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Project Manager
Ocean Associates
Operations
Remote
USD 35-60 / hour
Posted on Apr 10, 2026
If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact Ocean Associates at 703-388-9548 to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.
Ocean Associates Inc. (OAI) is seeking a Project Manager to provide Staff Management, Administrative, and Project Management Support. to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of Sustainable Fisheries (OSF) in Silver Spring, MD. OAI is a Virginia corporation established in 2003 that provides consulting and technical services to the U.S. government, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, and the private sector. We specialize in scientific program and project management, strategic planning, professional and technical services, and stakeholder engagement, supporting government contracts. We are seeking applicants for this position prospectively, which is dependent on award of contract.
Background
The Office of Sustainable Fisheries (OSF) supports consideration and resolution of national domestic policy issues, provides support to the regional fishery management councils (councils), manages fisheries for Atlantic highly migratory species, and works with federal partners to ensure the safety of seafood sold in the U.S. OSF is a headquarters office and works closely with the five NOAA Fisheries regional offices and six science centers and in partnership with the councils, interstate marine fishery commissions, and states to ensure U.S. fisheries are sustainably managed.
OSF also engages the fishing industry (both commercial and recreational), seafood dealers, environmental groups, other federal agencies, and academia to ensure sustainable fisheries and sustainable economies and healthy and nutritious shellfish and finfish. OSF is one of seven national program offices and reports to the NOAA Fisheries Deputy Assistant Administrator of Regulatory Programs. It employs approximately 75 people (FTE’s, contractors, fellows, etc.) primarily in Silver Spring, Maryland; Gloucester, Massachusetts; St. Petersburg, Florida; and Pascagoula, Mississippi. OSF is made up of a directorate, which includes office leadership, and four divisions: the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Management Division, the Domestic Fisheries Division, the Operations and Regulatory Services Division, and the National Seafood Inspection Laboratory.
In April 2025, Executive Order 14276, Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness, was issued to strengthen the U.S. fishing industry by reducing regulatory burdens, combating unfair foreign trade practices, and enhancing domestic seafood production and exports. Since that time OSF solicited public input on innovative ideas to improve fisheries management, and has received workplans from each of the eight Fishery Management Councils and the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Division (Atl HMS). NOAA Fisheries received over 700 public comments and about 175 recommendations from the councils and Atl HMS. NOAA Fisheries is now engaged in evaluating public, Atl HMS, and council input. Additional work will be undertaken to develop and implement actions to support the Executive Order. Individuals under this statement of work will be engaged in activities to support this development and implementation.
Tasks
- Identify the fisheries management needs (i.e., collect requirements) of the NMFS Regional Offices and the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Division to achieve the outcomes described in the Seafood EO, and respond to the requests of NOAA and NMFS leadership.
- Develop and execute a plan, with schedules, to meet the needs of the NMFS Regional Offices and the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Division using staff
- resources available to achieve the outcomes described in the Seafood EO and respond to the requests of NOAA and NMFS leadership.
- Lead the Seafood EO contractor team to ensure Regional and Atl HMS needs to implement the Seafood EO are successfully met.
- Provide project management and regulatory analysis support to ensure Regional Office and Atl HMS fisheries management actions are completed on time.
- Collaborate with OSF and Regional office staff to identify and resolve issues and ensure deadlines are met.
- Manage multiple projects concurrently and ensure each is appropriately staffed. Communicate project status, issues, and proposed resolutions to Regional Office and Atl HMS staff, and to the federal manager.
- Manage multiple contractor resources at any given time.
- Coordinate with NMFS leadership, OSF staff, and Regional Office staff whenever necessary to ensure policies and procedures are followed.
- Provide updates on project progress and conduct regular meetings with Regional Office and Atl HMS staff for all identified fishery management needs.
- Ability to lead project management efforts and mentor other contract staff of varying skill levels; provide support and guidance to the team.
- Demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Where necessary, develop and implement improved methods, automated products, and tools that simplify and streamline the processing of operational and administrative functions.
- Coordinate a training program for contract staff supporting Regional Office and Atl HMS fishery management actions with input and assistance from NMFS experts.
- Facilitate the proper accounting of travel cost information for program personnel, reimbursement to the traveler in accordance with Federal Travel Regulations, and local travel policies and procedures.
- Provide assistance with creating the electronic categorization, preservation and security of records that should be retained for legal, operational, or historical reasons, and to establish schedules for the disposal of records that are of no further value.
- Technical Writing: review and edit technical documentation as needed.
- Project Management: define and identify project milestones/phases/dependencies, monitor and communicate project progress, provide information about budget/resource needs, and provide general project management.
- EO and Policy Alignment: Monitor all work products to ensure they strictly adhere to EO 14276, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other evolving governmental guidance.
- Actively identify bottlenecks in the current process and propose workflow adjustments to meet the implementation goals of the Seafood EO.
- NEPA Quality Assurance: Review environmental analysis frameworks to ensure they meet the legal standards required for NOAA’s management actions.
- Ensure technical staff are properly prioritized to support Regional Offices and Atl HMS in meeting their fisheries management action needs to implement EO 14276.
- Statutory Deadline Monitoring: Track "the clock" on all Magnuson-Stevens Act packages to prevent legal lapses or automatic approvals/disapprovals due to missed dates.
- Resource Allocation: Shift contractor staff between drafting various fisheries management actions based on the highest priority Regional/Atl HMS needs to achieve the goals of the Seafood EO.
- Document Accuracy Oversight: Verify that all corrected documents comply with the specific formatting and legal requirements of the Federal Register.
- Risk Mitigation: Proactively identify and report risks (e.g., staffing shortages, complex NEPA hurdles) that could delay the implementation of fishery management measures.
- Recordkeeping Compliance: Ensure the team is meeting federal requirements for both electronic and paper filing systems during the transition of documents.
Start Date: Anticipated to begin July 1st, 2026; Contingent upon award of contract
Location: Remote / Telework, supporting the office in Silver Spring, MD.
Travel: Limited travel is required to attend meetings, trainings, coordinate research, and attend workshops.
Salary and Benefits: This is a full-time position with benefits. Salary, commensurate with experience, between $35.00 - $60.00 per hour.
Requirements
Applicants must have the following minimum requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree (Master’s degree preferred) from an accredited college or university in administration, environmental policy, fisheries management, or related field of study.
- At least 5 years of experience in project management, preference shown for experience supporting federal programs
- Experience writing and documenting a Needs Assessment for fisheries management actions and generating regular status reports
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Direct experience working with NEPA, ESA, MMPA, and the MSA
- Experience writing Project Management Plans
- Experience creating a Quality Control Plan to track deliverables
- Basic computer skills (MS Office, etc.).
- Ability to work effectively both individually and collaboratively in a team/group setting.
- Ability to receive constructive feedback and implement appropriate action.
If you are interested in being considered for this position, please APPLY THROUGH OUR ADP WEB PORTAL, AT THE LINK AT THE TOP RIGHT OF THIS PAGE.
Only qualified applicants that meet minimum experience or background requirements stated above need apply. When applying for this position you will be asked to upload your resume at the end of this online application.
Applicants should submit a resume that includes the following:
- Cover letter that briefly describes how you meet the required and preferred qualifications listed.
- Work history for past 10 years or since last full-time education.
- Education.
- Previous experience or training with similar requirements.
- Three professional references.
- Include your name in the document file name.
- Upload your resume in readable, not scanned, PDF or Word format (PDF is preferred).
In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States, complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire, and successfully complete a federal government background check. OAI does not discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable federal or state law.
OAI is a government contractor and is required by law to invite applicants to voluntarily self-identify their disability status and veteran status. OAI's online application includes check boxes to either voluntarily self identify or decline to self identify. While the information is collected through your application, it is collected anonymously and is not connected to your application. OAI uses the information it collects to track its disability and veteran hiring progress, and to meet its obligations under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and under VEVRAA.
Note: If you are not selected, your materials may be retained for present or future opportunities. We may use your resume in bidding on a project and if we are awarded the work, we will contact you before seeking further applicants. If you do not wish us to retain or use your resume to seek work for you, please let us know in the "Notes" section on the second page of the online application.