Marine Scientist II

Spatial Front, Inc. (SFI), a two-time USAToday Top Workplaces awardee and Washington Top Workplaces honoree, is seeking an Endangered Species Act (ESA) Consultation Scientist to support NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Regional Office (SERO). The selected candidate will conduct scientific literature reviews and develop credible, legally and biologically defensible project-effect analyses supporting ESA Section 7 consultation documents.

Project Overview

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), a division of the Department of Commerce (DOC), is responsible for the stewardship of the nation’s living marine resources and their habitats.

The Southeast Regional Office (SERO), located in St. Petersburg, Florida, manages programs throughout the Southeast Region, with field offices in Galveston, TX, Baton Rouge, LA, West Palm Beach, FL, St. Croix, USVI, San Juan, PR, Beaufort, NC, Charleston, SC

This task order provides professional and scientific support services across multiple SERO-managed programs.

Work Schedule: Fully remote position working East Coast business hours.

Primary Responsibilities

• Ensure informational requirements are met for incoming ESA Section 7 consultation requests.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to ensure consultations are biologically accurate, legally sufficient, consistent, and aligned with conservation goals.
• Discuss project methodologies and designs with applicants and federal agencies.
• Recommend reasonable approaches, alternatives, or modifications to reduce impacts to listed species and habitats while streamlining consultation processes.
• Draft agency response documents using Microsoft Office tools, including:
  • Requests for Additional Information (RAIs)
  • Letters of Concurrence (LOCs)
  • Biological Opinions (BOs)
• Conduct scientific literature reviews supporting defensible project-effect analyses.
• Provide meeting coordination and conference support.
• Support data management, documentation, and analysis related to Section 7 consultations.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology, Marine Policy, or a related discipline (or equivalent experience).

Experience: 1–3 years of relevant professional experience.

• Experience applying ESA Section 7 consultation requirements.
• Knowledge of Southeast U.S. species habitats, including:
  • Ocean and nearshore marine environments
  • Estuarine systems
  • Riverine habitats
• Strong technical writing, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to adapt to evolving standard operating procedures.

Certifications: None required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Understanding of coastal ecology and marine biology within the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic regions.
• Experience with aquatic habitat restoration or impact assessment.
• Ability to manage multiple high-priority tasks simultaneously.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organizational and time management abilities.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment with close attention to detail.
• Proficiency with:
  • Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
  • Google Workspace (Gmail, Calendar, Meet/Hangouts)
• Ability to prioritize workload and meet deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated judgment, tact, and initiative in independent decision-making.

Additional Information 

• Clearance: Must be authorized to work in the U.S. and able to obtain a Public Trust clearance.
  Background checks may include Criminal History, Education Verification, Employment Verification, Professional Certifications, and Credit History. (Public Trust investigations typically take 4–8 weeks and require fingerprinting.)
• Work Environment: Flexible/remote.
• Salary Range: $50,000 – $70,000 annually
• Benefits: SFI offers a comprehensive benefits package. Details available at SFI Careers.
• This is a full-time, W2 position.
• No agencies, third parties, or Corp-to-Corp submissions.
• Spatial Front Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer — all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status.
• SFI participates in E-Verify.