Taking action for the ocean today, so we can all flourish.

ROLE OVERVIEW

Ocean Wise is a globally focused conservation organization on a mission to protect and restore the world’s oceans. Through research, education, direct-action conservation and field projects, we empower communities to take action for ocean health. We’re focused on tackling three major ocean challenges: overfishing, ocean pollution and climate change. Ocean Wise is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia with staff across Canada and initiatives around world. We deliver our work through six initiatives: Arctic, Plastics, Fisheries, Seaforestation, Youth, and Whales.

The Whales Initiative is a core initiative of the Conservation Division of Ocean Wise. The Whales Initiative comprises approximately 20 regular staff members all of whom have post-secondary degrees in science and are engaged in some aspect of applied conservation research. The initiative also employs 5-8 graduate students, undergraduate students, paid interns, and contractors at any given time. Staff in this program conduct projects on conservation genetics, marine mammal health and nutritional status, citizen science-based monitoring of trends in marine mammal abundance and distribution via the BC Cetacean Sightings Network (BCCSN), photo-identification-based monitoring of killer and humpback whales, marine mammal vessel strike and disturbance mitigation, impacts and mitigation of anthropogenic underwater noise and assessment and mitigation of the impact of toxic contaminants on marine mammals. The Whales Initiative has field offices in Victoria and Prince Rupert, laboratory facilities at the Pacific Science Enterprise Centre, and two research vessels; one based in Vancouver and the other in Prince Rupert. Research projects conducted by the Whales Initiative are considered interventions in Theory of Change terminology and are designed to generate result chains leading to specific conservation outcomes.

The Research Scientist assists with achieving the core mandates of the Whales Initiative. Providing scientific expertise, they will work with the Research Managers to design, implement, and deliver numerous research projects across different programs within the Whales Initiative.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Assists in the design, review, and delivery of research projects across the initiative
• Co-creates research plans and other interventions in coordination with the Director, Senior Manager, and Research Managers and schedules to meet or exceed programmatic deliverables stipulated in funding agreements
• Supports fundraising efforts, in collaboration with the Director and Senior Manager, Whales team and the Development team, by providing conservation contents to proposals and pitches, making presentations to prospects and donors, and orchestrating the programmatic contents of proposal preparation
• Ensures that research findings and other information from the Whales Initiative are shared in a timely, strategic and comprehensive way within Ocean Wise, with the primary audience to influence and with Ocean Wise’s larger audience
• Mobilizes research outcomes into dissemination packages for Ocean Wise’s audiences as indicated in the communications strategy
• Serves as a spokesperson, as agreed with the Director and in line with the communications strategy of the Whales Initiative, by conducting media interviews, giving public lectures, and conducting similar activities to inform and motivate policy development, industry best practices and behavioral change in support of whale conservation
• Encourages Whales Initiative staff to maintain their credibility in the scientific and policy communities by assisting with the publishing of their findings in peer-reviewed journals, as relevant, and presenting them at scientific and/or other pertinent conferences
• Collaborates with other Ocean Wise Conservation Initiatives as it pertains to project synergies and sharing of conservation tools
• Prepares internal reports as well as for external audiences, funders, and stakeholders on Whales Initiative activities
• Performs any other duties as requested by the Director, Whales

Plays a key role in the operation of the BC Cetacean Sightings Network (BCCSN) by:

• Assessing the efficacy of the WhaleReport Alert System by analyzing ship responses (changes in speed and bearing) in response to alerts of whale presence in their travel routes
• Fulfilling data requests from external researchers wishing to use BCCSN data for conservation-based research projects and contributing to these projects where applicable
• Supervising processing of sightings and maintaining the quality and rigour of the BCCSN database
• Assisting with mapping of database sightings and performing spatial analyses in a GIS framework as needed
• Update and publish a manuscript summarizing the BCCSN Effort Model, which applies a weighting to opportunistic sightings submitted to the BCCSN to provide a more realistic representation of cetacean distribution that is not biased towards areas where there is a higher concentration of observers

Contributes to cetacean research in the Whales Initiative by:

• Supporting Ocean Wise staff conducting research from within the Cetacean Health and Monitoring program
• Assisting with report writing and data analysis for ongoing research projects conducted from the North Coast

Creates and fosters professional links that build the stature of Ocean Wise by:

• Attending and presenting at scientific conferences, workshops and meetings
• Serving as a peer reviewer of scientific papers, as requested by journal editors

Consciously improves the overall organization and its processes by:

• Continually improving our impact on the environment and greening of operations through support of EMS protocols
• Maintaining and supporting organizational safety standards
• Abiding by all organizational policies and procedures
• Performing other duties of a similar nature or level

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

• PhD degree a very strong asset (but Masters Degree would be considered) with at least 5 years of professional experience in marine biology or a related field and at least 3 years of experience supervising teams and managing projects
• Must have a track record in conservation-oriented research on and conservation of cetaceans
• Must have excellent writing skills, both for scientific and popular articles
• Experience with managing large budgets and working within an NGO highly desirable
• Good public speaking skills are an asset, with the ability to tailor presentations to diverse audiences and speak confidently with video and radio interviewers
• Must have a collaborative attitude and excellent people skills
• Boat and marine mammal fieldwork skills are assets
• MED-A2, SVOP and RROC qualifications are strong assets

Technical Competencies

• Experience with coding languages (e.g., R, Python, SQL) essential
• Previous experience with GIS (QGIS or ArcGIS) essential
• Previous experience with Microsoft software (Excel, Access, Teams)
• Skills in data analysis, quantitative research, and conservation essential

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Depending on incumbent location, there is the option to work in a hybrid work arrangement (partially from home, partially in a shared office environment) with the usual ergonomic risks of a primarily desk-based position
• Incumbent must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they have an approved exemption and be willing to submit a proof of vaccination
• May be required to travel to attend off-site meetings and presentations

Inclusion and Diversity: Ocean Wise is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We are a company where diverse backgrounds, experiences and viewpoints are valued. Ocean Wise does not make hiring or employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, age, ethnic or national origin.