CPAESS Associate Scientist III

Job Description Summary:

UCAR is excited to announce the job opening for the CPAESS Associate Scientist III role working with NOAA Ocean Exploration. This position will support NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research’s (OER) efforts to quality check, synthesize, visualize, and analyze data collected through the program’s ocean exploration operations. NOAA OER aims to collect unbiased, baseline information on areas of the deep sea (> 200 meters) for the use of further characterization, management, and hypothesis-driven research by OER’s partners. NOAA OER is looking for an Associate Scientist to create data synthesis and visualization products and/or reports of these data including, but not limited to, seafloor mapping data, species occurrence data, and environmental data. These data products will be used to support further exploration and science planning, outreach and education initiatives, and provide OER’s partners with a more well-rounded understanding of data collected in unexplored areas.

CPAESS serves the Earth System Science community in four distinct areas of service. We partner with federal agencies and businesses to hire critical scientific staff, enabling a more robust workforce in support of the Earth System Science community. Through our scientific programs, we seek to edify new research through our postdoctoral programs, our visiting scientist and internship programs, and our interagency programs. We help build the Earth System Science community by convening and managing summer schools and institutes, conferences, and advisory committees. We also serve the science community through hosted programs like CLIVAR and the Carbon Cycle.

Position Details:

Visa Sponsored Job:

No

Relocation Assistance Eligible:

No

Job Location:

Boulder, Colorado

Position Type & Term:

Full time, Regular

$87,818 - $109,772

*Final salary and rates are based on education, experience, and skills relevant to the role.*

Application Notes

Application Deadline: This position will be posted until 11:59:59pm MT, Monday, February 17, 2025. Applications will not be accepted past this date.

Required application materials (preferably in PDF Format): 

• Resume

• Cover Letter - Please address how your skills and experience meet the needs of this position (for more information, please refer to the Key Responsibilities and Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities sections of this job posting).

Federal screens and UCAR background checks are conducted for candidates selected for hire. Learn more.

Work Location:  This position is open to candidates seeking in-person, hybrid (combination of in-person and remote), and/or fully remote opportunities. UCAR requires ALL positions to be performed within the U.S., excluding U.S. Territories. CPAESS staff deployed to federal agencies must abide by their respective federal agency requirements concerning remote/flexible work arrangements.

What You Will Do

Here is a brief summary of what one would expect to be generally responsible for in this role.

Key Responsibilities

Provide substantial support to the OER Science and Technology Division including:

• Develop summary, synthesis, and visualization products and/or reports derived from data collected by NOAA OER and its partners.

• Define ocean exploration data needs, goals, and metrics for exploring the United States Exclusive Economic Zone to meet partner needs. Compile and analyze data from exploration operations conducted by NOAA OER to prepare data products highlighting the program’s discoveries and interpret data to priorities, e.g. Blue Economy, critical minerals, and climate change, etc. 

• Provide technical expertise and guidance regarding data analysis and synthesis, including  harmonization of data analytics methods.

• May author technical reports, scientific publications, and present papers at seminars and scientific meetings.

Who We'd Love To Join Our Team

Successful candidates will ensure their application materials speak to the following criteria:

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's (or equivalent) degree in a scientific discipline pertinent to a NCAR/UCAR scientific program

• 3-5 years of substantial experience as an Associate Scientist II (or equivalent position) performing research directly related to the UCAR program. 

  • Experience should provide evidence of considerable professional progress leading to the level of knowledge and skills outlined above.

Desired, but not required:

• Master’s degree in a relevant field.

• 1 year of oceanographic data acquisition and/or processing experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Well-developed skill in collecting or working with oceanographic data.

• Expertise with data cleaning, visualization, and statistical analyses of environmental/oceanographic data in languages such as Python and/or R.

• Demonstrated ability in developing data pipelines for extracting, transforming and manipulating raw data to generate products, summaries, visualizations, and automated reporting.

• Demonstrated knowledge of databases, mining/gathering data from disparate, open source data archives, and/or big data management.

• Demonstrated ability in engaging with stakeholders on product scoping and feature development.

• Demonstrated ability in working independently and with a team.

• Strong organizational skills.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to travel as needed (up to three weeks per year).

Desired, but not required:

• Demonstrated skill with biological observations using underwater video data and video annotation workflows. 

• Demonstrated knowledge of cloud environments.

• Demonstrated skill with database management, SQL or similar proficiency.

• Demonstrated knowledge of collaborative development environments (e.g., GitHub).

• Familiarity with GIS concepts and demonstrated knowledge of  ESRI’s ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Pro, and ArcGIS Online.

• Ability to explain analysis results to technical and non-technical audiences.

Benefits Overview 

UCAR affirms its commitment to employees through competitive benefits. In addition to medical, dental, vision, retirement, and life insurance,  UCAR offers a variety of programs focused on work-life balance and professional, and personal development. These include:

• Tuition Assistance, time off allowance to attend classes, and other professional development opportunities

• UCAR contributes 10% of your eligible pay into your retirement account; 100% fully vested on day one

• Starting minimum accrual of 20 days of personal time off each year (prorated for less than full-time positions)

• 10 paid holidays

• 10 days of sick leave each year

• 12 weeks of paid parental leave

• Short-term medical leave paid at 100% of your regular salary

• EcoPass for local Colorado residents to use the Denver and Boulder-area transit system at no cost

Commitment to Job Application Fairness

Applicants are not required to provide age or age-related information and may redact information related to age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution from any submissions during the initial application process.

Some Final Considerations

At UCAR|NCAR|UCP, you will work alongside a dedicated team of professionals conducting critical research and community outreach to solve complex Earth system science  problems including climate change, air pollution, extreme weather, floods, drought, wildfires, and space weather, all with the goal of improving human life and reducing economic loss. Each of us, from scientists to the professionals who support their work, serves the public and a collaborative community of scientists in our mission to understand the complex processes that make up the Earth system, from the ocean floor to the Sun’s core.

Flexible Work

At UCAR, we are committed to supporting our mission by giving staff the flexibility to find the schedule and location that works best to maintain their own work-life circumstances and reach their full potential as professionals. Many positions within our organization are eligible for fully on-site, hybrid (three days per week) and/or flexible work hours.

Equal Opportunity Employer

UCAR is committed to providing equal opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or pregnancy. Whatever your intersection of identities, you are welcome at UCAR.

Export Control

All positions are required to comply with U.S. export compliance regulations work location requirements regarding access to facilities and research systems.

Visa Wait Times

Please consider the length of visa procurement when applying for this posting, understanding that you will not be able to begin employment until you are able to get a visa and enter the U.S.

Work Location

UCAR requires ALL positions to be performed within the U.S., excluding U.S. Territories.