Marine Take Reduction Team (TRT) Coordinator - West Coast

Jun 27

Written By Liz Tarquin

Position Overview

CASE is seeking a Take Reduction Team (TRT) Coordinator to support NOAA’s West Coast Region in reducing whale entanglements in U.S. West Coast fixed gear fisheries. Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Coordinator will help convene and manage a new TRT focused on key marine mammal stocks and fisheries, while supporting the development and implementation of a Take Reduction Plan (TRP). This role demands strong organizational, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills, along with expertise in marine mammal protection and fisheries science.

The ideal candidate will have experience working with NOAA Fisheries or similar agencies, and a solid background in marine mammal conservation, entanglement response, and West Coast fixed gear fisheries. Familiarity with the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network, aerial survey fieldwork, and whale ecology is highly desirable. The ability to translate complex scientific data into actionable insights for both technical and public audiences is essential.

Travel is expected and may include meetings, workshops, conferences, and aerial surveys. This is a unique opportunity to shape conservation policy and drive tangible progress in marine mammal protection.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate all phases of TRT planning and implementation, including agenda development, meeting facilitation support, and stakeholder communication.
• Assist in the identification and onboarding of TRT members and support ongoing engagement with NMFS scientists, stakeholders, and facilitators.
• Manage entanglement data collection, review, and dissemination in support of TRT meetings and West Coast entanglement initiatives.
• Draft Federal Register notices, NEPA documents, briefing materials, and internal memos related to TRP implementation.
• Represent NMFS in stakeholder working groups and other meetings focused on reducing whale entanglements.
• Collaborate with researchers, managers, and fishermen to develop and communicate scientific analyses related to gear impacts and entanglement risk.
• Provide regular updates and formal deliverables, including monthly progress reports, meeting summaries, and annual data summaries.
• Participate in aerial surveys and fieldwork as needed to support entanglement science and management efforts.
  
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in biological sciences, conservation biology, wildlife management, or a related field.
• Strong project planning and coordination experience, particularly in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment.
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse stakeholder groups, including researchers, NGOs, and fishery managers.
• Knowledge of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, Take Reduction Teams/Plans, and related federal environmental statutes (e.g., NEPA).
• Familiarity with gear types, seasonality, and regulations for West Coast fixed gear fisheries.
• Proven experience with entanglement data evaluation and reporting.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Current proficiency in MS Office and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
• Ability to manage and present complex scientific data clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience with the West Coast Region Marine Mammal Stranding Network, particularly in response to whale entanglements.
• Knowledge of whale biology and ecology along the U.S. West Coast.
• Prior experience supporting NMFS or other federal natural resource agencies.
• Completion of NOAA-compliant water survival training (if participating in overwater aerial survey flights).
  

About CASE Consultants International

CASE Consultants International is a Small Business Administration (SBA)-certified Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) and HubZone-certified firm based in Asheville, NC. With over 12 years of success, CASE supports federal and state agencies, NGOs, research institutions, and private industry through expert services that advance environmental protection, sustainable development, and ecological resilience.

We specialize in delivering high-impact solutions in coastal, marine, ocean, and terrestrial environments, with core strengths in:

• Strategic environmental and scientific initiatives
• Regulatory compliance and policy support
• Scientific and technical research and analysis
• Science communication and stakeholder engagement
• Adaptation and resilience planning
• Disaster recovery and restoration
• Program design and implementation support
  
  

Whether helping agencies implement Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7 consultations, guiding communities through coastal resilience planning, or supporting private sector sustainability goals, CASE integrates science and strategy to generate meaningful, measurable outcomes.

Our goal is not simply to provide information—but to deliver environmental intelligence that empowers evidence-based decisions and supports long-term ecological and economic sustainability.

At CASE, we hire talented and passionate professionals who are committed to making the planet a safer, healthier, and more hospitable place for all its inhabitants. We create a cultivate, a flexible and collaborative work environment that welcomes a range of perspectives, values creativity, and seeks and delivers work that makes a lasting difference.

Our competitive benefits packages include company-sponsored healthcare (medical, dental, and vision); paid leave; retirement plan; training and professional development; remote and flexible work; performance-based raises and bonuses; and others.

CASE is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer focused on attracting, retaining, and cultivating talented professionals with diverse backgrounds and perspectives and a diverse, inclusive workplace in which our employees thrive. We equitably consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information as per https://www.eeoc.gov/poster.

If you require assistance in completing this application, please contact us at [email protected].

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Liz Tarquin