Quantitative Analyst – COMPASS Modeling

About the role

The Quantitative Analyst will develop and enhance the Comprehensive Passage (COMPASS) model to assess stressors and management actions on fish life cycles in river systems. Working with NOAA Fisheries and the Northwest Fisheries Science Center, the analyst will provide management‑ready products that support ESA litigation, permitting, and hydrosystem decisions for Pacific salmon and other West Coast species.

Key responsibilities

• Design, implement, and refine the COMPASS model for evaluating survival and migration through hydropower systems.
• Integrate statistical, computer, and quantitative ecological analyses to generate actionable insights.
• Collaborate with regional managers and researchers to organize and synthesize environmental and biological datasets.
• Document reproducible research workflows and share analytical products on open‑science platforms such as GitHub.
• Prepare technical reports, contribute to journal manuscripts, and present findings at regional and national conferences.
• Maintain rigorous QA/QC standards and ensure model components are fully integrated into life‑cycle assessments.
• Support field collection of fish and environmental data in freshwater, estuarine, and near‑shore marine environments as needed.

Required profile

• Experience developing ecological or environmental models for river or marine systems.
• Ability to work independently and as part of interdisciplinary teams.
• Willingness to conduct field work in variable outdoor conditions.
• Strong written communication skills for reports, manuscripts, and presentations.

Required skills

• Statistical modeling
• Computer modeling
• Quantitative ecological analysis
• Version control with GitHub

What we offer

• Competitive hourly rate negotiated based on experience.
• Opportunity to contribute to high‑impact fisheries science and policy.