national and regional marine mammal management issues, activities, policies, research and legal issues. Will review and prepare comments on permit applications required by the MMPA, ESA, and the Convention for international trade in endangered species (CITES). For more information about the job, qualifications needed, and the application process, please go to http://www.usajobs.gov/ and look for job announcement number: R7-09-225210-KD. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Verena A. Gill Wildlife Biologist U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Marine Mammals Management 1011 East Tudor Road, MS 341 Anchorage, Alaska 99503 work phone: 907-786-3584 cell phone: 907-250-3721 fax: 907-786-3816 e-mail: verena_gill@fws.gov ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~