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Join the Maine Conservation Corps
Position Available: 900 HR Environmental Steward - DMR Keepers of Burnt Island Light
Gain meaningful, hands-on experience exploring Maine through the lens of a conservation organization.
Are you looking for a real-world opportunity to:
- See how a land trust protects and stewards land?
- Learn how a national wildlife refuge creates and conserves habitat?
- Understand how citizen science projects are designed, implemented, and shared?
Live, learn, and explore Maine's wild and scenic landscapes with the Maine Conservation Corps (MCC). As an MCC AmeriCorps Environmental Steward, youll make a tangible impact within a host organization and its community-advancing conservation goals that are as unique as each placement.
Environmental Stewards (ES) support a wide range of conservation projects, which may include:
- Monitoring water quality in rivers, lakes, and coastal areas
- Restoring wildlife habitat and sensitive ecosystems
- Mobilizing and leading volunteers to maintain hiking trails
- Collecting data on songbirds and other wildlife
- Restoring eelgrass and other critical marine habitats
- Teaching students about Maines shellfisheries and coastal ecology
- Mapping and managing invasive species
Build your skills, expand your network, and experience Maines conservation landscapewhile making a real difference.
Keepers of Burnt Island Light (KBIL) is a 501(c)(3) charitable and educational nonprofit founded in 2009. Its mission is to support the restoration, preservation, and maintenance of Burnt Islands historic lighthouse, buildings, and nature trails.
In partnership with the Maine Department of Marine Resources, KBIL preserves the islands historical, cultural, and natural heritage through educational programs and marine science resources. It also promotes public access to the island, allowing visitors to explore and enjoy its natural beauty and resources. KBIL offers unique programs focused on the history of the lighthouse and the resilient individuals who maintained it, while educating the community about the lighthouses role in local island life, marine commerce, and the surrounding region.
This position is responsible for recruiting, training, and coordinating volunteers to support Burnt Islands educational programming and trail maintenance projects. It ensures volunteers are well-prepared to assist with public engagement, historical interpretation, and stewardship of the islands natural and cultural resources. The role also includes developing volunteer initiatives that align with KBILs mission and seasonal needs.
The purpose of the Environmental Steward position is to support the restoration, preservation, and public engagement efforts on Burnt Island by enhancing environmental education, stewardship, and volunteer coordination. Objectives and Goals:
- Strengthen and expand KBILs volunteer program through recruitment, training, and management.
- Support environmental and historical education programs for visitors and local communities.
- Assist in the maintenance and improvement of nature trails and the preservation of the islands natural habitats.
- Increase public access and engagement with Burnt Islands environmental and cultural resources.
Activities:
- Develop and lead volunteer training sessions focused on stewardship, trail maintenance, and public interaction.
- Collaborate on the design and implementation of interpretive programs and educational materials.
- Participate in hands-on trail projects, invasive species management, and habitat monitoring.
- Support community outreach initiatives to raise awareness of Burnt Islands resources and volunteer opportunities.
By advancing these goals, the Environmental Steward will help KBIL build long-term sustainability, expand community involvement, and ensure the protection of Burnt Islands unique environmental and historical legacy.
Location
Portland
Time requirements
Environmental Stewards are expected to serve a minimum of 40 hours per week. The Host Site determines a regular schedule, and it will include a minimum of 2 days off per week. Regular schedules may be modified for special events.
Description of Duties:
- Prepare and pack equipment, supplies and safety gear for monitoring events
- Assist with implementation of field monitoring from small boats on estuarine and marine waters, on foot in streams, and rarely on rocky intertidal shorelines and mudflats. Monitoring may include use of water quality sondes, light meters, Secchi disks, tablets and relevant apps, and collection of surface and bottom grab samples.
- Unpack and rinse equipment, process and preserve samples using established protocols, and facilitate delivery or courier pick up of samples
- Upload to the State server, quality check, and collate data into Electronic Data Deliverable files to upload to the Departments database
- Conduct and support education/outreach initiatives
- Meet weekly with supervisor to assess how goals are being met, challenges, and opportunities with other programs.
- Participate in MCC and AmeriCorps orientations, training, events, and conferences
- Assist with pre-approved and allowable fundraising activities
- Engage in volunteer management activities including: Recruiting volunteers, Promoting and leading volunteer events, Collecting and submitting Volunteer Assignment Agreements to MCC, Implementing the Essential Volunteer Management Practices and Volunteer Management Action Plan
- Complete ongoing assignments and required tasks, including job readiness training, construction of member portfolios, weekly timesheets, and quarterly reports.
- Participate in a Site Visit with MCC staff
- Maintain regular communication with MCC, including checking email no less than weekly
- Participate in mid-term and end-of-term evaluations with the Host Site Supervisor
- Adhere to the MCC code of conduct, safety rules and guidelines, drug-free workplace, and other policies outlined in the MCC Handbook and AmeriCorps Member Agreement
- Represent MCC and host site in a professional and supportive manner to the public and media
Essential Functions:
- Ability to communicate effectively electronically, telephonically, and in person
- Capability to plan and organize tasks in an effective and efficient manner
- Must possess mobility to function in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer
- Must possess mobility to embark, monitor from, and disembark from a small boat
- Develop comfort monitoring from small boats on estuarine and marine waters
- Be able to walk up to a quarter mile on uneven surfaces while carrying equipment and supplies, operate a full size truck, and use tools
- Ability to bend, stoop, kneel. Must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects weighing up to 50 lbs
- Vision to inspect assigned areas, read printed materials, and a computer screen.
- Develop skills with various field methods and scientific equipment
- Ability to learn new computer and tablet applications
- Possess excellent attention to detail with data management
- Gain proficiency with the Departments database, the Environmental and Geographic Analysis Database (EGAD)
- Contribute as part of a team during multiple and long days in the field, sometimes during inclement weather
- Ability to manage volunteers
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively
- Demonstrates good judgment and professionalism
- Demonstrates initiative, reliability, and flexibility
- Ability to serve both independently and as part of a team
- Ability to manage time effectively and produce quality results with attention to detail
- Demonstrates a desire to learn, serve others, and make a difference
Marginal Functions:
- Prior experience conducting field studies from small, motorized boats
- Ability to trailer a small boat
- Ability to SCUBA dive and conduct data collection in shallow marine waters with low visibility
- Experience with Microsoft Excel and data manipulation
- Experience with R software and/or graphic display and statistical analysis
Service Conditions:
The ES will spend approximately of the term in the field, and in an office setting. The ES will split time approximately evenly between field efforts on small boats (21 ft in length) with open decks on estuarine and marine waters, and on foot in and near salmon streams. Field studies may occur during inclement weather including rain and wind, and along exposed areas of the coastline as well as in salmon streams, which requires walking short-moderate distances with heavy packs and equipment through forest and along streambanks, often with exposure to biting insects. Long days in the sun and in a rocking boat should be expected. Travel to and from the field sites entails riding in a full-size truck with other field team members, and overnight stays in hotels are anticipated periodically for the duration of the term. Volunteer opportunities within the Division of Environmental Assessment may take the ES to rocky shorelines with uneven footing, onto intertidal mudflats with deep mud, and on small motorized and unmotorized boats on lakes. When in the office, tasks will be conducted from a laptop computer at a cubicle in the Ray Building.
- Service is performed primarily outdoors
- Service involves some physical labor
- Service involves travel to a variety of locations, including overnight stays for no more than three subsequent nights
- Service is performed independently and as part of a team
- Service involves frequent communication to multiple parties
- Service involves managing time effectively and completing tasks with attention to detail
- Service will require the ability to self-motivate, serve independently and collaboratively
Qualifications
- High School diploma or equivalent
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Must be a US Citizen or permanent resident
- Must agree to a criminal history check
- All positions at State sites require a valid drivers license with a good 5-year driving record
- Passion for community service and the environment
- Commitment to complete the full term of service
- Valid drivers license with a good 5-year driving record (required)
- Adventurous spirit and willingness to get involved when help is needed (required)
- Experience aboard small boats and with trailering (preferred)
- Experience operating water quality equipment and/or collecting and handling bottle samples (preferred)
- Experience with SCUBA diving in marine environments (preferred)
Benefits:
- Weekly living allowance of $535 (before taxes) for 24 weeks
- AmeriCorps Education Award of $3,697.50
- Certifications in the National Incident Management System, some members (determined by Host Site need) will also receive MCC Chainsaw Safety Certification
- Conferences such as the Maine AmeriCorps Member Conference and Volunteer Leadership Conference
- Networking opportunities
- Maine State Park Pass
- Some members may also be eligible for student loan forbearance and childcare reimbursement
- This position does not come with housing
Orientation and Training Topics:
Members will participate in up to five orientation days. Typical topics include: Intro to AmeriCorps, Prohibited Program Activities, MCC, Host Sites and You, OnCorps reporting, Portfolio Development, Professional Communication, National Incident Management Systems, and Safety. Orientation and training will be primarily in person.
Job readiness training, such as resume writing, job search components, appropriate workplace behaviors, and interview skills will be taught throughout the term of service. Additional training may be provided by the Host Site.
Volunteer Engagement
The Environmental Steward will utilize the Essential Volunteer Management Practices to improve the sites volunteer program.
The MCC ES will recruit and promote volunteer opportunities from the local community, businesses, and social organizations to accomplish projects. The MCC will assist members in identifying potential outreach opportunities, best approaches, and promotion of events to increase volunteerism at the Host Site. The ES will improve the sustainability of the overall volunteer program.