Individual Placement - Estuary Habitat Monitoring Member

Student Conservation Association • Staatsburg, NY

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Estuary Habitat Monitoring Member serves with the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve (HRNERR) to support its mission of improving the health of the Hudson River Estuary through habitat conservation, education, stewardship, restoration, monitoring, and research. Working with the Habitat Researcher, the member helps implement the National Estuarine Research Reserve System’s Wetlands and Water Levels Program, which monitors coastal habitat responses to changing water levels, including freshwater and brackish tidal marshes and submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV).

The position involves field monitoring of tidal wetlands and nearshore aquatic habitats; supporting the Hudson River tide station network; and helping manage a Hudson River-wide community science program that surveys SAV beds. The member may also assist with research projects, mapping, laboratory and water-quality work, volunteer coordination, data management, educational programs, and other Research Reserve activities. The position is based at Norrie Point Environmental Center in Staatsburg, New York. Service is scheduled for January 25, 2027 through November 19, 2027, generally Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., for approximately 40 hours per week. Occasional weekend work is optional.

This is an SCA AmeriCorps member position. Compensation is a $500 weekly living allowance, with a full-time AmeriCorps education award of $7,395 upon successful program completion. Members are eligible for free health insurance and childcare assistance, and may qualify for federal student-loan forbearance and interest-payment deferment. Free housing may be available through a lottery, or a $1,000 monthly housing allowance is offered for positions outside New York City. The role includes required SCA and AmeriCorps training and participation in corps-wide trainings, service projects, evaluations, and reporting.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or national.
• Must be at least 18 years old; driving an SCA vehicle requires being at least 21 years old.
• Must have a high school diploma or equivalent, or be actively working to complete one.
• Must undergo a National Service Criminal History Check, including criminal background, sex offender, and FBI checks, after an offer is made.
• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, environmental studies, biology, geology, or a related field.
• Valid driver’s license and personal vehicle.
• For SCA vehicle operation: current and valid license for the vehicle type, at least three years of state-permitted and licensed driving experience, passing an MVR check upon hire or re-hire and annually, and passing SCA driver training, including online and behind-the-wheel assessment.
• Must be comfortable working in and around water and outdoors year-round in all weather conditions, including cold, heat, humidity, and rain.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 40 pounds.
• Must be able to swim.
• Must be comfortable working in wetland and aquatic environments, including hip-deep mud and muck, shallow and deep water over five feet, dense vegetation and brush, and exposure to sun, insects, wildlife, and other environmental hazards.
• Must be able to canoe or kayak, or be willing to learn on the Hudson River and tidal creeks.
• Must be willing to work in chest waders, hip boots, dive boots, wetsuits, water shoes, and other protective equipment.
• Must be able to follow rigorous sampling procedures and laboratory and field safety protocols.
• Must be willing to operate a state-owned sedan, truck, and SUV.
• Must be comfortable working with or around power and hand tools, or willing to learn to operate them safely.
• Must submit timesheets and required program reports and participate in required trainings and service projects.

Responsibilities

• Collect marsh surface elevation and stability data from Hudson River tidal marshes, using surveying equipment.
• Collect tidal wetland plant community data, including percent cover, stem counts, and species identification.
• Collect submerged aquatic vegetation habitat data, including percent cover, species identification, and other environmental characteristics.
• Monitor ecotone shifts in tidal marsh habitats using field tape measures, plant identification, and environmental observations.
• Prepare and implement research and monitoring projects, including calibrating, deploying, maintaining, servicing, and retrieving data from sensors and other equipment, and analyzing data.
• Assist with updates to Hudson River Estuary tidal wetland and SAV maps, including imagery interpretation using specialized software and boat-based ground-truthing.
• Maintain Hudson River tide stations, including surveying, using hand and power tools, and maintaining station infrastructure.
• Support the Hudson River SAV Volunteer Monitoring Program through volunteer coordination, training, outreach, and data entry.
• Digitize field sheets and enter data using Microsoft programs, including Excel and Access, and online databases.
• Assist with other HRNERR Research programs as needed, potentially including water-quality or meteorological monitoring, laboratory tasks, and water sampling.
• Maintain and organize the working laboratory and communal storage spaces as needed.
• Provide additional assistance to other Research Reserve programs as time allows, including invasive plant management, native plant greenhouse work, wetland restoration, and the TIDES education program.
• Participate in SCA Corps-wide trainings and service projects, and complete project evaluation and reporting.
• Complete required New York State employee and contractor, laboratory safety, and boater safety trainings.
• Submit timesheets and required weekly output and monthly narrative reports.
• Operate an SCA motor vehicle as required, subject to driver eligibility, record checks, and training requirements.

Benefits

• $500 weekly living allowance.
• Full-time AmeriCorps education award of $7,395 upon successful program completion.
• Eligible for free health insurance.
• Eligible for childcare assistance through AmeriCorps.
• Eligible members may receive federal student-loan forbearance and interest-payment deferment for qualifying loans.
• Free housing may be available through a lottery, or a $1,000 monthly housing allowance is offered for positions outside New York City.
• Training opportunities include risk management, mental health first aid, wilderness first aid and CPR, environmental education and leadership, Hudson River ecology, Leave No Trace, and professional development and job readiness.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level