Vessel Strike Avoidance Observer - Empire Wind

AIS Inc•Point Pleasant, NJ

6d•$18 - $22•Onsite

About The Position

A.I.S., Inc. (AIS) is seeking Vessel Strike Avoidance Protected Species Observers (VSA) to deploy on vessels conducting cable repair related tasks off the coast of New York during the summer/fall of 2026. The VSAs will be stationed offshore during 24-hour operations, working in opposite shifts. This position is expected to start in the summer of 2026 with deployments ranging from 2 to 6 weeks in length.

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 a major in biological or geophysical sciences.
Must be certified by a physician as fit for sea duty, including: not susceptible to chronic motion sickness, ability to live in confined quarters, ability to tolerate stress, ability to lift objects up to 30 pounds, and 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 course/training and provide certificate.
Must be NMFS approved PSO (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

Vigilantly monitor for visual detections of marine mammals around the vessel for up to 12 hours in a 24-hour period.
Advise vessel crew on project-specific regulatory requirements and real-time mitigation actions.
Identify marine animals using the naked eye and visual technology.
Document behavior and other essential data.
Collect and enter data into the required data sheet in an organized manner.
Conduct personal QA/QC checks on data collected.
Attend daily toolbox, HSE, and project-related meetings as needed.
Operate and maintain field equipment including Garmin GPS, binoculars with reticles, range finder, handheld thermal imaging and night vision devices, and high-resolution digital camera with video capabilities.