MAFMC Job Announcement: Administrative Support Specialist

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council), headquartered in Dover, Delaware, is seeking applicants for an Administrative Support Specialist position. The Council is responsible for the conservation and management of fisheries within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone off the coast of the Mid-Atlantic region (North Carolina to New York). Additional information about the Council is available at www.mafmc.org.

Position: Administrative Support Specialist

Date Posted: April 26, 2021

Closing Date:  May 14, 2021

Location: Dover, Delaware

Salary Range: $41,000 - $52,000 annually

Position Summary

The Administrative Support Specialist is a full-time position reporting directly to the Executive Director. This position provides administrative support to the Council staff to ensure accurate and timely workflow, and efficient and effective office operations. Individuals skilled in a Microsoft program environment with experience in information organization and database management preferred. Strong interpersonal, organizational, and writing skills are desired.

Duties and Responsibilities

Administrative Duties

  • Answer phones and route calls to the appropriate staff member.

  • Collect and distribute incoming mail and send outgoing mail.

  • Manage office supply inventory and place orders as needed.

  • Ensure functionality of office equipment, coordinate all equipment maintenance, and requisition new equipment as needed.

  • Coordinate the maintenance of Council vehicles.

  • Maintain Council files, both electronic and paper, in an organized manner and in accordance with federal guidelines.

  • Respond to public requests for information.

  • Maintain contact databases and email distribution lists.

  • Prepare and distribute official correspondence.

  • Maintain organization templates and update as needed.

  • Assist in the preparation of annual progress reports.

  • Maintain an office calendar, and schedule meetings and appointments as requested.

Meeting Planning and Coordination

This position has overall responsibility for planning and organizing logistics for six Council meetings per year plus numerous committee and advisory body meetings and public hearings. Specific duties include, but are not limited to:

  • Schedule and identify locations for future Council meetings (typically 1-2 years in advance) and other meetings as requested.

  • Secure meeting space and lodging for participants, ensuring that meeting venues have the appropriate technology capabilities and can meet the needs of the meeting being planned.

  • Prepare and submit Federal Register notices for all scheduled meetings within the required timeframes.

  • Prepare travel authorizations and distribute travel vouchers to meeting participants.

  • Coordinate travel arrangements as requested.

  • Communicate effectively with staff, Council members, other meeting participants, ensuring that meeting information is accurate and provided in a timely manner.

  • Attend all Council meetings (6 per year, 3-4 days each, in locations throughout the Mid-Atlantic region), and other meetings as assigned.

  • Oversee all aspects of Council meeting planning, execution, and follow-up. Specific tasks (in addition to those described above) include drafting and distributing meeting agendas, compiling and distributing printed and electronic briefing materials, planning hospitality events, coordinating with meeting presenters and speakers, transporting and setting up AV equipment (microphones, speakers, projectors, etc.), setting up and monitoring the webinar broadcast throughout the meeting, troubleshooting IT issues as needed, providing on-site coordination with facility staff, creating and editing meeting recordings, assisting with the compilation of follow-up reports, and ensuring that all meeting records are organized and stored in an appropriate manner.

Staff Support

  • Assist with the preparation, proofreading, and formatting of documents and reports.

  • Assist with tasks such as sending email communications to stakeholder lists and making minor website updates, ensuring attention to detail and overall quality.

  • Assist with the collection and organization of public comments.

  • Provide assistance to the Financial Officer, as needed.

  • Other tasks as assigned.

Travel Requirements

Duties require overnight travel to locations throughout the Mid-Atlantic region (North Carolina to New York), usually 3-4 days every two months.

Minimum Requirements

  • Education: An Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree (preferred) in a relevant field.

  • Experience: At least three years’ experience in a professional administrative role.

  • Other: Must have a valid driver’s license at time of hiring and for continued employment.

Other Qualifications

The ideal candidate:

  • Enjoys interacting with the public and has a positive/outgoing work attitude.

  • Has excellent written and verbal communication skills.

  • Is able to work independently and prioritize and execute multiple tasks at once to meet organizational needs.

  • Is reliable, detail oriented, and organized.

  • Has excellent computer skills and strong working knowledge of PowerPoint, Word, Excel and Outlook.

  • Has knowledge of basic bookkeeping and associated software (e.g., QuickBooks).

  • Is able to take in complex information and directions and apply them effectively to work tasks.

  • Has a proven ability to maintain high productivity and communicate effectively with a team.

Though not required, the following qualifications are helpful/preferred:

  • Experience with meeting or event planning.

  • Experience with setting up and operating audio/visual equipment.

  • Knowledge of the Council's activities, functions and responsibilities.

Compensation/Location

The starting salary range for this position is $41,000 - $52,000 depending on prior experience. The Council offers a comprehensive benefits package including health and dental insurance, life insurance, annual (vacation) and sick leave, and a 401K retirement program.

How to Apply

Qualified applicants should submit a cover letter and résumé detailing relevant experience, training, and education that clearly support the position requirements. Please also provide contact information for three references. Please submit these materials to Dr. Christopher Moore, Executive Director, by email (cmoore@mafmc.org).  Applications must be received no later than May 14, 2021.

Terms of Employment

Upon hiring, the selected applicant will enter an initial probationary period of one year during which his or her performance will be evaluated by the Executive Director. Unsatisfactory performance, and/or failure to demonstrate the skills required for this position, may result in termination of employment at the end of the probationary period.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, reprisal, sex, sexual orientation, status as parent, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws (50 CFR 600.120). Council staff positions are filled solely on the basis of merit, competence, and qualifications.

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ASMFC Seeks Proposals to Conduct Components of the At-Sea Monitoring Training Program

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, in cooperation with the National Marine Fisheries Service’s (NMFS) Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC), is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to conduct components of the At-Sea Monitoring (ASM) Training Program for the NEFSC.

NMFS is required to collect biological and compliance data aboard U.S. domestic fishing vessels, data which cannot be obtained at the dock or on research vessels. Specifically, NMFS observer data is essential to reliably estimating catch and bycatch, and in helping to implement programs to reduce bycatch. A sharp increase to the coverage rate (up to 100%) for the Northeast Multispecies Fishery in Fishing Year 2022 and observer attrition during the 2020 fishing year have resulted in the need for approximately 140 new at-sea monitors.

The Awardee shall provide and retain the necessary qualified personnel, materials, equipment, services, and facilities to conduct components of the ASM training for NEFSC. The Awardee shall conduct approximately 4-6 trainings per year. The training will be conducted as a collaborative effort between NMFS and the Awardee; where some components of the training will be conducted by the Awardee and some training components will be conducted by NMFS.

Applicants seeking to apply to the RFP must submit, as a single file, an electronic proposal by email no later than 5:00 p.m. EST on May 19, 2021. Please see the RFP for complete proposal details, qualifying requirements, and submission instructions. The RFP is available at http://www.asmfc.org/files/RFPs/AtSeaMonitorTrainingRFP_April2021.pdf.

For more information, please contact Deke Tompkins at dtompkins@asmfc.org or 313.303.2623.

Council to Hold Virtual Summer Flounder Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE) Workshops

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold three virtual regional public workshops to solicit input on future management of the recreational summer flounder fishery. These workshops are part of the Council’s development of a management strategy evaluation (MSE) which will evaluate different management strategies designed to minimize discards in the recreational summer flounder fishery. Input provided during the workshops will build on the 800+ comments and suggestions that were submitted through a public comment form earlier this year. More information about this project can be found on the Summer Flounder Management Strategy Evaluation page.

During the workshops, participants will listen to a series of short background presentations and then provide input and feedback regarding summer flounder discard concerns, potential management objectives to address these concerns, and performance metrics and strategies to achieve these objectives. 

Workshop Schedule and Registration

The dates and times of the three virtual workshops are listed below. Individuals are encouraged to participate in the workshop for their region; however, all workshops are open to all individuals. Participants will first need to register for the workshop(s) in which they plan to attend. To help plan and organize the workshops, interested participants are encouraged to register at least 24 hours prior to a scheduled workshop.

  1. Massachusetts through Connecticut: Monday, March 29, 2021; 5:30 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.

    Register for the MA-CT Workshop

  2. New York through Delaware: Wednesday, March 31, 2021; 5:30 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.

    Register for the NY-DE Workshop

  3. Maryland through North Carolina: Monday, April 5, 2021; 5:30 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.

    Register for the MD-NC Workshop

Workshops will be held via Webex, which can be accessed using a computer, tablet, or smartphone. Participants can also join and participate in the workshop with a phone-only connection; however, you will not be able to see any presentations or other materials shared on the webinar.  Once registered, you will receive an email from Webex with the webinar information including the webinar link, telephone number and access code, and a calendar invite.

Questions? Contact Brandon Muffley, bmuffley@mafmc.org, (302) 526-5260

ASMFC and MAFMC Approve Changes to State Allocations of Commercial Black Sea Bass Quota

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board (Board) and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) jointly approved several changes to the management program for black sea bass commercial fisheries. These changes include modifying the state allocations of the commercial black sea bass quota, adding the state allocations to the Council’s Fishery Management Plan (FMP), and modifying the regulations for federal in-season closures. The Board adopted the new allocations through Addendum XXXIII to the Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass FMP, while the Council recommended these changes through an amendment to its FMP. These actions address significant changes in the distribution of black sea bass that have occurred since the original allocations were implemented under Amendment 13 in 2003 and also account for the historical dependence of the states on the black sea bass fishery. 

Under the approved changes, Connecticut’s baseline allocation will increase from 1% to 3% of the coastwide quota to address its disproportionally low allocation compared to the increased availability of black sea bass in state waters. The state allocations will then be calculated by allocating 75% of the coastwide quota according to the new baseline allocations (historical allocations modified to account for Connecticut’s increase to 3%) and 25% to three regions based on the most recent regional biomass distribution information from the stock assessment (see Table 1). The three regions are: 1) Maine-New York, 2) New Jersey, and 3) Delaware-North Carolina. The regional allocations will be distributed among states within a region in proportion to their baseline allocations, except Maine and New Hampshire will each receive 1% of the northern region quota. Because the allocations are based in part on the regional biomass distribution from the stock assessment, they will be adjusted if a new assessment indicates a change to the biomass distribution. The Board and Council committed to reevaluating the approved state allocation system within 5 years.

The Council and Board agreed to add the state allocations to the Council’s FMP. As a result, future modifications to the allocations will require a joint action of the Board and Council. Additionally, they approved a change to the federal regulations such that the entire black sea bass commercial fishery will close in-season for all federally permitted vessels and dealers once landings are projected to exceed the coastwide quota plus an additional buffer of up to 5%. The buffer aims to minimize negative economic impacts of coastwide closures on states that have not fully harvested their quotas. The Council and Board considered, but did not adopt, changes to the regulations for paybacks of state quota overages; states will only be required to pay back overages of their state quota if the coastwide quota is exceeded.

Table 1. Revised state allocation percentages of the black sea bass commercial quota based on the most recent regional biomass distribution information.

*These allocations are based on the results of the 2019 Operational Stock Assessment and will be updated if future assessments indicate a change to the biomass distribution.

Addendum XXXIII’s measures are final for state waters (0-3 miles from shore) and become effective January 1, 2022. The Council will submit their amendment to NOAA Fisheries for review, approval, and implementation.

Addendum XXXIII will be available on the Commission website, www.asmfc.org, on the black sea bass webpage by the end of February. Updates on the Council’s amendment will be posted at https://www.mafmc.org/actions/bsb-commercial-allocation.

Contacts

For more information, please contact either:

  • Julia Beaty, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, jbeaty@mafmc.org, 302.526.5250

  • Savannah Lewis, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, slewis@asmfc.org, 703.842.0715

MAFMC PRESS CONTACT: Mary Sabo, 302-518-1143

ASMFC PRESS CONTACT: Tina Berger, 703-842-0740

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