Fish Tagging Program Manager

Fish Tagging Program Manager 

Director-Track Position 

Duty Location: Highlands, NJ (preferred) or Millville, NJ; hybrid/telework eligible  

Status: Full-time, exempt 

Salary Range: 62,000-75,000 commensurate with experience, leadership capacity, and duty location 

About the American Littoral Society 

The American Littoral Society is a leading coastal conservation organization dedicated to protecting and restoring coastal ecosystems through science, education, advocacy, and community engagement. Since 1965, the Society’s Fish Tagging Program has grown into the largest and longest-running volunteer saltwater fish tagging program in the United States, engaging hundreds of anglers and generating one of the most valuable long-term community science fisheries datasets in the country.  

About the Fish Tagging Program 

With nearly one million fish tagged since its inception and thousands of annual recaptures, the Fish Tagging Program provides critical insights into fish growth, movement, survival, and population dynamics. Program data are shared with partners including NOAA Fisheries, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, academic institutions, and state agencies, and are used to inform fisheries management, research, and conservation decisions. The program is entering a new phase that honors its legacy while modernizing operations, strengthening scientific partnerships, and expanding its educational and community science impact for fish conservation. This position plays a central role in shaping that future. 

Position Summary 

The Fish Tagging Program Manager serves as the primary steward and leader of the Society’s Fish Tagging Program, which works with anglers across the east coast to capture and tag fish. This role ensures program continuity, operational excellence, strong volunteer relationships, and high-quality data stewardship, while also advancing opportunities for program growth, partnerships, and funding. This is an aspirational, director-track position designed for a fish-related field professional who knows fish and fishing culture, works well with anglers and partners, and is ready to grow into a senior leadership role as the program expands. 

Program Operations & Data Stewardship 

• Oversee day-to-day operations of the Fish Tagging Program, ensuring continuity, reliability, efficiency and timeliness
• Manage tagging kit inventory, distribution, and logistics for distributing to anglers and fishing clubs
• Ensure accurate data collection, quality control, archiving, and long-term stewardship of tagging and recapture data
• Coordinate data entry and QA/QC processes using staff, volunteers, students, or subcontractors as appropriate
• Support preparation and sharing of datasets with scientific and management partners

Volunteer, Angler & Community Engagement 

• Serve as the primary point of contact for volunteer anglers, fishing clubs, and program participants and supervision of fish tagging interns
• Build and maintain positive, respectful, and collaborative relationships grounded in trust and shared stewardship
• Support recruitment, retention, and engagement of volunteer anglers and youth participants
• Represent the program at fishing clubs, community events, educational programs, and occasional media opportunities

Science Partnerships & Program Growth 

• Work collaboratively with scientists, agencies, and academic partners to enhance the scientific value and application of tagging data
• Identify and pursue opportunities for new partnerships, program enhancements, and applied research
• Support grant development and fundraising efforts related to the Fish Tagging Program

Education & Outreach 

• Support educational and youth-focused programming linked to fish tagging, fisheries science, and conservation
• Lead fish tagging trips with new and seasoned anglers to promote the program and fish topics
• Participate in occasional field-based education activities and tagging demonstrations
• Help connect real-world data to learning experiences and conservation outcomes

Opportunities for Program Development 

This role is uniquely positioned to help unlock the full potential of one of the most extensive fisheries datasets in the country, including working with others to: 

• Modernize data systems while respecting legacy participation methods
• Developing visualizations, summaries, or interactive tools that illustrate long-term trends
• Expanding partnerships with universities, agencies, and NGOs
• Growing youth engagement and educational programming related to fish and fishing
• Increasing funding and long-term sustainability of the program

Who We’re Looking For 

We are seeking a candidate who knows fish first and foremost, understands fishing culture, and is motivated to grow a nationally respected program. 

Required Qualifications 

• Strong knowledge of saltwater fish species, fisheries, and fishing
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• Demonstrated ability to manage programs, projects, and people
• Experience working with a variety of stakeholders from various perspectives (i.e: volunteers, anglers, scientists, anglers, resource managers, students, or community partners)
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work independently with sound judgment and initiative
• Bachelor’s degree in fisheries science, marine science, natural resources, conservation, or a related field (or equivalent experience)

Preferred (but not required) 

• Graduate-level training in fisheries, marine science, ecology, or related field
• Experience with fish tagging, community science, or long-term ecological datasets
• Experience working with state or federal agencies and local anglers
• Grant writing or fundraising experience
• Comfort in educational or public-facing settings

Candidates with strong operational skills and leadership potential are especially encouraged to apply. 

Growth & Compensation Philosophy 

This position is intentionally structured with room for growth. As the Fish Tagging Program expands through partnerships, grants, and increased impact, the scope, responsibility, and compensation of this role are expected to grow accordingly. The Society is committed to investing in leadership capacity while maintaining internal equity and sustainability. 

Why Join the American Littoral Society? 

• Lead one of the most enduring and respected fish tagging programs in the U.S.
• Work with a passionate community of anglers, scientists, and conservationists
• Translate real-world data into meaningful science, management, and education outcomes
• Build leadership experience with a clear pathway toward senior responsibility
• Be part of a mission-driven organization shaping the future of coastal conservation

Compensation and Benefits: Salary range is $62,000 – $75,000 annually, commensurate with experience and duty location. This position includes a generous holiday and paid time off program, along with health care benefits. The Society strives to maintain equitable and competitive compensation, including merit-based increases and cost-of-living adjustments. This is an at-will position. 

Equal Opportunity Employer 

The American Littoral Society is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds who share a commitment to coastal conservation and stewardship.