Assistant Quantitative Biologist

The Pacific Salmon Commission (PSC), an international organization responsible for transboundary salmon fisheries management in Canada and the United States, is seeking an applicant for a one-year term position starting mid-June as our Assistant Quantitative Biologist (BI-02). The position will be part of the Fisheries Management Division within the PSC Secretariat office located in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Under the guidance of the Stock Identification Manager and the Quantitative Biologist, the successful candidate will be responsible for maintaining and analyzing data. The position also requires interaction with, and support for, the PSC Fraser River Panel, a bilateral body of fishery managers representing commercial, recreational, aboriginal, and government interests.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direction of the Stock Identification Manager and the Quantitative Biologist, the incumbent will:

1. Manage assessment data: Update and distribute Fraser River sockeye and pink salmon catch, migration passage, spawning escapement and run size statistics, both in-season and post-season. Engage with external parties to collate information on non-Fraser sockeye returns.
2. Analyze data and present results using a variety of statistical methods (e.g., summary statistics, linear regression, maximum likelihood estimation).
3. Run stock assessment models and other analyses in R and debug existing code as needed.
4. Develop tools for processing and visualising data: Design, produce, and populate R Shiny and/or Excel products for data visualisation, promoting data integrity and efficient processing/analysis. Write code (e.g., R, Shiny, VBA) to manipulate, visualize, and export data.
5. Develop sampling and shipping plans: Assist in planning biological sampling programs for sockeye and pink salmon stock identification; evaluate predicted schedules, transportation needs, and staffing requirements.
6. Prepare for the season: Oversee Sampling Coordinator in evaluation and preparation of biological sampling equipment needs. Obtain supplies and organize their distribution including manuals, schedules, sampling gear, and shipping materials.
7. Supervise temporary staff: Oversee, train, and manage seasonal staff (i.e., Sampling Coordinator, Port Sampling Technicians), as required.
8. Implement sampling plans: Oversee Sampling Coordinator in communication with samplers, fish plants, and test fishery operations to optimize the distribution of sampling resources, adjusting plans as circumstances warrant, and ensuring satisfactory execution of the sampling program. Assist with collection of biological data and samples from salmon as needed, including sampling of fish on the spawning grounds, as required.
9. Ensure and confirm sample delivery: Oversee and confirm sample delivery. Maintain a database with information on biological samples and shipping expenses. Manage sampling/shipping expenditures and verify that invoices match goods/services received.
10. Quality control for equipment and sampling: Oversee the Sampling Coordinator and participate where necessary with respect to: collaborative work with external groups, assisting Test Fishing and Scale Lab personnel in recovering and inventorying sampling material and equipment; calibrating equipment to assess potential biases relevant to in-season data collection; cleaning, maintaining, organizing, and storing materials and equipment.
11. Contribute to meetings and other communications: Assist by running prescribed statistical analyses and producing data summaries as required. Assist with A/V, minute-taking, report writing and providing presentations.
12. Perform other duties as required.

Minimum Requirements

1. Under-graduate degree in biology, resource management, or related field.
2. Demonstrated technical proficiencies in a range of mathematical and statistical methods.
3. Outstanding programming skills in R, including data wrangling and visualization.
4. Experience working with scientific or environmental datasets in a database or structured data system, including data entry, review, and basic data quality control.
5. Proficiency in other Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
6. Strong interpersonal and communication skills (English, verbal and written).
7. Demonstrated ability to work efficiently, problem-solve, prioritize, delegate tasks, and make sound decisions quickly while under time constraints on multiple projects.
8. A high degree of adaptability, tact, and ability to cooperate in diverse groups.
9. Willingness to advance current skills.
10. Valid passport and ability to cross the U.S./Canadian border.

Advantages

1. Post-graduate degree or experience developing and completing a multi-faceted, collaborative, technical or research project.
2. Experience using Microsoft Access or similar database tools for data management.
3. Experience and knowledge regarding fisheries and fisheries management activities.
4. Experience with specialised R packages for organising and communicating data including: r-markdown, quarto, shiny, ggplot2 and other tidyverse packages.
5. Experience with online version control and code repositories (e.g. git, GitHub, GitLab)

Salary and benefits

Salary range: $74,292 to $101,162, which is equivalent to the Canadian Public Service classification for a BI-2. Full benefits package including defined benefit pension plan, extended health and dental care, and disability insurance. Teleworking is permitted for a maximum of three days per week and two days a week the position will report to the PSC Secretariat office, excluding any weeks that require travel to attend in-person meetings. This job is open to non-Canadians with residency and work permission in Canada and Canadian citizens.

Qualified applicants should have a flexible attitude and enjoy being part of a dynamic and progressive team in a unique international organization. If interested, please forward a cover letter, résumé, and the contact details of three references in one PDF file; please name the file beginning with your last name. Applications should be received by 11:59 p.m., Thursday, April 30, and be addressed to Ms. Angela Xu at ***email_hidden***. The successful candidate is expected to start no later than by June 30, 2026. Please note the interview process will include a skill test.

The PSC operates on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples. We are grateful for the opportunity to live and work on these lands.