Position Overview: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is in search of a dedicated Habitat and Ecosystem Scientist to support the Council in addressing critical habitat and ecosystem components of fishery management plans (FMPs) and amendments, while also tackling pressing management challenges related to climate change, energy initiatives, and aquaculture.

About the Council: Based in North Charleston, SC, the Council is tasked with the stewardship and management of fish stocks within the federal 200-mile jurisdiction of the Atlantic Ocean, covering the coastal regions of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and extending to Key West in Florida.

Role Responsibilities:

• Compile and analyze habitat-related data to enhance FMP amendments and contribute to the habitat sections of all FMPs and amendments, including evaluating the impacts of proposed actions on Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) and preparing GIS/maps for documentation or revision of EFH.
• Lead the development of amendments to habitat-focused FMPs (such as Coral and Sargassum) in collaboration with an Interdisciplinary Plan Team, which includes coordinating the amendment document's development, presenting proposed amendment information to stakeholders, and overseeing its review and submission.
• Formulate Council responses to non-fishing activities that may affect EFH and other designated habitats, such as energy projects and beach restoration efforts.
• Represent the Council in national and regional forums concerning habitat programs and ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM), including issues related to climate resilience and spatial fisheries management.
• Conduct necessary analyses to implement EBFM effectively.
• Serve as the primary contact for matters related to climate change, energy development, and aquaculture.
• Organize and manage meetings for advisory groups, ensuring effective oversight of their membership.

Qualifications:

• Education: A master's degree or higher in fishery science or a related natural resource field from an accredited institution.
• Experience: A minimum of 2 years of professional experience in fisheries management or policy relevant to the position. Additional educational experience may be considered to fulfill up to 2 years of professional experience.
• Skills: Proficient in researching and analyzing relevant technical data. Familiarity with statistical software (e.g., R, SAS), mapping tools (e.g., ArcGIS), and modeling applications (e.g., food web, ecosystem, or spatial modeling) is essential. Strong quantitative analysis and technical writing abilities are required, along with the capacity to lead interdisciplinary teams. Knowledge of U.S. federal fisheries management laws is also important.

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