Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission is recruiting candidates to fill the role of Data Management Specialist 2-Data, Information and Process Support located at the headquarters office in Portland, Oregon.
Group Definition: Data Management Specialists (Natural Sciences) use a background in the natural sciences as they assist in the population, maintenance, enhancement and distribution of databases. They locate, obtain, standardize, enter, verify, and correct various data sets related to project goals and work plans.
Position/Project Specifics:
The Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) is seeking a self motivated, high performing Data Management Specialist 2 (Natural Sciences) – Data, Information, and Process Support. The duty station for this position is the PSMFC office in Portland, Oregon, and the selected candidate will be working at the office location. This position is funded for 18 months with the possibility of extension depending on future funding and is anticipated to begin in March 2026.
The Specialist will support several data focused collaborative programs—including Klamath Basin projects, StreamNet, and RMPC-Fishing Regulations—by assisting with data compilation, data entry, information synthesis, website content reorganization, and the development of program documentation such as operating guidelines and standard operating procedures.
The selected candidate will work closely with PSMFC staff, external partners (tribal, federal, state and non-government agencies), and contractors. Successful candidates will demonstrate the ability to:
- Manage multiple tasks and adjust priorities as needed
- Work independently, self-learn, and maintain momentum with minimal supervision
- Contribute effectively as part of a collaborative team
- Model respectful communication and teamwork in diverse professional settings
- The Specialist will collaborate both with the broader team and directly with the Senior Program Manager to support a wide range of information focused and collaborative tasks.
Key duties include:
- Website content improvement: Developing recommendations for reorganizing and synthesizing information to improve website usability and implementing updates to site content. Such as for www.streamnet.org and https://www.ifrmp.org
- Information synthesis and documentation development: Drafting documents such as best practice summaries and topic syntheses using available fish and fisheries information. Producing draft program operational guidelines and standard operating procedures using provided materials.
- Data support: Entering fish and fisheries related data into databases or Excel following required specifications and metadata standards. Regularly updating content to existing tools such as for IFRMP tools (e.g., www.ifrmp.org/funding)
- Meeting support: Assisting with logistics such as technology setup, note taking, and abstract review. Travel for in person meetings within Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and other PSMFC member states when needed.
- Collaborative product support: leading or supporting processes that contribute to scoping, developing, and refining tools and products that support partner information needs and data access, such interactive data visualization and access tools.
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
- Strong communication and collaboration skills with a diverse group of partners, including contractors, tribal governments, and state and federal agencies.
- Experience summarizing, synthesizing, and organizing information from multiple sources into clear written products.
- Experience with data entry, QA/QC processes, and familiarity with databases, including an understanding of validation rules.
- Experience—or the demonstrated ability to learn—website content management using no code builders such as WordPress with Elementor or similar tools.
- Proficiency with shared document platforms such as SharePoint and task management tools such as Trello (or equivalents).
- Knowledge of fish and fisheries topics, including management, mitigation, recovery, and harvest, particularly related to Pacific salmon, steelhead, and other focal species in the Northwest Power and Conservation Council’s Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program and the Klamath Basin Integrated Fisheries Restoration and Monitoring Plan.
Essential Functions: The functions listed below are characteristic of the type and level of work associated with this group and pay band. They are not all inclusive. Individual positions may perform some or all, as well as other similar work.
At the lower end of the range, Data Management Specialists (Natural Sciences):
- Compile project data into standardized electronic data formats. This includes accessing filed information and verifying its accuracy and completeness, performing data entry, electronic data transfer, editing, and error checking.
- Extract relevant data which may be presented in many different text and numeric formats, reports, tables, graphics, or figures.
- Maintain local versions of datasets in accordance with established regional database exchange formats and standards.
- Maintain a local archive of current and historical reports and documents. Coordinate the regular transfer of reference materials to archives and libraries.
- Perform a variety of tasks related to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) that may include map preparation, geo-referencing biological and habitat data, maintaining location information tables, editing and updating hydrography GIS coverages, and maintaining metadata for data sets and GIS coverages.
- Train technical and general users in the use of database applications through individual instruction and/or group presentations.
- Create queries, summaries, and/or maps in response to requests for customized data.
- Prepare and manipulate various data and graphic outputs for use in reports, presentations, and internet applications using standardized retrieval scripts.
At the upper end of the range, employees:
- Develop and implement databases and libraries. Includes acquiring new data as well as taking previously created or historical databases or spreadsheets and integrating them. Data sources vary in format including database, spreadsheet, and survey data sets. Custom interfaces may be required.
- Produce written research and statistical reports (including graphs, tables, maps, and text), data sets, and data summaries using a variety of analytical techniques and software tools. This involves the master-level use of database retrieval scripts.
- Document data handling and reporting to ensure consistency and validity of data between and within sites. Files may come from sources that use different computer hardware, software systems/protocols, and different communication packages.
- Maintain and update data catalogs, data catalog directories, and metadata.
- Perform system maintenance and backups. This includes routine database checkpoints, checkpoint verification, tuning, data-process merges, and user account management. Restore files when required.
- Perform Help Desk functions, responding to on-line user inquiries about access to the database and data retrievals, the execution of query scripts, and standard report programs.
Full description on PSMFC website.
