Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Washington Department of Ecology WCC/AmeriCorps Individual Placement Positions

 

Positions Available:

There will be three AmeriCorps/WCC positions at Padilla Bay starting October 2015: Operations Assistant, Research/Monitoring Assistant, and Education Assistant. Each will have primary duties in their own department and will share duties with the other departments. The primary duties of all three are described here. These positions will begin in early October 2015 and extend through September 2016. The workweek will be forty hours but flexibility will be required, including shifts on weekends (Sunday) every third week. These are all Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) and AmeriCorps positions. For more information about WCC and AmeriCorps (including other available job opportunities) please visit:  www.ecy.wa.gov/wcc/

 

Wage and benefits:

Pay is Washington State Minimum Wage (currently $9.47/hour) plus a basic health insurance policy. An AmeriCorps Education Award valued at $5,730 will be awarded upon successful completion of a one-year service term. Education awards can be applied to student loans or used for future education. Payments on educational loans can be deferred for the duration of these positions. Other benefits and requirements are described on the WCC/AmeriCorps website: www.ecy.wa.gov/wcc/

 

Descriptions:

There will be three people hired with the primary duties described below. Each will share duties with the other two, including opening and closing facilities.

 

Operations Assistant

Primary duties are facility maintenance tasks and small construction projects at the Reserve campus. This includes:

  • Aquarium operations and maintenance
  • Landscaping, landscape maintenance, nature trail upkeep, and native tree and shrub planting
  • Reception, public relations, opening and closing of facility, set up for groups
  • Stream Team water quality monitoring duties (collect samples, process lab work, and equipment maintenance)
  • Assist with Research and Education Departments as needed
  • Various community service projects in the surrounding area, including on-site community garden

 

Research and Monitoring Assistant

The primary duties are to assist with a variety of estuarine and watershed monitoring and research projects at the Reserve. Work will be conducted in a range of settings, including rocky intertidal, mudflat and eelgrass habitats, oceanographic sampling from research vessels, deployment and servicing of instrumentation, and following laboratory methods and conducting laboratory analyses. The Research and Monitoring Assistant will also work with the Research Team to develop and conduct their own independent research project that contributes to one or more of the research priorities of the Reserve. Other responsibilities include:

  • Assisting the Research Team with laboratory analyses and sample processing, including filtering and weighing samples, counting organisms, and general lab work in support of research; Assisting in the laboratory by filtering and weighing samples, and counting organisms
  • Assisting with data entry, statistical analyses, and graphing of selected data
  • Participating in open water, vessel-based research and monitoring throughout the year
  • Assisting with monitoring of water quality with field instruments, assisting with calibration and maintenance of instruments, and collecting and analyzing water samples
  • Contribute to dissemination of research to broader audiences through a variety of means, such as submissions to the Padilla Bay newsletter, giving public presentations, or working with interpretive center

 

Education Assistant

The workweek for this position is Tuesday through Saturday. Primary duty is presentation of Padilla Bay’s estuary education program to school and community groups. This includes:

  • Assisting professional educators with implementation of existing programs for school field trips, families and other youth groups
  • Special environmental education projects for target audiences
  • Helping organize professional conferences and gatherings for environmental educators
  • Development and maintenance of educational materials and exhibits
  • Web page development and maintenance

 

Qualifications:

Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 25 (inclusive) on October 5, 2015. Returning military veterans are exempt from the age restriction.

 

Note: Consideration will be given to applicants with the following abilities, experience and training depending on the focus area: environmental education, marine biology, field and laboratory science skills, use of power equipment, and Spanish language. College graduates are eligible and encouraged to apply.

 

To apply:

All applicants must apply on-line to WCC at: www.ecy.wa.gov/wcc/

In addition, to be considered for these Padilla Bay positions, applicants are required to submit to the relevant Padilla Bay supervisor 1) cover letter indicating their interests and in which department at Padilla Bay they would like to focus; 2) confirmation of completion of the on-line WCC application; 3) resume indicating contact information, academic background, and work experience; and 4) contact information for three references. Priority consideration will be given to applications received by July 31. The Operations position will remain open past July 31, until filled. An on-site interview is preferred but a telephone interview is okay.

 

Send application materials via email to:

For education focus: Glen Alexander, alex@padillabay.gov

For operations focus: Mark Olson, molson@padillabay.gov

For research/monitoring focus: Jude Apple, japple@padillabay.gov

 

Or via postal mail to the relevant person at the following address:

Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

10441 Bay View – Edison Rd.

Mount Vernon, WA  98273 voice: (360) 428-1558