[watershedmanagers] Maine DEP Biologist 1 Position

[News and discussion forum for watershed managers in Maine]

BRIEF JOB DESCRIPTION: The Aquatic Toxicology Unit is seeking an individual to join DEP's team dedicated to monitoring and assessing toxic chemicals in Maine's aquatic resources.  The Aquatic Toxicology Unit focuses on fish, water, and sediment samples and coordinates with other DEP staff, the Maine Center of Disease Control and Prevention, and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. This individual will share in overall program operations including field work to collect samples, working with labs, evaluating data quality, entering data, querying data, analyzing data, and communicating results.  The individual will use advanced computer skills to modernize and improve recording data in the field, check data quality, create maps, analyze sampling results, and analyze spatial data. Also, the individual will provide technical support, review permits, help to write reports and journal articles, and improve websites.

For more information on the specifics of the position, please contact Tom Danielson at (207) 441-7430 or thomas.j.danielson at maine.gov.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A Bachelors Degree in Biology, Wildlife Management, or related field -AND- two (2) years of progressively responsible related laboratory or field research and/or management experience. Equivalent experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.

Preference will be given to candidates with the following:
*             Knowledge of fish, other aquatic life, water quality, and aquatic ecology.
*             Knowledge of toxic chemicals, such as PFAS, PCBs, mercury, and emerging contaminants.
*             Excellent computer, database, and analytical skills, such as querying databases and programming R code.
*             Strong experience with GIS, creating maps, analyzing spatial data, and designing apps for collecting data in the field.
*             Ability to interpret laboratory results.
*             Strong writing skills, including writing reports and journal articles.
*             Excellent interpersonal and oral communication skills, including giving presentations to both technical and non-technical audiences.
*             Strong organizational skills with excellent attention to details.
*             Experience collecting fish, water, and sediment samples following sampling protocols and data quality control objectives.
*             Use of paddle and motorized watercraft.


No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto-"Dirigo" or "I lead"-as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

*        Work-Life Balance - Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
*        Health Insurance Coverage- The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($9,893.52-$11,057.52 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs<https://www.maine.gov/bhr/oeh/benefits/som-health-plan/premium-rates> for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
*        Health Insurance Premium Credit - Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements<https://www.maine.gov/bhr/oeh/benefits/health-premium-credit>.
*        Dental Insurance- The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($350.40 annual value).
*        Retirement Plan- The State of Maine contributes 13.41% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.
*        Gym Membership Reimbursement- Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense.
*        Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts- Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses.
*        Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness- The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office<https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service>.
*        Living Resources Program - Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.
*        Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child-including fathers and adoptive parents-receive forty-two (42) consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act<https://www.maine.gov/bhr/state-employees/rules-policies/policy-practices-manual/Employee-Rights-and-Responsibilities-Federal>.
*        Voluntary Deferred Compensation- Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions.
*        Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness<https://www.maine.gov/bhr/oeh/>.


There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work.  Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role.
As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness.  We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics.
If you're looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we'd love to hear from you.  Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

Thinking about applying?
Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting.  If you're currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your lived experience and passion set you apart.




Alex Wong (he/his/him)
Nonpoint Source Program Coordinator
Maine Department of Environmental Protection<https://www.maine.gov/dep/water/grants/319.html>
17 State House Station, Augusta, ME  04333
207-694-9533 (cell)

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