Fisheries Economist

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) is recruiting motivated candidates to fill the role of Fisheries Economist. We seek an individual with strong analytical and organizational skills, the ability to communicate complex topics in a clear and concise manner, knowledge of natural resource conservation and management matters, and experience working with individuals of varied backgrounds. She/he/they will join a team of effective and dynamic professionals in a challenging and rewarding environment. 

Salary, Benefits and Hiring level: The starting salary range for this position is $65,360 to $100,708 based on education and experience. The full promotion potential for this position is equivalent to the GS-13 step 10 of the Federal pay scale applied to Portland, OR (equivalent to $137,363 in the 2023 calendar year). In addition, the Pacific Council offers generously competitive insurance and retirement benefits. 

Summary  

The Council’s Fisheries Economist will provide a key function for the Pacific Council. She/he/they will often work independently as an analyst in support of Fishery Management Plan development, while at other times she/he/they will work in close coordination with Advisory Bodies, other Council staff, and staff at partner agencies. The Fisheries Economist will lead the analysis and development of socioeconomic-related policies that concern the Council. In doing so, she/he/they will be expected to appreciate various perspectives, understand the conflicting nature of policy development, and to remain neutral and gracious in the face of occasionally stressful policy debate.  

The Fisheries Economist will come to the Pacific Council during a pivotal moment in the history of west coast fisheries management. Issues such as climate change, increasing conflict with other ocean uses, changing demographics of the fishing industry, and more will create challenges and opportunities for west coast fisheries in the coming decades. The Fisheries Economist will play an important role in shaping the Pacific Council’s direction within this context. 

Duties  

• Prepare and contribute to a variety of regulatory impact analyses, environmental impact assessments, and reports to assist the Council in the formation or amendments of fisheries policy, regulations, and fishery management plans.   
• Conduct critical reviews of other analyses developed in support of plans.   
• Prepare discussion papers to assist the Council in the development of management alternatives for analysis and consideration.  
• Present results of analyses or discussion papers to the Council and its advisory bodies.   
• Communicate complex analyses at a variety of levels for decisionmakers, scientific review bodies, and stakeholders.  
• Coordinate with the Council’s committees and advisory groups to review and prepare various documents.  

• Routinely facilitate and coordinate the meetings and agendas of one or more Council advisory groups. 

Important Attributes 

• Positivity.  
• Integrity. 
• Strong communication skills. 
• Service mindset. 
• Ability to work with a wide variety of personalities and work styles.   
• Flexibility in dealing with unanticipated challenges. 
• Patience and understanding when things don’t go as planned. 
• Professionalism, tact, and discretion. 
• Openness to new ideas, ability to be a soundboard, and ability to provide constructive feedback. 
• Organized, especially in the face of uncertainty.  

Professional qualifications 

Desired Minimums 

• Bachelor’s degree in natural resource economics or related field, or a multidisciplinary degree in marine resource management with an emphasis on economics, and  

• A) at least two years of relevant experience, or  
• B) an advanced degree in economics or relevant field. 

• Progressively responsible experience in research or analysis related to fisheries or other renewable natural resources.  
• Ability to clearly communicate complex issues to non-technical audiences.  
• Ability to write clearly and succinctly.  

• Ability to work professionally with people from diverse scientific and technical backgrounds.  
• Ability to conceptualize the scope of a problem, analyze potential impacts, and complete writing assignments on time.  
• Resourceful and self-directed with a strong sense of ownership for responsibilities and initiative.  
• Must be flexible and demonstrate willingness and ability to readily respond to changing circumstances and priorities.  

Preferred 

• Advanced degree in natural resource economics. 
• Familiarity with west coast fisheries and current management issues.  
• Demonstrated experience with inter-agency and multi-disciplinary projects.  
• Demonstrated experience in the compilation and/or review of environmental assessments or environmental or economic analyses supporting regulatory actions.  

Work Environment 

The work is performed primarily in a typical office setting or professional/public meetings rooms in such places as hotels, schools, or auditoriums.  Work may also be required on airplanes, boats, and unusual environments.  Pacific Council staff are offered a flexible work environment but are expected to work from the office several days per week. Frequent travel to various locations within Washington, Oregon, California, and Idaho is required, often for four to eight-day periods, ability to take commercial transportation by air, land, or sea is required, as well as overnight stays in hotels, motels, and inns. Extended periods of continuous work beyond eight hours per day is often required. Lifting of light to moderately heavy boxes and equipment and unloading and loading boxes and equipment into and from vehicles, may be required. International travel may be required. 

A primarily remote work arrangement is not being offered at this time.  

How to Apply 

Please include a Cover letter, resume, and a personal statement with your application. Also please indicate whether you desire your application to be treated confidentially by indicating in the title of your application materials. If so, efforts will be taken to maintain your application as confidential, but it cannot be guaranteed.    If your application is viewed favorably, you may be asked to participate in interviews with the Pacific Council’s Executive staff and the full Pacific Council staff.  Employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check. 

Questions 

For questions regarding this position, please contact Mr. Merrick Burden, Executive Director, at Merrick.J.Burden@noaa.gov or Ms. Kelly Ames, Deputy Director, at Kelly.L.Ames@noaa.gov 

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At the Pacific Council, we understand that our people are our most valuable asset. Our individual differences, experiences, knowledge, inventiveness, innovation, self-expression, unique capabilities, and talent that we invest in our work is a significant part of our organizational culture, our reputation, and our successes. 

We embrace differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our employees unique. 

Salary : $137,363