Ecologist

City of New York•New York City, NY

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The Division of Environment and Planning aims to protect, restore, and expand New York City Parks including green spaces and natural areas to maximize their benefits for environmental and community health and resilience. The Natural Resources Group’s mission is to protect, restore, expand, and manage New York City’s over 12,000 acres of natural spaces and green infrastructure across the five boroughs, including forests, grasslands and wetlands.

Requirements

1. For Assignment Level I (only physical, biological and environmental sciences and public health) A master's degree from an accredited college or university with a specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological or environmental science or in public health.
To be appointed to Assignment Level II and above, candidates must have:
1. A doctorate degree from an accredited college or university with specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological, environmental or social science and one year of full-time experience in a responsible supervisory, administrative or research capacity in the appropriate field of specialization; or
2. A master's degree from an accredited college or university with specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological, environmental or social science and three years of responsible full-time research experience in the appropriate field of specialization; or
3. Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have at least a master's degree in an appropriate field of specialization and at least two years of experience described in "2" above.
Two years as a City Research Scientist Level I can be substituted for the experience required in "1" and "2" above.

Responsibilities

Under the direction of Senior Staff in the Division of Environment and Planning leads ecological and environmental monitoring in the City’s subtidal estuaries, streams, shorelines, tidal and freshwater wetlands.
Manage an up-to-date inventory of field equipment, ensuring equipment is functioning and organized.
Conduct monitoring and data collection in support of restoration and management. Support development of study design as needed. Data collection includes, but is not limited to, implementing appropriate methods for: vegetation monitoring, including plant identification, percent cover estimates and plant measurements (density, stem height, stem diameter); wetland delineations, vegetation mapping, bio benchmarks; elevation monitoring using surveying equipment (e.g. RTK GPS); soil/sediment sampling and basic soil analysis; and water level monitoring (e.g. deployment of water level loggers, such as HOBO or similar).
Manage, enter, and analyze field data, and maintain organized and accurate files.
Compile, analyze and interpret data and present results. Summarize and interpret monitoring data and provide recommendations for adaptive management and restoration designs based on results and lessons learned.
Support senior staff in evaluating the effects of restoration and adaptive management actions on natural resources.
Coordinate within the Agency to ensure necessary resources and materials are available and adaptive management and maintenance actions are completed. Lead or support the implementation of those actions as needed.
Prepare clear environmental compliance monitoring reports of restoration sites for regulatory agencies.
Assist in preparing wetland and stormwater permit applications for state and federal regulatory agencies.
Use software, including but not limited to R studio and ArcGIS to map, visualize and analyze data.
Supervise interns and junior staff in tasks related to data collection, entry and analysis.
Manage a variety of ecological restoration or monitoring and assessment projects as needed.
Facilitate work of partner organizations, including monitoring and permitting support and relationship building.
Prepare maps, figures, and final reports to submit to the public, funders, internal staff and regulatory agencies.