Field Party Chief / Survey Component Lead Level II (Gulf Video Survey)

*US Citizenship Required

*Position is Subject to Contract Award

Perform as a Field Party Chief, Survey Watch Stander for reef fish surveys conducted on NOAA Ships and Small Research Vessels and participate on other PEMD resource surveys, as requested. Requires work on NOAA Ships and/or small Research Vessels and coordinating a field crew in fisheries and water quality sampling and experience at troubleshooting issues with limited resources while at sea.

a) Survey Duties

Field Party Chief roles require clear and effective communication, adherence to survey SOP's, management of crews at sea, and basic directives on sampling priorities. Additionally this position will often still be needed at all other at-sea duties. At sea duties focus on video camera and CTD deployments, habitat mapping, and other environmental data collection. Duties include but are not limited to:

• Pre- and post-survey inventory of equipment and gear.


• Submitting cruise instructions and cruise reports.


• Ensuring all participant clearance forms are completed and submitted.


• Planning, coordinator and providing logistical support for the surveys including on shipboard data collection and post survey support.


• Liaison between ship and lab/participants/TAS program.


• Preparing and loading survey gear, supplies and equipment.


• Coordinating daily vessel activities, personnel, vessel position and movements, ports of call and weather and sea conditions.


• Conducting data collection, biological and/or environmental sampling and logging and processing data and/or samples under field conditions, as required and according to prescribed SOP.


• Report to the Branch Chief and Survey Coordinator with weekly progress updates or any time there are issues that require alteration to the survey plan.


• Complete incident reporting procedures as necessary in accordance with applicable NOAA Small Boat Program requirements.


• Unload, clean and store equipment. Log and appropriately store data upon completion of each survey.


• QA/QC data for entry into the lab's database.

b) Laboratory Duties

Survey component leads require advanced knowledge or leadership on a specific survey topic (e.g. habitat mapping, automated processing) and vigilance using the GitHUB project management tool to keep projects on time. Primary duties revolve around annotation of video for habitat and species detection and enumeration. Collected video data is annotated using a semi-automated multi-stage process including 1) automated processing in Google Cloud Platform using VIAME software, 2) human-in-the-loop review and correction, 3) data review and QA/QC, 4) data output/ingest into GCRF Oracle databases, 4) updating GitHUB data for updates and project management. Duties include but are not limited to:

• Video annotation, review, and data entry based on prescribed SOPs for the survey.


• Subject matter expert for identifying marine fishes in all life stages from diverse habitats of the Gulf of America and the Caribbean Sea.


• Point of contact for survey components such as habitat mapping, video QA/QC and data processing, database management, automated processing.


• Management of review and tracking sheets.


• Updating GitHUB project for status updates.

c) Data Management Support

Duties involve working with OMI to update Oracle databases and ensure data standardization, quality, requests/delivery, backups, and security. In the near future these will also include determining and setting standards for automated data outputs to ensure interoperability and democratization of datasets. Primary duties include but are not limited to:

• Identify marine fishes in all life stages from diverse habitats of the Gulf of America and adjacent seas.


• QA/QC video data from the GFISHER and PRDW surveys in Oracle data bases.


• Manage data backups and security with OMI personnel.


• Assist FATES personnel to integrate new automated data output and to meet standards for interoperability of AI/ML algorithms and libraries.


• Update annotation tracking sheets and GitHUB project management tools.


• Update GitHUB project management tool to keep projects on track.

d) Analytical Support

Duties involve assisting with data analysis by preparing data for use, creation of basic plots and figures, and review of reports and manuscripts. Tasks include but are not limited to:

• Assist data analysts with QA/QC of relevant data sets and data prep.


• Assists data analysts in analysis to the extent possible, drafting reports, creating graphs and figures, literature review, and manuscripts review.


• Tracking assigned duties in GitHUB project management tool.

e) Outreach and Education

Participate in public outreach and education efforts. Examples of outreach and education activities include marine science education at local schools, participating as judges for local science fairs, conducting and participating in outreach and education tours of the SEFSC facilities and NOAA ships (in conjunction with federal employees), manning of outreach booths at local fairs and festivals.

f) Scientific Meetings

Contractor may be required to prepare for and present, facilitate, or participate in various position related workshops, scientific meetings, symposiums, and public forums. Events consist of, but are not limited to the following:

• Attend scientific meetings (e.g., American Fisheries Society, Larval Fish Conference, Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, the American Institute of Fisheries Research Biologists, Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography) and present scientific results, as required.

• MS Degree in Marine Science or a related field of study or BS Degree in Marine Science or a related field of study plus three (3) years of relevant experience.


• Computer literate and experienced with common word processing, database, statistical, and graphics programs. Capable of writing reports at the college level and making oral presentations.


• Knowledge of Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program field sampling protocols for reef fish, in order to lead or participate in GCRF surveys.


• Experience as lead data collector on at sea surveys. Knowledge and skills in using shipboard software that handles data streams for hydrological (SCS), and biological data (SEAL).


• Proficient in the use of fish, invertebrate, and protected species identification books and keys. Knowledge and identification of reef taxa from the Gulf of America.


• Knowledge of procedures when encountering endangered or threatened species.


• Sea going contractors who participate on research cruises on Office of Marine and Aviation Operations' NOAA ships will be required to annually/biennially (age dependent) submit a NOAA Health Services Questionnaire (NOAA Form 57- 10-01) and Tuberculosis Screening Form (NOAA Form NF 57-10-02) to OMAO health services to determine fitness for sea duty. Sea going contractors must have a current tetanus vaccine (once every 10 years).