MRIP Field Data Technician

Title: MRIP Field Data Technician

State Role Title: Natural Resources Specialist II

Hiring Range: $40,000-$43,700

Pay Band: 3

Agency: Marine Resources Commission

Location: main location

Agency Website: WWW.MRC.VIRGINIA.GOV

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

Provide for data collection and related services in support of federal Marine Recreational Information Program’s Access Point Angler Intercept Survey (APAIS) in coastal/estuarine waters in Virginia and to gain the cooperation of recreational anglers and Captains of For-Hire vessels to participate in the Access Point Angler Intercept Survey.

This important research study, sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) conducts face-to-face interviews with marine recreational anglers. Field staff will travel to assigned sites to interview recreational anglers about their fishing trip, collect various information from anglers, and (when possible) weigh, measure, and identify harvested fish. Field assignments are 6-hour set sampling periods and can take place at beaches, banks, marinas, piers, docks, and access points for private, charter, and head boats. Field sites are spread throughout the tidal portions of Virginia. This position will carry out a large percentage of the over 900 yearly Virginia APAIS field assignments with an average of 120-150 assignments assigned for full-time MRIP Field staff. This position requires individuals who can work 5 days within a week, including weekends. This position does require flexible availability and being able to work any of the following shift times: 8am-2pm, 2pm-8pm, and 11am-5pm. During the surveying season, this position will be primarily field based with occasional in office days at the VMRC main office in Fort Monroe, VA. More in-office work will be required during January and February when surveying does not take place. Additional responsibilities for this position will include helping with quality control checks for part-time field staff on the APAIS. This position will also take part in office work, NOAA site registry maintenance, and field site visits which ensures correct site information is used for the following year's site surveying schedule.

Duties and Responsibilities
• Successfully complete training, including survey procedures and fish identification tests
• Perform on average 12 to 15 field assignments per month
• Follow documented APAIS survey procedures for entering data into the field tablet
• Travel to assigned fishing access sites to interview anglers about their fishing trip
• When needed work field assignments scheduled on head boats (for-hire vessels) for at-sea data collection
• Identify key finfish down to species level while in the field
• Serve as a primary point of contact for hourly APAIS field technicians
• Answer questions and explain the importance of this federally-funded study and the need for recreational fishing data
• Perform monthly quality control phone calls made to anglers previously interviewed by hourly APAIS field technicians
• Help complete random quality control visits while hourly APAIS field technicians are at field assignments
• Perform site visits during the winter months to update any site information for the following field surveying season
• Check field fishing pressure estimates for field sites throughout the year
• Perform other field and office tasks when needed

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:
• Ability to work independently and remotely with minimal supervision.
• Extensive knowledge of the fish species and recreational fisheries of Virginia and the Atlantic Coast.
• Must be willing to travel and work a flexible schedule including weekends and evenings.
• Must be self-motivated and self-disciplined.
• Current Virginia driver’s license required.

Preferred Requirements:
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and excellent organizational ability.
• Experience relaying scientific studies to the general public
• Field experience collecting biological data from finfish.

Additional Considerations

This position requires physical ability to lift up to 20 lbs; pushing and pulling; standing, sitting, reaching, walking, bending, and the ability to perform all tasks on a moving fishing boat.

Special Instructions

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