Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Application
Details
Posted: 18-Sep-23
Location: Kodiak, Alaska
Type: Full Time
Salary: Commensurate with experience
Required Education:
Masters
Position Summary:
Alaska Sea Grant is recruiting a Seafood Safety Specialist, who will engage, advise, service, and instruct shellfish and seaweed farmers and other seafood/food producers in Alaska in seafood preservation, sanitation, and safe manufacturing procedures.This is a term faculty position that coordinates Alaska Sea Grant’s statewide seafood safety training curriculum and events, and provides outreach, education, and extension services. The position is located within the University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program and is based at the Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center. This grant-funded nine month faculty position is term funded for four years. Faculty are expected to generate external funds. Please apply by October 15th, 2023, 11:55PM.
Duties:
Seek external funding to develop and grow the Alaska Seafood School.
Build and maintain a visible and accessible seafood safety extension program to provide practical business solutions in the area of seafood/food safety. This may include the following: -Respond to immediate or “Rapid Response” requests for information through a diverse media presence in the region, including radio, social media, Alaska Sea Grant communications team resources, and partner newsletters -Provide service that is responsive to stakeholder requests, informed by identified needs, and in accordance with Alaska Sea Grant’s mission, vision and goals. -Facilitate interaction between researchers and regional stakeholders to promote community/resident input into the development of research projects and new technologies -Participate in local research as needed and/or beneficial, in support of UAF and other researchers in the region -Conduct events on regionally relevant research, education, and extension topics through direct or facilitated presentations and K-12 instructional opportunities -Engage with Alaska Sea Grant, University of Alaska Fairbanks and National Sea Grant activities as needed and per administrative requirements including reporting and programmatic and topical meetings -Serve on regional advisory committees as need and expertise warrants.
Develop and teach applied food and seafood safety workshops to stakeholders, particularly in the developing mariculture industry. Teach food/seafood safety components of seafood industry workshops, such as smoked seafood school, the Alaska Seafood Processor Leadership Institute, and others.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program is a statewide network of specialists and agents who provide formal and/or informal education, information and technical assistance to the public relating to: commercial, subsistence or sport fisheries issues; coastal economic development including seafood processing, tourism or marine business management and commercial fisheries development; community-based science and environmental monitoring; resource management; marine conservation; and environmental literacy.
Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center, a University of Alaska Fairbanks facility with a seafood safety laboratory and a pilot processing plant is designated by the state of Alaska as a “processing authority”. This position will work with Alaska Sea Grant’s seafood technologist to provide extension services to food manufacturers, conduct seafood safety workshops to communities and industries, conduct one on one consultations with stakeholders to ensure safe production of commercial products, and partner with industry to conduct technical support as necessary.
Master’s Degree or higher, in Food Science, with focus on food/seafood safety and related discipline .
Experience in seafood/food safety production and preservation procedures and regulations.
Demonstrated evidence of excellent collaboration skills as well as excellent written and oral communication skills, project management skills, and an ability to analyze data and identify trends.
About Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Alaska Sea Grant, one of 34 Sea Grant programs nationwide, is a statewide program headquartered at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.Sea Grant has been serving Alaska for over 50 years. Our work supports healthy coastal resources, strong economies, and vibrant communities. We do this through research, education, and outreach via Marine Advisory agents who live and work in eight coastal communities across Alaska.
The Alaska seafood industry is the largest private employer in the state. The industry processes 5 billion pounds of fish and shellfish annually, more than 55 percent of the total US catch. Over 300 large and small firms produce cod fillets, surimi, halibut steaks, and fillet, freeze, can or smoke salmon. Some are multimillion-dollar operations using state-of-the-art filleting and freezing equipment. Others are mom-and-pop operations producing high-quality specialty products for niche markets. All seafood processors face the challenges of competing in a rapidly changing global food industry. n support of Alaska’s seafood processing businesses, Alaska Sea Grant offers classes and workshops on seafood safety, quality control, product development, business and marketin...g operations, leadership training, and other topics. We also respond to ad hoc requests from companies for training on topics such as HACCP, environmental compliance, wastewater compliance, and microbiology testing.