Position Overview and Responsibilities:
The qualified candidate will work within the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve’s Research and Stewardship sectors to conduct estuarine, marsh, and land management research and monitoring activities. This position will serve as lead for the Reserve’s Wetlands and Water Levels (formerly called NOAA Sentinel Site) program which includes 3 main components: 1) emergent marsh vegetation surveys, 2) surface elevation table (SET) measurements, and 3) marsh porewater sampling data collection. These components include working with contractors to collect vegetation data, managing field work to conduct all surveys, QA/QC of data, metadata creation, and submissions to the Centralized Data Management Office under the NOAA NERRs System. This position does not oversee any other positions.
This position will be expected to assist with field and lab work, data collection, entry, and documentation for a variety of estuarine, marsh, and land management projects. Research sector projects include water quality sampling (deployment of data sondes that continually monitor water chemistry, collection of samples for nutrient chlorophyll-a content analysis), maintenance of meteorological stations, plankton sampling, fish and macroinvertebrate trawls, station and equipment maintenance (including station cleaning via SCUBA diving), data entry and quality control, visiting researcher assistance and coordination, and occasional scientific writing. Stewardship projects include emergent marsh vegetation and mangrove surveys, sea turtle nesting surveys, invasive plant surveys and treatments, habitat mapping, public use and access, and more; with the option to participate in prescribed fires after certification. Time spent on various projects and between the two sectors will vary seasonally. The position includes a small amount (<5% of time) assistance with Nature Center shifts and participation in Reserve-wide Educational events such as Estuaries Day a few times per year. Many project sites are remote and only accessible by boat and the candidate will be expected to trailer and pilot a vessel up to 29 feet within the first year of hire; the candidate will also be asked to operate UTVs and kayaks. We do not expect applicants to have experience with every task and project listed in the job description, but the successful applicant will demonstrate an ability to learn quickly and have a proven ability to work well as part of a team or independently as needed. The successful candidate will gain exposure to multiple techniques and sampling equipment utilized by coastal scientists and land managers, and work in laboratory, field, and office settings.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Knowledge of estuarine, marsh, and coastal ecosystem ecology and function.
- Knowledge of the procedures, techniques, and equipment used in a scientific laboratory.
- Knowledge of field techniques involving the sampling of physical, chemical, and biological parameters.
- Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and written.
- Must be able to work and maintain a positive attitude in rigorous field conditions (hot, humid, sunny, buggy conditions) and remote field areas.
- Ability to cooperate with teammates or independently as needed.
Minimum Qualifications:
- At least four years of verifiable related experience in one of the biological, aquatic, marine, natural resource conservation, environmental sciences, or similar. Post-secondary degrees from an accredited college or university with a major in one of the biological, aquatic, marine, natural resource conservation, environmental sciences may be used as an alternative for the required years of experience on a year-for-year basis. A credential evaluation report from an approved agency must be submitted along with all foreign degrees.
- Valid Driver’s License.
- The ability to safely lift and carry items up to 50 pounds.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
- Experience operating and trailering boats up to 28 feet, or willingness to become proficient and pass agency certification for these skills within 1 year of hire.
- Experience operating UTVs, kayaks, or willingness to become proficient and pass agency certification for these skills within 1 year of hire.
Applicable Job-Specific License or Certifications:
- Nationally recognized open water SCUBA diver certification (NAUI, PADI, SSI), or a willingness to complete the requirements and earn certification within the first twelve months of employment.
- Willingness to participate in the DEP dive program (requires medical monitoring), and willingness to dive and snorkel in conditions of low visibility and strong currents, within the first twelve months of employment.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience working with electronics, computer hardware and software systems, including the ability to troubleshoot issues while in the field, especially those specifically related to telemetry and data logging systems. This is preferred but not a required qualification for hire.
- Experience with ecological data analysis and scientific communication. This is preferred but not a required qualification for hire.
- Experience with plant identification (marsh and upland) and working in the salt marsh environment. This is preferred but not a required qualification for hire.
Pay:
The approved pay rate for this position is $19.00-21.50 per hour. Schedule is 40 hours/week, Monday – Friday usually 7:30-4:00, with occasional earlier start times required; occasional (<5% of the time) work outside this schedule is required but schedule will not exceed 40 hours/week. Overtime is not approved for this position.
Application deadline: October 5, 2025
