Protected Species Observer - Long Beach, CA

AIS Inc•Long Beach, CA

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. Primary Function: AIS is recruiting protected species observers/passive acoustic monitor certifications to observe the monitoring and exclusion zones around noise producing operations and implement protective measures when necessary. The PSOs will work in a team during offshore geophysical operations which may occur 24/7 and PSO will average 8 to 12 hours of work per day. This position is expected to start approximately January 13, 2026, for an estimated week of work. Candidates will be selected based on their experience identifying protected species.

Requirements

Must have current STCW Basic Safety Training (BST), or GWO or BOSIET training.
Must have current CPR/First Aid certification.
4-year degree with major in biological or geophysical sciences
Must be certified by a physician as fit for sea duty including:
Not be susceptible to chronic motion sickness
Ability to live in confined quarters
Ability to tolerate stress
Ability to lift objects up to 30 pounds
Ability to vigilantly monitor waters surrounding observation platform/vessel for up to 4 hours at a time and not more than 12 hours in a 24-hour period.
Must have passed an approved PSO/PAM course/training and provide certificate
Must be NMFS approved PSO and PAM (must provide NMFS approval letter)
Must possess a current real ID approved identification
Must not be affiliated with any group that may impair the objectivity or the appearance of objectivity
Must have proof of eligibility to work within the US.

Responsibilities

Identify marine animals using the naked eye and visual technology.
Ability to vigilantly monitor for visual detections of marine mammals around observation location for up to 10 hours in a 24-hour period.
Documenting behavior and other essential data
Documenting data on logs in an organized manner
Operate and maintain field equipment including Garmin GPS, binoculars with reticles, range finder, and high-resolution digital camera with video capabilities.
Conduct personal QA/QC checks on data collected.
Attend daily toolbox, HSE and project related meetings as needed.