Research Associate

On Assignment - Seattle, WA

Full-time - Entry Level

Seattle, WA

Administrative and Support Services

About the position

ECS is seeking a Research Associate to work in our Seattle, WA office, primarily focused on supporting the NOAA Fisheries Northwest Fisheries Science Center. This position is a response to the NOAA Fisheries National Environmental Equity and Justice (EEJ) Strategy, which aims to enhance understanding and engagement with underserved communities. The Research Associate will play a crucial role in the next phase of the EEJ Regional Implementation Plan, which involves identifying and researching underserved communities, developing educational materials, and facilitating listening sessions to gather feedback on the Plan. Additionally, the role includes conducting or supporting both internal and external engagements related to the Plan. A significant aspect of this position involves a case study that will explore how a unique element of the West Coast Trawl Catch Share Program (WCTCSP) can be leveraged to meet the EEJ goals and objectives outlined in the Regional Implementation Plan. The WCTCSP is distinctive among catch share programs due to its quota set-aside program, which was designed to provide flexibility in response to future conditions or objectives. The Research Associate will utilize the decision framework developed by Nayani and Warlick (2018) to analyze how this quota set-aside can be effectively employed to achieve EEJ objectives. The primary goals of this work are to establish connections and rapport between NOAA Fisheries and underserved communities, ensuring that the agency's work is informed by community-specific considerations. The Research Associate will actively engage in discussions regarding regulatory approaches, policy applications, and best practices to identify necessary changes that can mitigate impacts on these communities. Furthermore, the Research Associate will be responsible for drafting a research paper that articulates how the West Coast Trawl Catch Share program can utilize quota set-asides to fulfill West Coast EEJ objectives.

Responsibilities

• Participate in team meetings.
• Draft a manuscript describing how quota set-asides can be used to meet EEJ goals and objectives.
• Work internally with staff to gather information on our work and points of challenge or opportunity relative to developing and addressing EEJ actions or considerations.
• Develop recommendations or proposals for initial changes to our work to instill an EEJ focus.
• Identify and gather data on underrepresented and underserved communities, including seeking points of contact.
• Develop materials for outreach and education related to EEJ efforts.
• Engage with those communities to learn about their needs and perspectives and to share information on the work we do and the opportunities for incorporating EEJ considerations.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as environmental science, social science, or public policy.
• Experience in community engagement and outreach, particularly with underserved communities.
• Strong analytical skills and experience in policy analysis.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.

Nice-to-haves

• Master's degree in a relevant field.
• Familiarity with NOAA Fisheries policies and programs.
• Experience in conducting research related to environmental equity and justice.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage.
• Paid holidays and vacation time.
• Professional development opportunities.