Environmental Technician III - Lake Wise Asst, Champlain - Temporary

State of Vermont • Cape Coral, FL

7d • Hybrid

About The Position

OverviewVermont has more than 800 lakes with 1400 miles of shore. The Lake Wise Assistant works closely with the Shoreland Restoration Ecologist to support VT DEC the Lakes and Ponds Program's efforts to manage, restore, and protect shorelands and water quality in Vermont lakes through the Lake Wise Program. This seasonal position in the Lake Wise Program focuses on shoreland improvement work such as vegetative treatments for infiltration and filtration of stormwater to protect water quality and improve wildlife habitat while building resiliency along the shore. Vermont's shorelands are in a period of restoration and this seasonal position works to restore shorelands for long-term water quality protection.

The work of the Lake Wise Seasonal Assistant - Lake Champlain will primarily fall into two categories. The Lake Wise Seasonal Assistant - Lake Champlain will perform Lake Wise site assessments and provide technical assistance to towns, state parks, private residences, businesses, other shoreland owners and contractors for addressing erosive problem areas along the shores of Lake Champlain. The Lake Wise Assistant will use scientific data and nature-based solutions to perform outreach and education tasks in order to engage the public with the program and encourage lakeshore landowners to sign up for assessments (60% of the job).

Additionally, the Lake Wise Assistant - Lake Champlain will take on an assistant project manager role in addressing identified erosive sites on public lands on the Lake Champlain shoreline. These are potential sites for future demonstration projects on Lake Champlain which will require site visits, design creation, collaboration with other State of Vermont entities and towns, budgeting, creating educational materials, and all other general oversite of project management. The assistant will work closely with the Shoreland Restoration Ecologist on these projects (40% of the job).

Requirements

• Drivers License and ability to transport themselves to DEC offices.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, a biological-life or physical science, math, or natural resources field.
• Associate's degree in engineering, a biological-life or physical science, math, or a natural resources field AND two (2) years or more at or above a technical level in an environmental or natural resources field.
• High School diploma or equivalent AND four (4) years or more of experience at or above a technical level in an environmental or natural resources.
• One (1) year or more as an Environmental Technician II.

Nice To Haves

• Self-Starter who enjoys working both independently and as part of a team
• Enthusiasm for working closely with the public
• Comfortable driving long distances
• Comfortable working alone in the field
• Ability and willingness to engage in public speaking
• Background knowledge in lake science a plus
• Available for 5-6 months of employment

Responsibilities

• Learn to perform Lake Wise site assessments and provide them to lakeshore landowners on Lake Champlain
• Provide technical assistance to towns, state parks, private residences, businesses, other shoreland owners and contractors for addressing erosive, problem areas along the shores of Lake Champlain
• Assist in and/or lead outreach and education events, including giving public talks and presentations
• Write reports and manage electronic files and data, including database management and file scanning
• Interact professionally with members of the public
• Assist in project management activities for one or more ecological/stormwater improvement project on public lands on Lake Champlain
• Create educational materials/signage for the above public land project
• Complete conceptual designs for public access sites on Lake Champlain as needed

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level