Economist/Statistician Needed in Woods Hole, MA

To apply:  Please send a resume, two references and salary requirements to HR@integratedstatistics.com

Integrated Statistics is looking for an individual to work with the Social Sciences Branch of Fisheries in Woods Hole.

I. Background

Economic data on the costs of operating commercial fishing businesses are needed by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to meet the legislative requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, Executive Order 12866 and the Regulatory Flexibility Act.  The Social Sciences Branch (SSB) of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center carries out the responsibilities of the NMFS in the Northeast region with the SSB primarily responsible for providing estimates of the economic and social impacts of proposed and final fishery management actions.  Assessments of this kind are limited without an accurate understanding of the financial costs faced by commercial fishing businesses.   

The Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s (NEFSC) Social Sciences Branch (SSB) has collected annual cost information from commercial fishing vessel owners since 2007.  This has been accomplished via a voluntary mail survey associated with the federal fishing permit renewal application.  Each year, since 2007, approximately 2,700 surveys have been sent to the universe of active vessels with a Northeast federal permit.  The response rate in 2007 was 22%, declined to 15% in 2008 and to 8% in 2009.

The declining response rate is jeopardizing the ability of the SSB to provide a level of analysis that is sufficient to allow the New England Fishery Management Council, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce, to make informed decisions about the expected economic effects of proposed management alternatives. 

II.  Objectives

Integrated Statistics is looking for someone who can help Fisheries/NOAA by providing the support needed to manage and improve the cost data collected from commercial fishing businesses by the SSB. 

III.  Scope

The SSB expects results of the contract will lead to more precise estimates of fishing costs and, hence, increase NMFS ability to provide decision-makers with better information to identify and explore the full range of economic impacts associated with management alternatives. 

IV.  Tasks

IV.A.  Project Management 

We are looking for someone to oversee and manage all aspects of the economic data collected for the SSB.  This includes monitoring the trip-level cost data collected by Northeast observers and the re-design of the fixed cost survey.

IV.B.  Data Summaries

We need someone who can summarize and clean the cost data collected in previous years for the SSB.

IV.C.  Behavioral Model Development (for applicants with econometric experience)

If possible, we would like someone who can evaluate and develop behavioral cost models of fishing vessels to the extent the data allow.  Standardized cost models by gear and other strata would improve the ability of the SSB to provide consistent and timely regulatory analyses.  As cost data will be updated over time, the contractor’s main objective is to develop the estimation approach and document the general modeling framework.  The end product shall be a set of documents that describe the data, methods, results and SAS codes with explanations.

IV.D.  Survey Design Firm Oversight

SSB is planning to hire a survey design firm and we would like someone to work with that firm to improve the response rates obtained from the annual cost survey.  Currently, due mainly to limited resources and constraints on SSB time, a single mailing takes place to the universe of federal permit holders and no attempts are made to collect annual cost data from non-respondents or verify the information contained in returned surveys.  The individual hired will be the lead contact and provide the required oversight necessary for the survey design firm to implement a Dillman-type (Dillman 2000) mail survey approach with additional mailings for non-respondents and telephone calls to verify questionable responses.  This is the approach followed in the southeast by NMFS economists to collect annual cost data from federal gulf shrimp permit holders.

IV.E.  Data Verification 

As the response rates are expected to rise with the modified collection approach, the SSB intends to eliminate universal mailings and instead collect the data using a stratified sampling design by fishery and gear type.  This will minimize the burden on respondents and likely reduce the time for gaining Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) clearance.  We are looking for someone to work closely with the survey design firm to monitor how the switch to the Dillman approach impacts the response rates.  In addition to closely monitoring return rates, this would entail clarifying the validity of the survey responses through comparisons across homogeneous vessels and to each surveyed vessel’s landings and revenue data contained in the Northeast dealer data in as real-time as possible.  In this manner, questionable responses will be flagged shortly after receiving completed surveys and vessel owners will be re-contacted by mail or telephone to address the uncertainties.      

IV.F.  Development of Stratified Sampling Approach

The individual shall also work closely with the survey design firm in planning and developing a stratified sampling approach by fishery and gear type. 

IV.G.  Mandatory Data Collection Determination 

Considering the importance of obtaining representative economic cost data from an industry that is facing ever-growing difficulties that are threatening its short and long-term viability, the SSB feels it is essential that survey participation be required.  The current voluntary approach has proven ineffective over the past three years as most fishermen, understandably, are reluctant to provide financial information.  The switch from a voluntary to mandatory surveying approach has proven successful for collecting cost data from Gulf shrimp fishermen in the Southeast.  The SSB feels that a mandatory designation here in the Northeast, in combination with a more aggressive survey approach and an on-site contractor who is actively engaged in all phases of the surveying, will greatly enhance the quality and quantity of the cost data the SSB collects. As such, we are looking for someone to research the legislative changes required to switch from a voluntary to mandatory surveying approach and work with NMFS Regional Office personnel and the two fishery management councils in the Northeast to implement the legislative changes.

Qualification-Requirements

The contracted personnel shall possess:

• A Masters Degree or equivalent experience in Economics, Statistics, Business Administration or Database Management.

· Demonstrated knowledge of relational database management systems, including Oracle and the Structured Query Language (SQL).  Familiarity with NEFSC databases would be helpful but not essential.

• Experience/knowledge of survey sampling, designing and conducting surveys, as well as compiling and analyzing the resulting statistics.

· Knowledge of econometrics is preferred, but not essential.  Applicants with econometric experience will be expected to complete the tasks outlined in IV.C. above.   

• Skill in written communication, preparation of technical reports and an ability to communicate orally.

· Demonstrated ability to work well as part of a team, but with considerable independence and initiative, and have strong interpersonal skills. 

Location:

National Marine Fisheries Services

Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Social Sciences Branch

13 Church St.

Woods Hole, MA 02543

To apply:  Please send a resume, two references and salary requirements to HR@integratedstatistics.com