The Department of Marine Resources (DMR) is seeking applicants with strong scientific skills to fill a Marine Resource Scientist III position in the Ecology and the Environment Division/Bureau of Marine Science located at the West Boothbay Harbor Laboratory.
This is a new position created to be the independent scientific lead for DMR’s large whale research program. The position will be responsible for designing and implementing high priority research that will support and expand on current monitoring programs, as well as feed directly into management and modeling initiatives. Currently, a large focus of the work is on the endangered North Atlantic right whale, including understanding their distribution and habitat use along Maine’s coast and how the resulting overlap with fixed gear fisheries impacts both right whale conservation and management of the fishery.
In addition to the biological research outlined above, the position will work directly with fixed gear fisheries to develop and test mitigation measures, including new technologies and gear modifications to reduce the risk of gear entanglement. This position will also represent DMR at state, regional, and federal meetings and working groups as appointed, including as a member of the Northeast Implementation Team for the Right Whale Recovery Plan. The position will lead and support partners in collaborative research projects, including pursuing external funding opportunities that align with DMR’s priorities. The position will provide recommendations, scientific analyses, and input to the policy group at DMR on large whale conservation, fishery management, offshore wind development, and other related issues as needed. Finally, the position will work across programmatic lines within the DMR to foster collaboration and maximize DMR’s strengths.
This is a supervisory position that will include the direct supervision of multiple DMR staff members and contractors, as well as the oversight of other programs within the Division as assigned. Work will include other duties as assigned by the supervisor. Applicants should be able to demonstrate knowledge of large whale biology and related bycatch issues. Preference will be given to candidates with experience working collaboratively with the fishing industry, as well as an expertise in an area of study such as passive acoustics, telemetry, risk mitigation, or habitat modelling. A successful candidate should demonstrate strong supervisory, analytical, project design, and writing skills. Experience in Microsoft Access, R, and GIS are preferred but not required.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A Bachelors Degree in a scientific, technical, or engineering discipline, or equivalent in directly related work experience and eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in the field of marine resource research and management or related field which includes supervision and coordination of research and support functions.
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 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 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.
- Dental Insurance– The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($350.40 annual value).
- Retirement Plan– The State of Maine contributes 13.16% 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.
- 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 four weeks of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
- 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.
Salary: $59,176.00 – $80,808.00/Annually* (*Includes 5.5% Stipend)
Apply by: March 11, 2022
Location: W. Boothbay Harbor
Maine State Government is an Equal Opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.
