ESA Corals Support Specialist

A.I.S., Inc. (AIS) is a national scientific services firm supporting maritime activities requiring certification of compliance with environmental regulations as well as collecting data for use by Federal, State, Municipal, and other government agencies along the US coastline. AIS is looking for programmatic consultation specialists to support the Pacific Island Regional Office (PIRO) Protected Resources Division (PRD). The PRD is dedicated to protecting and recovering endangered species such as sea turtles, monk seals, cetaceans, corals, and other species in the Pacific Islands Region as mandated by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).

Primary Function:

AIS is looking for programmatic consultation specialists for an upcoming project we are looking to bid on. PIRO has a requirement for ESA-related work for Indo-Pacific reef-building corals. In 2014, 15 species of Indo-Pacific reef-building corals were listed as Threatened under the ESA, and PIRO established an ESA Corals Team to manage and conserve these listed species through ESA Section 7 consultations, developing and implementing a Pacific Corals Recovery Plan and other conservation actions. In addition, the ESA Corals Team conducts Conservation Assessments of at-risk but unlisted Indo-Pacific reef-building coral species and responds to new petitions to list such species. This position will directly support Indo-Pacific coral protection and recovery through the activities listed below.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Assist PIRO staff in recovery planning activities, drafting recovery plans and supporting documents, implementing recovery actions, reviewing species status information and consolidating information to support recovery activities, and monitoring species recovery trends and progress.

• Assist PIRO in developing critical habitat designations, including preparing proposed and final rules, supporting public hearings, organizing public comments, and other duties specific to critical habitat designations under Section 4 of the ESA.

• Respond to listing petitions, contribute to proposed and final listings, and prepare ESA-Section 7 documents for informal and formal consultations.

• Support protected species outreach. ? Design, develop, and produce effective outreach and educational materials, displays, graphic design, and presentations (i.e., posters, PowerPoint presentations, brochures, placards, workshop/meeting handouts, regulatory summaries).

• Support, develop, and implement outreach and education programmatic functions of projects on protected species, habitat, and ecosystem-based marine resource conservation.

• Review and edit documents and materials for compliance with Section 508 requirements.

Compensation: Candidates will be paid an hourly rate to be negotiated and total compensation will vary depending on candidates depth of experience. This is a fulltime position. AIS benefits package includes health and dental insurance, vacation, sick and holiday benefits.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A bachelors degree in a relevant field, such as Marine Biology, Biology or Environmental Science

• At least one (2) year of experience working with threatened and endangered species (ESA) programs.

• One (1) year of experience in marine natural resource planning.

• One (1) year of experience working on ESA and/or MMPA actions in Hawaii, Guam, CNMI, American Samoa, and/or PRIAs

Preferred Qualifications:

• A graduate degree in a relevant field

Travel:

• Travel is anticipated.

• Travel required to sites to conduct surveys and conduct meetings or outreach activities.

Location:

• Remote but has to live on one of the Hawaiian Islands.

Contact:

If you would like to apply for this exciting new opening, please click the following link