Project Scientist - Marine Environmental
Job Description
CSA Ocean Sciences Inc. (CSA) is seeking a Project Scientist to support applied marine science and environmental consulting projects in coastal and offshore environments in the U.S. and internationally. This position supports the assessment of environmental impacts associated with marine and coastal activities and integrates field surveys, data analysis, and technical reporting to support regulatory compliance, environmental planning, and responsible ocean use, with an emphasis on water column / fisheries investigations. The role is suited to an early- to mid-career scientist capable of contributing across the full project lifecycle, from field data collection through environmental analysis, hydroacoustic data interpretation, reporting, and client support.
Key Responsibilities
Project and Technical Support
- Participate in and/or lead nearshore and offshore field surveys, including scientific diving where applicable.
- Conduct marine environmental sampling, quantitative video and photographic surveys, hydroacoustic surveys, and in situ measurements.
- Assist with proposal development, project coordination, and efficient execution of consulting assignments.
- Field Operations and Data Collection
- Support and/or lead scientific components of marine environmental assessments, including Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA), Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) evaluations, hydroacoustic assessments, and related technical studies.
Data Analysis and Reporting
- Prepare and contribute to technical reports, figures, tables, and presentations for clients and regulatory agencies.
- Analyze and interpret marine environmental and hydroacoustic datasets to support environmental assessments, fisheries studies, and monitoring programs.
- Maintain data quality, validity, and documentation in accordance with CSA QA/QC standards.
Client and Team Engagement
- Support effective communication with clients, regulators, and internal technical teams.
- Clearly communicate scientific results to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Health, Safety, and Compliance
- Adhere to CSA Health, Safety, Security, and Environmental (HSSE) policies and procedures, including scientific diving standards where applicable.
- Maintain accountability for personal safety and the safety of others during field and office activities.
Required Qualifications
- M.Sc. or equivalent experience in either marine science, biology, ecology, biological oceanography, environmental science, or a related discipline.
- Experience supporting water column / fisheries acoustic surveys, collected using scientific echosounders or related acoustic instrumentation.
- Demonstrated experience with marine environmental data analysis, water column / fisheries acoustic data interpretation, and technical writing.
- Familiarity with environmental impact assessment processes and regulatory documentation.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced consulting or applied science environment.
- Strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and standard data management tools.
- Willingness to travel domestically and internationally, sometimes on short notice.
- Experience working at sea on large and small vessels for campaigns of various duration.
- Valid U.S. Driver’s License.
Highly Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with water-column characterization, habitat mapping, marine habitat surveys, benthic sampling, or species identification.
- Experience processing and interpreting water column / fisheries acoustic data using Echoview software.
- Experience with scientific echosounder systems (e.g., Simrad EK-series or equivalent) and acoustic survey design.
Preferred Qualifications
- Scientific diving experience (AAUS or equivalent) of 100 logged dives or more and open-water SCUBA certification.
- Experience with advanced statistical analysis (e.g., R, SAS) and/or Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
- First Aid, CPR, O₂ administration, and/or marine safety training.
- Experience supporting proposal development or environmental permitting efforts.
- Foreign language proficiency.
CSA Ocean Sciences Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, veteran status, or disabled status. EOE/Vet/Disability