Fisheries Monitoring Group Manager

Fisheries Monitoring Group Manager

Location: Remote, Pacific Northwest preferred, with occasional travel to project sites

Compensation: $120,000 - $150,000 annually (negotiable based on experience)

Position Summary

The Fisheries Monitoring Group Manager leads Spheros Environmental's fish counting and fisheries monitoring programs in the Northwest Digital Solutions Department. The role directly supervises the fish counting group, including full-time, part-time and seasonal fish counting supervisors and technicians, and is responsible for program delivery, client relationships and growth with hydroelectric operators, public utility districts and federal agencies.

Spheros pairs field monitoring with technology. This role oversees programs that use camera-based and semi-automated fish counting systems and the data infrastructure that carries count data from the field to clients and regional data users. The Program Manager is not a software developer, but must understand how these systems, databases and data delivery flows work well enough to run programs on them, scope them, and explain them to clients. Working knowledge of SQL is preferred, since the role will at times query program databases directly to check, troubleshoot or pull count data.

Essential Functions

Personnel Management

• Directly supervise fish counting supervisors and technicians, including scheduling, coverage across sites and seasons, training, and performance management.
• Responsible for high levels of engagement and retention within the group. Provide feedback, coaching and career development guidance for staff.
• Provide input to the Department Manager on hiring, corrective action, promotion, compensation, performance evaluation, work hours and schedules.
• Work with Human Resources and the Department Manager to address employment, safety and turnover risks.

Program and Project Delivery

• Serve as project manager for the department's fish counting and fisheries monitoring contracts, including scope, schedule, budget, staffing, invoicing and client communication.
• Ensure count data meet contract, regulatory and quality requirements, including QA/QC procedures, documentation and on-time delivery of daily, seasonal and annual data products.
• Oversee the operation of camera-based and semi-automated counting systems in partnership with the department's software and data staff, and translate field and client needs into clear requirements for that team.
• Understand the data flow from counting station to database to client and regional data users, and identify issues or improvements in that flow.
• Support client approval and adoption of new counting technology, including demonstrations, validation studies and transition plans.
• Support research and development work and grant-funded projects related to fish counting technology, including reporting and coordination with funding agencies.

Business Development and Growth

• Build and maintain relationships with Columbia and Snake River public utility districts, other hydroelectric operators, and federal agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
• Identify and pursue new fish counting and monitoring opportunities, including expansion of semi-automated counting services to new sites and clients.
• Lead or support proposals, cost estimates, presentations and interviews, in coordination with the Department Manager and the Digital Services Practice Area Lead.
• Help develop service and pricing models for technology-enabled counting services.

Accountability and Decision Making

• Understand and monitor financial metrics for the group's projects, including budget, margin and utilization, and take corrective action with guidance from the Department Manager.
• Organize the group's workload so it is financially feasible and technically sound.
• Enforce company policies and procedures, and alert the Department Manager and HR to project or personnel risks.
• Maintain a minimum of 80% utilization through project management and direct project contributions.

Leadership and Safety

• Lead by example and foster a people-focused, high-performance culture aligned with the company's purpose and vision.
• Uphold the company's health and safety standards at hydroelectric facilities and field sites, including site-specific access and safety requirements.
• Handle challenging conversations with sound judgment and maintain confidentiality where required.
• Assist with implementing corporate projects and initiatives.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in fisheries, biology, natural resources, environmental science or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in fisheries monitoring, with direct experience in adult or juvenile fish counting at hydroelectric facilities preferred.
• Experience supervising field staff, including hourly and seasonal staff, and managing schedules across multiple sites.
• Experience managing projects, budgets and client relationships.
• Working knowledge of databases, data QA/QC and data delivery processes. Software development experience is not required.
• Familiarity with the regulatory context for fish passage monitoring, such as FERC license requirements, ESA consultations and agency coordination.
• Strong communication, organization and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, SharePoint, Outlook) and willingness to adopt new technologies as they emerge.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel to project sites.

Preferred Qualifications

• Working knowledge of SQL, sufficient to query and navigate program databases to review, troubleshoot or extract count data.
• Experience with video or camera-based fish counting systems, including machine-learning-assisted counting.
• Experience with Columbia and Snake River basin fish passage programs and the clients that run them.
• Demonstrated business development success with utility or federal agency clients.
• Experience with grant-funded research and development projects.

Apply today! Spheros is an equal-opportunity employer.