Economist, Saltwater Inc.

Position Overview

Application Deadline: Open until filled (contract base period July 1, 2026)

Salary: $50 to $60 per hour

Experience Required: Five or more years in fisheries economics or federal contract environments

Description

Saltwater Inc. is hiring an Economist in Silver Spring, Maryland, on a full-time basis at $50 to $60 per hour, with work performed onsite or remotely in coordination with the Contracting Officer’s Representative and Project Lead.

Saltwater Inc. is a Women-Owned Small Business that believes high-quality data is vital to the health of fisheries and oceans. The Economist supports data and scientific analysis for NOAA’s Office of Sustainable Fisheries (OSF), including national domestic policy issues, regional fishery management councils, Atlantic highly migratory species management, and federal partnerships ensuring seafood safety.

The contract has a two-year base period from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028, with up to 1.5 years of 12-month option periods. The role focuses on economic analysis required to enable rapid fulfilment of the Seafood Executive Order.

Responsibilities

• Support economic analysis for fisheries management actions resulting from the Seafood Executive Order.
• Conduct Regulatory Impact Review analyses, develop fishery descriptions, and prepare Regulatory Flexibility Analysis reviews including Section 610 reviews.
• Conduct Small Business entity analyses for proposed management actions.
• Perform cost-benefit assessments of proposed management options addressing fisheries bycatch and discard issues, capacity, protected species concerns, habitat protection restrictions, and social impact.
• Provide fisheries management input to OSF, Regional Offices, and the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Division.
• Translate economic findings into decision-ready advice for federal managers.
• Support the development of Fishery Management Plan amendments, regulatory action packages, and NEPA compliance documentation from an economic perspective.
• Collaborate with NOAA leadership, OSF staff, Regional Office staff, and contractor teams to ensure economic analysis aligns with management timelines.

Requirements

• Five or more years of professional economics experience, preferably in fisheries, natural resources, or federal contract environments.
• Demonstrated experience in Regulatory Impact Reviews, cost-benefit analysis, and federal regulatory documentation.
• Familiarity with the Magnuson-Stevens Act, NEPA, and federal small business analyses.
• Strong technical writing, analytical, and quantitative skills.
• Ability to manage multiple analyses concurrently and meet federal deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting NMFS, Atlantic HMS Division, or Regional Fishery Management Council processes.
• Quantitative skills in econometrics or fisheries data analysis using R, SAS, or similar tools.
• Experience with social impact assessments tied to fishing communities.

How to Apply

Apply through the Saltwater Inc. careers portal.

Required application materials:

• Resume detailing economics experience, especially in fisheries, regulatory analysis, or federal contracts.
• Cover letter expressing interest in the role and connection to fisheries economics.
• References on request.