Turtle Conservation Jobs in Washington, DC (NOW HIRING)

*US Citizenship Required

*Full-time Remote Position with field work required

*Position is Subject to Contract Award

Position Overview

Think Tank Inc. is seeking one (1) Gear Liaison to work with the fishing industry and other organizations to create and test gear modifications on commercial fishing vessels. The Gear Liaison communicates operational aspects of fishing gear, assists in the evaluation of gear testing, and provides outreach to assist fishermen in implementing protected species gear modifications. This is a fully remote, full-time position (40 hours/week; approximately 2,080 hours/year) with regular field work required. Anticipated start date: September 1, 2026, contingent upon contract award.

Note: Personnel may be required to perform on-call duties outside normal working hours on nights, weekends, and/or holidays to respond to emergency marine mammal stranding events.

Key Responsibilities

• Participate in field studies, data analysis, and evaluation of potential solutions to mitigate sea turtle and marine mammal bycatch in fishing gear.
• Participate with the regional and science center gear team in projects directed at reducing large whale, sea turtle (trawl, gillnet, traps/pots), and other protected species bycatch in fixed gear fisheries in Northwest Atlantic waters.
• Participate in field studies, data analysis, and evaluations of projects directed at mitigating sea turtle and other protected species bycatch in bottom trawl gear, including evaluating Turtle Excluder Devices (TED) testing as determined by GARFO.
• Support compilation and evaluation of project results.
• Provide regular outreach including dockside demonstrations of appropriate gear installation.
• Support Law Enforcement inspection and compliance monitoring.
• Support entanglement gear analysis in collaboration with the Region and Center gear team; assist with gear warehouse curation and record keeping.
• Support Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction (ALWTR) Team meetings.
• Provide monthly communications to COR and NMFS Project Manager on accomplishments, issues encountered, travel, and recommendations.
• Complete a set of training courses and maintain up-to-date training annually

Minimum Qualifications (Required)

Education

• Bachelor's degree or master's degree in environmental science, biology, ecology, fisheries biology, marine biology, natural resource management, conservation biology, or a closely related field.
• A relevant degree may be substituted by two (2) additional years of relevant work experience.
• Must meet or exceed ProTech Labor Category Level 2 – Associate minimum qualifications.

Experience

• Experience working with commercial fishing gear, protected species gear modifications, or marine mammal/sea turtle bycatch reduction.
• Experience with field studies, data analysis, and evaluation of fishing gear technology.

Skills

• Strong communication skills for interacting with fishing industry stakeholders and government partners.
• Ability to conduct dockside outreach and gear demonstrations.
• Physical ability to work in field and vessel environments.

Preferred Qualifications (Desired)

• Experience with ALWTR Plan and take reduction team processes.
• Familiarity with Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) and bycatch reduction device testing protocols.
• Knowledge of Northwest Atlantic commercial fisheries and protected species interactions.