Marine Geologist (Coastal Hazard Specialist) - Anticipated Vacancy

State of Maine•Augusta, GA

About The Position

The Maine Geological Survey in the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry announces a Marine Geologist (Coastal Hazard Specialist) vacancy. The Maine Geological Survey is a dynamic agency that provides the people of Maine with essential geologic information about the land and water where we live and work. Our staff evaluate geologic resources and processes Statewide, summarize information about groundwater, mineral resources, surface deposits, bedrock, coastal materials, and natural hazards such as storms, floods, landslides, and earthquakes, and make this information available to the public through a variety of publications and products. BRIEF JOB DESCRIPTION: This position conducts scientific projects as part of the marine and coastal geology programs at the Maine Geological Survey. This position was created to help address goals of the Resilient Maine project funded through the NOAA Climate Resilience Regional Challenge grant awarded to the State of Maine in 2024.

Requirements

A Master’s Degree in Geology with specialization in marine geology and three (3) years’ experience in marine geology. Equivalent related work experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of marine geology, beach and dune morphology, sediment transport and influence of sea level, waves, and currents on the Maine coast.
Knowledge of the physical processes behind coastal hazards, including storm surge, sea-level rise, flooding, erosion, and landslides.
Knowledge of coastal engineering models and applications, construction techniques, beach nourishment, dune restoration, slope stabilization, and shoreline modification, including nature-based engineered solutions.
Knowledge of State and Federal laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures that apply in the coastal zone.
Experience with equipment and software for coastal and offshore mapping of geologic features.
Experience with GIS software to support data management, analysis, and presentation.
Ability to read and interpret engineering designs and plans.
Ability to exchange knowledge regarding coastal geology and coastal management with peers, policymakers, managers, and the public.
Ability to formulate, develop, and carry out independent research and lead collaborative projects.
Ability to supervise interns and contract workers.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with communities, State agencies, the University of Maine, and other partners to provide technical and scientific expertise concerning coastal processes, coastal engineering, and coastal hazards, including erosion, flooding, sea-level rise, and wave and storm hazards, as well as hazard resiliency and mitigation strategy.
Develop geospatial mapping tools to communicate and quantify coastal hazards.
Help develop a procedure for updating bluff stability and landslide hazard maps along the Maine coast.
Collaborate with contract mappers to produce bluff stability maps.
Design procedures for continued maintenance of maps using citizen science.
Collaborate with the University of Maine and other partners to help design several “living shoreline” pilot projects (nature-based engineering designs) to remediate unstable shorelines on publicly owned bluff coast.
Work with contracted engineers and construction personnel to design, construct, and monitor one living shoreline project.
Participate in an inter-agency planning effort to improve the resilience to climate change of multiple public assets on the Popham Peninsula in Phippsburg, Maine.
Participate in cross-agency forums to identify and recommend revisions to Maine’s regulations and permitting practices concerning land-use, coastal modifications, climate resiliency, and sea-level rise projections.
Provide scientific and engineering review of permit applications for coastal land use and shoreline modification projects.
Engage the public through meetings, demonstration projects, field trips, and talks concerning matters of coastal importance including coastal engineering, shore stability, flooding, sea-level rise, near-shore environments, coastal zone management, and resource conservation.
Assimilate scientific data to produce maps, figures, and written reports describing findings and practical applications of investigations.
Present information in oral format to diverse audiences including scientists, regulators, municipal officials, members of the public, and students.

Benefits

Work-Life Balance – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
Health Insurance Coverage– The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($11,857.68-$13,950.24 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements.
Dental Insurance– The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($365.28 annual value).
Retirement Plan– The State of Maine contributes at least 14.11% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.
Gym Membership Reimbursement– Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense.
Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts– Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses.
Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness– The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office.
Living Resources Program – Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.
Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including fathers and adoptive parents—receive forty-two (42) consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Voluntary Deferred Compensation– Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions.
Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness