Observer Gear Technician

AIS Inc•Seattle, WA

8d•Onsite

About The Position

A.I.S., Inc. (AIS) is a national scientific services firm supporting maritime activities requiring certification of compliance with environmental regulations as well as collecting data for use by Federal, State, Municipal, and other government agencies along the US coastline. AIS is looking for an Observer Gear Technician to support the North Pacific Observer Program (Gear Team). The Observer Gear Technician supports the NMFS Alaska Fisheries Science Center Observer Program gear team in Seattle, WA, where sets of observer sampling and safety gear are purchased, assembled, packed, and issued to observers deploying into the field. Working under the gear program team lead and manager, the technician maintains and repairs new and used gear, prepares and packs complete gear sets, conducts in-person gear check-out and check-in with observers, documents all gear activity in the Observer Gear Inventory System (OGIS), and prepares shipments to the Alaska field offices – keeping the gear room ready to equip roughly 500 gear deployments annually.

Requirements

Experience collecting scientific information onboard commercial fishing vessels or at shoreside processors.
Knowledge of the duties and responsibilities of fisheries observers and the equipment needed to successfully collect required data.
Knowledge of the fishery and vessel types encountered in the federally managed fisheries off the coast of Alaska.
Experience using basic hand tools to repair scientific equipment such as spring scales, measuring devices, and fish collection baskets.
Experience using common shop chemicals such as lubricants and anti-rust compounds.
Experience using power tools such as pressure washers, drills, and grinders to repair and clean scientific equipment.
Experience using and inspecting marine safety equipment such as immersion suits, strobe lights, personal locator beacons, and personal flotation devices.
Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Experience working with marine fisheries information programs or other science-based programs.
Experience organizing scientific equipment.
Ability to lift safely and repeatedly up to 50 lbs.
Ability to operate a motor vehicle.
Valid driver’s license and Real ID (must be possessed and maintained throughout the period of performance).
Must be suited for public trust classification; a background investigation is required.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience as a certified fisheries observer in the North Pacific / Alaska groundfish and halibut fisheries
Prior hands-on experience maintaining observer sampling and safety gear, would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

Identify and complete needed maintenance of new and used gear so equipment is in proper working order, documented in the OGIS, and available for deployment with a certified observer.
Perform gear maintenance, including: pressure-washing gear outdoors (possibly in cold weather); disassembling spring and bench beam scales and replacing parts; lubricating moving parts; washing species ID guides; drying gear; repairing baskets with drills and zip ties; organizing sampling gear; scrubbing rust and corrosion with hand and power tools; and safely handling sharp objects such as knives and fishing gaffs.
Prepare up to 150 complete sets of sampling and safety gear per month by following written gear packing protocols – including attaching strobes and whistles to immersion suits and PFDs, verifying NMFS Observer Program labeling, testing hanging scales (0.5 kg to 35 kg) with certified test weights and documenting results, and organizing components into baskets.
Conduct in-person gear check-out with certified observers or their employers prior to deployment, verifying the observer has all gear needed for the deployment.
Use the OGIS to document assignment, return, or loss of complete gear sets and individual gear items before, during, and after deployment.
Conduct gear check-in activities, verifying returned gear is clean, dry, and ready to re-issue; note missing/broken items; and return substandard gear for additional cleaning or drying.
Package and ship gear to the Observer Program field offices in Dutch Harbor, Kodiak, and Anchorage, Alaska, providing shipments to on-site shipping coordinators.
Participate in weekly gear team meetings to assess and prioritize gear room work.
Clean and organize the gear room (including mopping floors), conduct inventories of available gear to support purchasing decisions, and keep equipment organized on shelves.
Operate a van on campus to transport equipment between areas.
Provide a monthly progress report covering accomplishments, issues encountered, and recommendations for improvement.