Job Title: Lead Marine Debris Technician (seasonal sea-going)
Location: Kailua (Oahu), Hawaii
Minimum Hourly Salary: $18.00/hour (pay commensurate with experience)

NOTE: Applications must include a cover letter and resume with three references in order to be considered complete. Incomplete applications will not be considered.



Job Description / Scope of Work:

IBSS is seeking up to four (4) Lead Marine Debris Technicians (seasonal sea-going) to support the Papaha naumokua kea Marine Debris Project (PMDP) ( www.pmdphawaii.org ) in coordinating and executing large-scale underwater and shoreline derelict fishing gear and marine debris removal operations at the remote islands and atolls of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands within the Papaha naumokua kea Marine National Monument (PMNM) for up to 60 total sea days per year.

Employment is approximately 5 months in duration, planned for May 1 October 6, 2023 (tentative), with two separate 30-day field missions (cruises) to the PMNM (tentatively scheduled for July 5 August 1, 2023 and August 26 September 22, 2023). The Lead Technicians will coordinate, lead, manage, and/or support PMDP in all phases of the field operations from: field equipment preparation (small boats, outboard motors, safety equipment, survey equipment), field work training (coordinating logistics for small boat and dive safety training), field work execution (two separate 30-day missions living aboard a 185-ft chartered vessel ship, operating small boats and free-dive snorkeling to remove derelict fishing nets from shallow coral reefs and shorelines, and collecting data), field work demobilization (including marine debris transport and disposal), and equipment servicing and repair.


Key Responsibilities:

• Coordinate and execute two separate 30-day marine debris removal field missions (60 total days at sea) aboard a large vessel (~185-ft in length) to the Papaha naumokua kea Marine National Monument (PMNM), serving as the Lead Small Boat Operator, managing a team of up to 4 divers to remove derelict fishing gear and other debris from shallow coral reefs (0-30 ft depths) and shoreline environments.
• Leads a team of up to 4 divers conducting underwater free-diving (breath-hold snorkeling) survey and removal operations to assess, monitor, and mitigate the threats of marine debris to coral reef ecosystems in the PMNM.
• Leads a team of up to 6 Technicians conducting shoreline marine debris removal operations at the islands and atolls in the PMNM.
• Leads the collections of data identifying different types of marine debris and benthic habitats using various survey techniques and procedures.
• Leads the preparation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of field equipment, including inflatable small boats, outboard motors, dive equipment, small boat equipment, safety equipment, and survey equipment.
• Leads the field equipment inspection, inventorying, and repair, as well as purchasing of equipment and supplies.
• Collects, QA/QCs, and processes marine debris and other data, and assists with preparing summary reports for publication and presentation.
• Leads coordination of mission loading (mobilization) and offloading (demobilization), including the transport and disposal of marine debris.

• Leads daily operational planning for small boat and free-dive surveys to remove marine debris, during at-sea field missions, using ArcGIS software.
• Leads forklift operations and warehouse management and inventory of all PMDP field equipment, including small boats, outboard motors, dive equipment, small boat equipment, safety equipment, and survey equipment.
• Leads outreach and education efforts including coordinating school visits and public events, developing marine debris outreach and education curriculum, and working to develop the mobile Plastic Makerspace at Le Jardin Academy.
• Leads communication and media efforts including managing and sharing photo and video content collected during the training period and at-sea field missions.
• Leads data management efforts including summary and metric reporting at the end of each field mission.
• Supports administrative and bookkeeping duties during field season, primarily procurement of field equipment and supplies, training costs, logistics, and miscellaneous.
• Supports small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) surveys, which may include serving roles such as Pilot/Operator-in-Command (PIC/OIC), visual observer, or launch/recovery support.
• Leads a Diver Propulsion Vehicle survey.

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident Alien.
• Minimum of one (1) year of post-high school work experience or schooling.
• Must meet Medical Doctor's health criteria for in-water (post employment dive physical examination) and at-sea duty on large vessels, which includes meeting the physical, watermanship, and experience requirements.
• Must possess SCUBA certification of at minimum Basic Open-Water through an accredited dive institution (i.e. PADI, NAUI).
• Must possess a valid driver's license to assist with transporting small boats, equipment, and supplies.
• Must possess excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Must be able to lead and manage teams of up to four (4) staff.
• One to three (1-3) years of experience in small boat and dive operations.
• One to three (1-3) years of experience inspecting, maintaining, operating, troubleshooting, and/or repairing inflatable small boats, outboard motors, dive equipment, and/or rigging and lifting equipment.
• One to three (1-3) years of prior PMDP (or equivalent, i.e., NOAA) experience leading ship-based small boat and dive operations.

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in Marine Sciences or related field.
• Three to five (3-5) years of experience in marine fieldwork, with previous experience at-sea for extended periods of time (up to 30 consecutive days or 60 total days) and ability to lift fifty (50) pounds of marine debris or equipment repeatedly during a single day, for up to 30 consecutive days.
• Previous experience leading or managing small teams.
• Previous experience in ArcGIS (Geospatial Information Systems) software and operational planning.
• Previous experience in leading or participating in Native Hawaiian cultural practices.
• Previous experience in outreach, education, communication, and media.
• Previous experience in photography, videography, and digital media editing.
• Previous experience in data analysis and management.
• Previous experience in Information Technologies (IT).
• Ability to pass all training requirements, including but not limited to: Diving First-Aid for Professional Divers (DFA Pro) Adult First-Aid / Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) / Automated External Defibrillator (AED) / Oxygen Administration, Basic Small Boat Operator (equivalent to Motorboat Operator Training Course (MOTC) and Open-Water Module (OWM), Level 1 Free-Diver, and Marine Debris Specialized Task Endorsement (STE).
• Extensive experience in the open ocean as a boat operator: State of Hawaii Boating License and/or Dept. of the Interior (DOI) Motorboat Operator Certification Course (MOCC) and Open-Water Module (OWM) certifications, and experience operating 16-26 ft small boats.
• Extensive experience in the open ocean as a swimmer: swimming/snorkeling and breath-hold free-diving skills to pass the watermanship test of 500-m swim in 15 minutes and a 25-m (lateral, not depth) breath-hold swim.
• Extensive experience in small boat, dive, and ship operations, with experience inspecting, maintaining, operating, troubleshooting and repairing inflatable small boats, outboard motors, dive equipment, and rigging and lifting equipment.
• Previous experience working in the PMNM around Hawaiian monk seals, sea turtles, sea birds, and other wildlife and habitats.
• Extensive experience with basic fabrication and repair, with good working knowledge of all basic power tools and hand tools.
• Proficient in basic Microsoft Office, Google suite, and Adobe productivity software tools.
• Previous experience preparing summary reports, statistics, presentation graphics, and detailed documents of survey activities and data analyses.
• Previous certification (active) in basic forklift and/or telehandler operation.

IBSS is a Woman-Owned business. Since 1992, IBSS has provided specialized professional, scientific, technical, cybersecurity, IT, and software engineering solutions to the Federal sector. Our clients include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Department of Defense (DoD), and the Department of Justice (DOJ). We are committed to serving our clients and employees by delivering service excellence, creating value through technology, and continually improving our skills, services, and processes. Moreover, we maintain an ISO 9001:2015 certification which allows us to optimize current industry best practices to enhance delivery outcomes for our clients.

IBSS offers a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage with company-paid deductible, paid time off, federal holidays, matching 401K plan, tuition/professional development reimbursement, and Flex-Spending (FSA)/Dependent Care Account (DCA) options.

IBSS is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.