BIOLOGIST II - TWO POSITIONS

(SENIOR ECOLOGIST)

Opening Date:

January 30, 2025

Closing Date:

March 03, 2025

Location:

Augusta

Position #'s:

01700-0097
01700-0105

Position Type:

Full Time 

Class Code:

9352

Grade/Salary:

Grade 25 (Supervisory) - $60,569.60 - $85,529.60 Per Year*
*(This includes the 5.5% Salary Adjustment)

The Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry is recruiting for two full-time Senior Ecologists for the Maine Natural Areas Program, a Division of the Bureau of Resource Information and Land Use Planning, in Augusta, Maine.

BRIEF JOB DESCRIPTION: The Senior Ecologist will be responsible for overseeing, prioritizing and conducting field-based inventory and research to document the location, condition, and status of Maine's natural communities and ecosystems of statewide significance and rare, threatened, and endangered plant species. New field inventory sites will be initially identified using remote sensing tools and modeling. The Senior Ecologist will also summarize and analyze information more broadly on the status and trends of biodiversity in Maine and communicate the results in both written and oral form to a variety of audiences. The Senior Ecologist frequently supports landowners, land managers, and conservation organizations in need of assistance with natural resource inventories, land acquisition, development of management plans, reviews of harvest prescriptions, and climate change mitigation. This position will work in concert with other MNAP ecologists and IFW biologists on statewide efforts.

The successful candidate will demonstrate knowledge of botany, forest ecology, forestry, and conservation biology. Successful candidates will be able to use information systems and technologies to collect, analyze, and interpret natural resource data; present at workshops, and engage stakeholder groups. The successful candidate will demonstrate effective oral, written, and electronic communication skills, and be able to employ these skills when interacting with different audiences, ranging from lay people to technical experts and scientists. The successful candidate will also demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to plan, direct, and coordinate the activities of field staff; establish and maintain effective working relationships, and work as part of an interdisciplinary team to support division/department goals. Candidates must be able to think creatively, demonstrate initiative, and implement multiple projects independently. Work will require overnight travel, including multi-day trips with irregular hours, field work in remote and off-trail places throughout the state, primarily during the growing season but as needed at other times of year.

There will be some remote work opportunities with this position in accordance with DACF Telework Policy and with management approval.

For questions specific to the position, please contact Molly Docherty at: molly.docherty@maine.gov

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS: The questions below MUST be answered and submitted with your application. Please keep all responses to a 300-word maximum each.

1. Please describe your experience with database management and GIS applications, noting specific software, where used, and for what purpose(s)?
2. Please describe your field based botanical skills by characterizing your identification skills with trees, shrubs, herbs, grasses, sedges, and non-vascular plants. Describe your knowledge of Northeastern flora and what botanical references you use. 
3. Describe your familiarity with Maine's natural community classification and describe the experience you have with ecological inventory or long-term monitoring.

INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Wildlife Management, or related field -AND- three (3) years’ experience in laboratory or field research of fish and wildlife including experience in a supervisory capacity. Directly related work experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.

Preference will be given to candidates with:

• Strong field botanical skills for northeast flora and knowledge of Maine's rare plants, natural communities, and ecosystems.
• Expertise with GIS, GPS, data management, remote sensing, and data analysis.
• Knowledge of forest management and timber harvesting principles, practices, and procedures, including ecological management.
• Familiarity with Natural Heritage program methodologies, vegetation sampling, forest inventory, and field survey design. 
• Experience with project management, report writing, budgets, supervision, and fund raising.
• Graduate degree in Forest Ecology, Conservation Biology, Botany, or related subject.

HOW TO APPLY: Interested applicants need to apply online by selecting the "APPLY" button below along with uploading a Cover Letter, answers to the Supplemental Questions, and a current Resume. In order for us to properly determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for any posting, you must be sure your Resume includes month and year for any experience listed along with the duties and responsibilities associated with each particular time period. Any experience that was not full-time employment should be identified as such. 

If you can't apply online and you require a paper application, please download and print one here: https://www.maine.gov/bhr/state-jobs/application-process. Paper applications for this posting should be submitted along with a Cover Letter, answers to the Supplemental Questions, and Resume, before the closing date, to: Natural Resources Service Center, c/o Kristin McCamish, 32 Blossom Lane, Marquardt Building, Augusta, ME 04333-0155. Please be sure that the title, and position number, of the job you are applying for is included.

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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 ($11,196.96-$13,172.88 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 ($358.08 annual value). 
• Retirement Plan– The State of Maine contributes 13.29% 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 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.  
• 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. 

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.