Staff Officer (Economics and Social Sciences)

Salary, Benefits and Hiring level: The starting salary range for this position is $75,511 to $95,488 based on education and experience. The full promotion potential for this position is equivalent to the GS-13 step 10 of the Federal pay scale applied to Portland, Oregon (equivalent to $147,615 in the 2025 calendar year). In addition, the Pacific Council offers generously competitive insurance and retirement benefits.

Organizational Culture

At the Pacific Council, we value respect, integrity, curiosity, and collaboration. Our team is mission-driven and supportive, combining analytical rigor with a genuine commitment to sustainable fisheries and fishing communities. We work together in a transparent, collegial environment that celebrates teamwork, innovation, and diverse perspectives.

Summary

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) is one of eight regional councils established under the Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The Council manages fisheries in federal waters off Washington, Oregon, and California through transparent, science-based decision-making that sustains fish populations and the communities that depend on them.

Our work covers groundfish, salmon, highly migratory species, and coastal pelagic species, and increasingly addresses issues such as climate change, offshore wind energy, and aquaculture. Council staff support this mission by conducting analyses, coordinating advisory bodies, and ensuring open, inclusive public processes in collaboration with stakeholders as well as state, tribal, and federal partners.

Position Overview

The Pacific Council seeks a Staff Officer with training or experience in economics or the social sciences and a passion for applying these disciplines to real-world marine resource management.

This position plays a key role in developing and reviewing the socioeconomic analyses that inform Council decisions. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with natural and social scientists, other Council staff, and stakeholders to evaluate management alternatives, assess the economic and social dimensions of fisheries, and communicate findings clearly to decision-makers and the public.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare and contribute to socioeconomic and policy analyses, discussion papers, and reports supporting Council actions and amendments Fishery Management Plans.
• Conduct or review economic and social analyses of management alternatives, including potential community and industry impacts.
• Coordinate with state, tribal, and federal agencies and other partners to ensure the integration of social and economic information into fisheries management.
• Facilitate and coordinate meetings and agendas for Council advisory bodies related to economics, social science, or management decision-making.
• Present results of analyses to Council members, advisory groups, and the public, clearly communicating complex issues in accessible language.
• Maintain neutrality, professionalism, and respect in a dynamic, multi-stakeholder policy environment.

Professional qualifications

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in natural resource economics, environmental social science, marine affairs, or a related field, and
  • (A) at least two years of relevant experience, or
  • (B) an advanced degree in a relevant field.
• Demonstrated experience conducting or interpreting analyses related to fisheries, marine resources, or other renewable natural resources.
• Strong writing and oral communication skills, including the ability to explain technical information to non-technical audiences.
• Ability to conduct and interpret quantitative analyses and work effectively with data.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Commitment to high ethical standards, collaboration, and public service.

Preferred

• Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in natural resource economics, environmental social science, or a related field.
• Familiarity with West Coast fisheries and current management issues.
• Experience in multidisciplinary or interagency projects and with regulatory or environmental impact analyses.

Physical Demands

Staff Officers operate at the intersection of science, policy, and public engagement. The position requires occasional travel throughout the West Coast (typically 4–8 days per trip) and occasional international travel. A primarily remote work arrangement is not available.

Work Environment

The work is primarily in an office environment. Frequent use of a keyboard and other computer hardware is required, often for lengthy periods of time. Use of other typical office equipment may also be required. Extended periods of continuous work beyond eight hours per day is often required. Lifting of light to moderately heavy boxes and equipment and unloading and loading boxes and equipment into and from vehicles, may be required.

Hiring Requirements

Employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.