Marine Scientist

Help Oceana protect the world’s oceans by translating science into on-the-water policy.  Oceana is seeking a marine scientist with interest and experience creating in science-based policy to join our U.S. North Atlantic right whale campaign team.  Come join a dedicated team of professionals who are working to protect this iconic species and others like it. 

Founded in 2001, Oceana is the world’s largest nonprofit organization focused solely on restoring the resilience and abundance of the ocean.  

Oceana achieves measurable change by conducting specific, science-based campaigns with fixed deadlines and articulated goals. Our campaigns focus on getting policy changes in countries that, govern nearly one-third of the world’s wild-caught fish, including Belize, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, the United States, Canada and the 27 countries in the European Union.   

The Marine Scientist is a core member of Oceana’s campaign team and works to protect and restore fisheries, save the North Atlantic right whale, and improve shark fisheries management. The Marine Scientist will be an Oceana issue expert fisheries and protected species issues, provide research to support and further campaign goals, develop written materials including reports, comments and media statements, develop action plans and implement projects, and help to shape the strategy and direction of new and existing campaigns and initiatives.  

The Marine Scientist has extensive contact with research scientists and representatives of government agencies and other stakeholders and serves as a spokesperson for Oceana across a range of opportunities.  

This position reports to the Campaign Director and is based in the Washington, DC office. 

The Marine Scientist will have familiarity with marine wildlife and fisheries laws and regulations, experience with the  conservation science and laws and be able to understand and synthesize science to represent Oceana in a professional and responsive manner to a variety of audiences.    

The marine scientist will have excellent organizational and research skills and the ability to handle many tasks simultaneously, with speed, accuracy, and courtesy, show initiative, and exhibit insightful planning and understanding of abstract concepts. 

Master’s degree in a relevant scientific discipline such as marine biology, oceanography, fisheries, or an equivalent of education and experience. Experience drafting advocacy letters and other documents.  Experience working to meet tight deadlines, completing unexpected projects, collaborating with members of a professional staff, and effectively managing a demanding workload.  Some long hours and domestic and international travel will be required at times. GIS and database proficiency preferred, including basic knowledge of statistical design and modeling. 

Oceana values a diverse workforce and welcomes people different from each other in many ways, including characteristics such as race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, and national origin. Oceana considers all qualified candidates and seeks to recruit from a diverse candidate pool.

Oceana’s US offices have operated on a hybrid schedule and staff have been required to work from their assigned office on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. With agreement between the employee and their supervisor, the employee may work from home Monday and Friday.