Lynker Corporation is a leading provider of professional, scientific, and technical services supporting ocean, coastal, and fisheries science and management. With a commitment to scientific integrity, operational efficiency, and stakeholder collaboration, Lynker supports mission-critical programs across NOAA and other federal agencies. We are currently seeking a Program Assistant to support the Industry Funded Scallop (IFS) Program within NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC), Northeast Field Operations (NEFOP), Fisheries Sampling Branch (FSB).

The IFS Program plays a vital role in monitoring the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic scallop fishery and has been instrumental to its management since its permanent reactivation in 2007. FSB manages the program by monitoring observer provider companies, delivering training and certification, and performing data quality assessments. Observer deployment is coordinated through an automated Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system, which records a vessel’s intent to fish for scallops. Fishermen must call in 72 hours before a planned sail date, and the system remains operational 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to ensure continuous coverage and accountability. (This will be a contingent position, based upon contract award). Lynker will be operating under FLOAT – the FISH and Lynker Oceans Alliance Team – a Joint Venture Prime contract holder for NOAA ProTech Fisheries 2.0.

The IFS Assistant duties include:

1. Provide support for phone and email trip notifications and enter trips as needed.
2. Assign observer coverage to vessels that call in through the IVR system and enter them into the monthly spreadsheets.
3. Answer phone calls from industry members and handle any issues they may be having (extending sail dates due to various reasons, issuing waivers, any complaints, etc).
4. Check received scallop trip paper logs against OBPRELIM upload (verify that appropriate photos were uploaded, entered data fields match between paper and upload, and that no species data is missing).
5. Give scallop trip pre-briefs to those observers who call in (all must call in) and enter into the Pre-trip call in table.
6. Carry the after-hours phone during the week and every other weekend for after-hours observer pre-briefs and industry assistance.
7. Assist editors and auditors with any scallop-related questions they may have.
8. Create new monthly call-in spreadsheets.
9. Archive provider spreadsheets, call-in sheets, and monthly waiver sheets.
10. Create new pre-brief sheets prior to the start of the new fishing year.
11. Keep other scallop-related materials such up to date.
12. Perform vessel compliance checks for various reasons.
13. Support training staff during scallop trainings by sitting in various lectures and with prep materials.
14. Give certain scallop-related presentations during scallop trainings.
15. Stay updated on scallop rules and regulations to answer any industry or in-house questions.
16. Attend PDT meetings to stay updated on future rule and regulatory changes.
17. Participate in outreach events.
18. Complete various data queries using SQL for a variety of reasons.
19. Send paperwork and other FSB issue-related gear out to observers when requested.
20. Help out with scallop editing and auditing when needed.
21. Respond to phone calls from commercial scallop fishing vessels that are required to call in prior to deploying on a fishing trip; responses will include a notification that the vessel is required to carry an observer for that fishing trip or they are receiving a waiver from the requirement to carry an observer.
22. Transcribe all scallop vessel call-in messages to the call-in log spreadsheets.
23. Track and report to NEFOP staff those scallop fishing vessels that have carried observers and which have received waivers.
24. Compare the list of scallop vessels that called in for an observer with those that were reported to have fished in the Days At Sea database; report any compliance issues, sampling biases, or deployment challenges to NEFOP staff.
25. Assist with audits, editing, training, etc. as well as observing trips as an observer themselves.
26. May be assigned periodic regional outreach events.
27. Participates on research cruises aboard NOAA research vessels.
28. Some on-call after-hours work is required.

Required Qualifications

• Must have a minimum of one (1) year of relevant experience.
• B.S. degree in Marine Biology, Fisheries, or a related field.
• Previous or current NEFOP, IFS observer experience, small boat operator, and/or working on commercial fishing vessels.
• Biological research experience at the college or professional level.
• Proficiency in GIS, website development, SAS, other statistical packages, Oracle or other relational database management systems, and SQL programming language.
• Mentoring
• Conflict Resolution
• Program planning and management in a team environment.
• Developing performance metrics and milestones.
• Working with diverse interagency teams.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Developing and monitoring resource investment strategies
• Working with marine fisheries information programs or other science-based programs.
• Proficient in current MS Office software programs.

Skills/Certifications and Credentials:

• First Aid CPR AED (Red Heart Association or equivalent)
• Valid Driver’s Licence
• NSC Defensive Driver’s Course
• NOAA Marine Safety Instructor Training (MSIT) certification

About Lynker

Lynker is a growing, employee owned, small business, specializing in professional, scientific and technical services. Our continually expanding team combines scientific expertise with mature, results-driven processes and tools to achieve technically sound, cost effective solutions in hydrology/water sciences, geospatial analysis, information technology, resource management, conservation, and management and business process improvement.

We focus on putting the right people in the right place to be effective. And having the right people is critical for success. Our streamlined organization enables and empowers our talented professionals to tackle our customers' scientific and technical priorities – creatively and effectively.

Lynker offers a team-oriented work environment, and the opportunity to work in a culture of exceptionally skilled professionals who embrace sound science and creative solutions. Lynker's benefits include the following:

• Comprehensive healthcare for the employee at no monthly cost
• Healthcare benefit covers medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision
• Personal Time Off (PTO) Policy plus paid holidays
• Highly competitive compensation plan regularly calibrated against industry and location benchmarks
• 401(k) retirement plan with company-matching
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) – we're all company owners!
• Flexible spending accounts
• Employee assistance program (EAP)
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• Life and accident insurance
• Tuition assistance/Training/Workforce improvement reimbursement per year
• Spot bonuses for exceptional performance
• Annual Employee Recognition Awards with bonuses
• Employee Referral Program
• Free centralized, self-directed Learning Management System to learn at your own pace
• Personalized career growth plans for every employee

Lynker is an E-Verify employer.

* This position is advertised through our joint venture, FLOAT --a partnership between Lynker and Fish, serving NOAA ProTech Fisheries

Lynker is an equal opportunity employer and makes all employment decisions based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other legally protected status under federal, state, or local laws.