Join the Maine Conservation Corps

Position Available: Environmental Steward (900 Hour) - Maine Healthy Beaches

General Description:

Gain meaningful experience exploring Maine through the lens of an individual conservation organization! Have you been waiting for a chance to learn about how a land trust operates? How a federal wildlife refuge creates and conserves habitat? How citizen science projects are created and accomplished?

Live, learn, and explore Maine's conservation pockets with the Maine Conservation Corps (MCC). As an MCC AmeriCorps Environmental Steward, you can make an impact within an organization and the community by achieving specific Host Site goals as unique as each placement.

Environmental Stewards (ES) accomplish a wide variety of conservation projects ranging from water quality monitoring, habitat restoration, mobilizing volunteers to maintain hiking trails, banding and gathering data on songbirds, restoring eelgrass, teaching school kids about shellfisheries, mapping invasive species, and more. Gain experience and an adventure while making a difference.

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is the State agency responsible for protecting and restoring Maine's natural resources and enforcing the State's environmental laws. The Maine Healthy Beaches Program (MHB) provides the State's only quality-assured, unified structure for monitoring water quality and protecting public health at Maine's coastal beaches. This Program provides important training and support to Maine's citizens regarding water quality and public health and safety.

The ES will support and enhance the MHB program, especially in areas of volunteer recruitment and management, water quality monitoring and assistance to local municipalities to improve water quality and protect public health, and education and outreach activities. This work will involve collaboration with diverse partners including local beach managers, municipalities, conservation commissions, state and local partners, etc. The ES will participate in field monitoring activities, volunteer management and training, volunteer recruitment, public education and outreach, data management (including quality control protocols), laboratory analysis, and traveling to Maines beautiful coastal beaches.

Location:

Portland, ME

Days and Hours of Service:

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:

  • Collaborate with and provide technical support to volunteers/local staff to accomplish monitoring objectives.
  • Follow protocols set forward by Maine Healthy Beaches Program and partner organizations.
  • Collect water quality samples when routine monitors are unavailable.
  • Transport field equipment, supplies, samples and program materials to volunteers and laboratories as needed.
  • Assist with updating beach monitoring schedules, site location descriptions and maps, and local beach monitoring and notification plans
  • Maintain, inventory, and distribute field equipment, supplies, and program materials
  • Train volunteer monitors to collect water quality samples at Maines coastal beaches
  • Assist municipalities with volunteer recruitment activities as needed.
  • Conduct and support education/outreach initiatives.
  • Process samples in a laboratory setting following established protocols.
  • Communicate with program partners, municipalities, and the public.
  • Compile and analyze data as needed.
  • Evaluate and quality check (QC) monitoring data.
  • Assist with implementation of new program database.
  • Assist with organizing, reviewing, and updating MHB program materials.
  • Assist with program improvements including feedback from partners.
  • Partner with MHB Program staff and other DEP staff to implement special studies projects.
  • Conduct bacteria source tracking monitoring for southern Maine special studies projects to identify pollution sources.
  • Research innovative volunteer recruitment methods and assist municipalities in building local capacity to secure and retain volunteers for future monitoring efforts.
  • Research, develop and promote effective volunteer engagement and appreciation strategies.
  • 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 clearly and effectively over the phone, via email, in person and in writing with diverse audiences
  • Ability to coordinate and facilitate meetings and trainings
  • Ability to collaborate with municipalities, volunteers, and program partners and manage volunteers
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office products, Excel, Word, Power Point
  • Ability to collect and enter data into various databases with training from MHB Team
  • Ability to synthesize data and generate reports
  • Ability to learn new computer applications as necessary
  • Ability to drive a vehicle and distribute equipment (coolers, monitoring kits, waders, signs, etc.)
  • Ability to contribute to multiple projects simultaneously
  • Demonstrates good writing skills.
  • 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:

  • Ability to manipulate data in Excel
  • Ability to develop outreach materials

Service Conditions:

  • Service is performed outdoors and indoors. During the beach monitoring season from late May through September, service is performed primarily outdoors
  • Service involves teaching established protocols and conducting sampling outdoors in all (safe) weather conditions during field season
  • Outdoor service includes training and monitoring at coastal beaches and various rivers and streams as needed
  • Service involves travel along coastal Maine (predominantly Southern Maine)
  • Service includes distributing sampling equipment including large coolers, kits, waders, signs, etc.
  • Service is performed independently and as part of a team

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
  • Excellent communication skills and comfortable interacting with the public (required)
  • Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to learn new things quickly (required)
  • Willingness and ability to teach established protocols and conduct sampling outdoors in all weather conditions during field season (required)

Preferred skills/attributes:

  • Bachelors degree (preferably in biology, environmental science or a related field).
  • Experience collecting water quality data or conducting other field assessments.
  • Experience with data management and quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC).
  • Intermediate computer skills, especially Excel.
  • Self-motivated and flexible individual willing to help in many different situations.
  • Willingness to serve some early mornings, evenings, and weekends.

Benefits:

  • Weekly living allowance of $535 (before taxes) for 45 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.

To Apply: Submit an MCC Application, resume, and cover letter. Please email Corps.Conservation@maine.gov for questions and information.

Unemployed, underemployed, minorities and veterans are encouraged to apply

The Maine Conservation Corps provides equal opportunity in employment and programs. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Accommodation arrangements must be requested in advance by contacting MCC staff.