Freshwater Seals Conservation Specialist

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced professional to join our team as a Freshwater Seals Conservation Specialist. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work with us on a two-year project focused on monitoring the freshwater seal population in Lake Iliamna, Alaska.

This position is part of the NOAA Coastal Resilience Fellowship Program, supporting the Climate Resilience Regional Challenge (CRRC) projects. The fellow will support the project: Bristol Bay Guardians.

Estimated Salary: $56,133 per year.

• Gaining familiarity with historical and contemporary dynamics associated with Alaska Native relations and compiling all documented information regarding the freshwater seal population of the Lake Iliamna region.
• Developing a deep understanding of the existing documented information associated with the seal population and preparing a draft literature review on the topic.
• Restructuring the historic research and monitoring relationship by prioritizing community investment and involvement in the development of a collaborative monitoring approach.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Familiarity or lived experience with Alaska Native communities and geopolitical relations.
• A passion for developing equitable, community-forward opportunities within land relationship planning practices.
• Life, work, and academic experience related to caring for Mother Earth, including but not limited to community-based monitoring (CBM), sample design, wildlife, fisheries, natural environment, communications, gathering and harvesting, living in relationship with, etc.

We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, including:

• Medical insurance
• 11 paid federal holidays per year
• 15 paid personal days per year
• Professional development training
• Travel funding
• Relocation allowance

The fellow should expect to make 3–5 roundtrip visits from or to Bristol Bay communities annually, which is inclusive of information sharing opportunities and community engagement opportunities.