MBC Aquatic Sciences currently has 23 employees and has been established for more than 50 years. The successful candidate will work in field, office, and laboratory settings, and must have the social and communication skills to effectively communicate across different personality types. Work is performed year-round in a variety of weather conditions, both as individuals and as a team, and some work-related travel may be required. The position will require: field surveys (marine and fresh water sites), maintaining and operating scientific equipment, launching and retrieving small research vessels, statistical data analysis, and scientific writing. Accuracy and attention to detail are a must. The MBC office work environment is casual and collaborative. MBC offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, including: paid holiday, sick, and vacation time; health insurance (medical, dental, and optical), life insurance, pre-tax FSA, and 401(k) plan.‍

General information:

• Immediate opening
• Scientific diver and field technician (laboratory, boat, diving, and field work)
• Standard workdays are Monday through Friday, 0800-1700. 
• Fieldwork may require extended shifts, nights, and/or weekends. 
• Some travel will be required for specific field projects.

Work Duties and Responsibilities:

• An experienced scuba diver to join an experienced scientific dive survey team.
• Accurately identify and quantify nearshore algae, invertebrates, and fish (Southern California Bight).
• Perform transect and quadrat surveys navigating in a variety of subtidal habitats and visibility conditions (bays/harbors, sand flat, rocky reef, kelp forest)
• Operates and maintains monitoring equipment, including water quality sampling equipment (variety of CTD and WQ probes), Van Dorn bottles, otter trawl nets, beach seines, plankton sampling equipment, and benthic sampling equipment. 
• Launch and retrieval of small research vessels, and periodic on-water operation of vessels. 
• Maintenance of dive gear and dive logs.
• Ability to follow and comprehend standard operating procedures, and health and safety plans.
• Collect accurate data on datasheets and underwater slates. Complete data entry, and QA/QC procedures on data collected in the field.
• Complete environmental monitoring in a variety of settings, ranging from marine, freshwater, and terrestrial surveys.  
• Scientific diving is only a portion of the work responsibilities, MBC is a diverse company that specializes in a variety of environmental monitoring and consulting fields. 

‍Experience and Qualifications:

• AA/BS in biology or related field is preferred.
• Current AAUS dive certification (preferred but not required).
• Course work in marine biology, ecology, environmental studies, fish or invertebrate taxonomy is preferred.   
• Prior experience with vessel operations.
• Prior experience with water quality sampling equipment, Van Dorn sampling bottles, groundwater collections, otter trawls, beach seines, plankton sampling equipment, and benthic sampling equipment is a plus; however, training will be conducted.
• Training will be provided; however, some experience or knowledge of microscopes.
• Eagerness to learn and develop a career in the biological and environmental consulting industry. 

Work environment:

• Perform work in laboratory and field settings.
• Perform tasks in a team and individual setting.
• Perform field work in remote locations in a variety of environmental conditions.
• Perform field work aboard a research vessel in both freshwater and marine settings.

Compensation and Benefits: 

• 10 days sick leave/year
• 10 days vacation/year
• 8 paid holidays/ year
• Medical, dental, and optical insurance (MBC pays ¾ / Employee pays remainder)
• Life insurance
• Pre-tax Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• 401k Plan (eligible after one year of employment)

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MBC Aquatic Sciences is seeking entry-level Marine Science Technicians to assist with laboratory processing of benthic samples. Applicants should be familiar with the use of microscopes and laboratory equipment. Familiarity with invertebrate phyla is helpful. Employment will include training. Technicians will be required to meet quality assurance goals following training.  

Positions will open early summer and are full-time temporary, primarily laboratory (with occasional field work), continuing at least through December with potential for extended or permanent employment.  

If interested please send a resume through the Apply Now link below.

Recent graduates are welcome to apply.  

MBC is always looking for great talent. Please email us your resume, we will be in touch if we feel you are a good fit. Thank you!