Environment 900 Hour Environmental Steward – MDI Biological Laboratory
Job Description
Location: Bar Harbor, ME
Housing: Not Provided
Days and Hours of Service: 40-hour week, typically Monday-Friday, with occasional weekends and occasional overnights.
Host Site and Position Overview:
The Community Environmental Health Lab is a program of the MDI Biological Laboratory which is a private non-profit research institution in Bar Harbor, Maine. Our approach is to create a gathering place for scientists from around the world to engage in the power of scientific thinking and explore our connection to the natural world, creating a powerful nexus for discovery and the application of new knowledge.
The MCC Environmental Steward (ES) will be involved in all aspects of water quality monitoring around MDI Biological Laboratory, including monitoring beaches, collecting phytoplankton samples, engaging volunteers in monitoring, and assisting with report preparation. In these ways, the AmeriCorps Environmental Steward will increase our capacity to take on additional projects like helping to update our Frenchman Bay Partners website, and update the Partners’ Bay Management Plan, while assuring uninterrupted data collection for on-going projects.
May-June: Work with volunteers on red tide monitoring at the MDIBL dock and Bar Harbor Town Pier, attend training program for Maine Healthy Beaches program.
June-July: Initiate Maine Health Beaches Program; continue red tide monitoring. Recruit and train new summer volunteers and intern with student fellows. Begin water quality monitoring and area assessments at eelgrass restoration sites.
July-Sept: Participate in baseline water quality monitoring in Frenchman Bay, continue beach monitoring, red tide monitoring. Enter water quality data, collaborate with volunteers to enter data, track volunteer hours. Continue water quality monitoring and area assessments at eelgrass restoration sites.
Sept.-Nov.: Finish up field season. Assess volunteer and citizen science programs and acknowledge citizen scientist and volunteer hours. Plan a Frenchman Bay Partners meeting/event to share information about the summer and plan next steps. Enter and analyze data. Participate in reporting out on projects including a presentation at the Acadia National Park Science Symposium in October.
Description of Duties:
• Recruiting volunteers, tracking volunteer hours, appreciating volunteers
• Monitoring water quality in the context of multiple projects (beaches, phytoplankton, marine restoration areas)
• General laboratory and field equipment maintenance
• General laboratory oversight
• Contribute to the update of the Quality Assurance Project Plan
• Water quality data entry
• Assuring quality assurance procedures are followed
• Participation in outreach and education program
• Participation in documenting eelgrass restoration success
• Engaging with Frenchman Bay Partners to update the Frenchman Bay Plan
Essential Functions:
• Ability and comfort in recruiting and engaging volunteers
• Ability to teach others with patience
• Basic knowledge and experience with field and lab tasks
• Ability to manage data and create data visualizations for reports
• Be able to connect and collaborate with stakeholders, organize meetings
• Must possess mobility to function in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer, and to serve in the field including traversing uneven terrain, to operate a motor vehicle, and use of measuring tools and equipment
• Ability to visually inspect assigned areas, read printed materials, and read a computer screen
• Ability to bend, stoop, and kneel. Must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects weighing up to 35 pounds
Marginal Functions:
• GIS Mapping
• Statistical Analysis
• Scientific Report Writing
Service Conditions:
• Service includes being in an office environment about half of the time, with their own desk and computer.
• Service involves being outside in the summer months monitoring from a dock or shore and doing outreach and education. Terrain can be uneven and challenging to traverse.
• Service includes some longer days and uncomfortable weather conditions including but not limited to rain, heat and humidity, sleet and freezing rain, biting insects, and more
• Service involves travel to downtown Bar Harbor and local sampling sites
• Service is performed independently and as part of a team
• Service involves frequent communication to multiple parties
• Service is performed independently and as part of a team
Qualifications:
• High School diploma or equivalent
• Must be at least 18 years old
• Must be a US Citizen
• Must agree to a criminal history check
• All positions at State sites require a valid driver’s license with a good 5-year driving record
• Passion for community service and the environment
• Commitment to complete the full term of service
• Skills, experience, and education requirements vary by site
Additional Qualifications:
• Excellent communication skills both in writing and with other lab members, volunteers, and stakeholder groups (required)
• Ability to learn basic laboratory and field techniques and carry out tests using defined protocols
• Ability to serve independently and in a completely trustworthy manner
• Excellent organizational skills related to physical lab space and data management
• Ability to follow instructions
• Friendly, confident personality
• College diploma, preferably in environmental science, conservation, microbiology, or wildlife ecology preferred
Benefits:
• Weekly living allowance of $400 (before taxes) for 24 weeks
• AmeriCorps Education Award of $3,247.50
• Certifications in the National Incident Management System, some members will also receive MCC Chainsaw Safety Certification
• Conferences such as the Maine AmeriCorps Member Conference
• Networking opportunities
• Maine State Park Pass
• Some members may also be eligible for student loan forbearance and childcare reimbursement
Website: www.mdibl.org
How to Apply
To Apply: Go to our website to complete an online application, and email a copy of your resume and a cover letter to corps.conservation@maine.gov. You will then be contacted with further instructions. If you have any questions, please direct those to the email above as well.112 total views, 2 today