Individual Placement - Research & Monitoring Member

Student Conservation Association • Staatsburg, NY

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Research & Monitoring Member will assist the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve (HRNERR) Research Coordinator and System-Wide Monitoring Program (SWMP) Technician in carrying out standardized monitoring in the Hudson River Estuary. The program collects, manages, and archives long-term water quality, meteorological, and nutrient data to support research into short-term variability and long-term changes in coastal habitats.

The member will support monitoring station and instrument calibration, deployment, maintenance, and troubleshooting; collect water samples; and help process and analyze samples in a laboratory. The role also includes field-data digitization and data entry, laboratory upkeep, and assistance with other Research Reserve programs and SCA service activities. The position is based at Norrie Point Environmental Center in Staatsburg, New York, and is primarily in a front-country setting. The member regularly interacts with the public, while emergency services may be delayed by one to two hours and public transportation and cell service may be limited or unavailable.

The service term is January 25, 2027 through November 19, 2027. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., approximately 40 hours per week, with occasional optional weekend work. Members participate in SCA and AmeriCorps trainings and complete program reporting requirements. Compensation is a $500 weekly living allowance and a full-time AmeriCorps education award of $7,395 upon successful completion. Free health insurance and childcare assistance are available to eligible members. Housing is either provided through a lottery (not guaranteed) or a $1,000 monthly housing allowance for positions outside New York City.

Requirements

• Meet AmeriCorps eligibility requirements: be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or national; be at least 18; have a high school diploma or equivalent or be actively working to complete one; and undergo the National Service Criminal History Check.
• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, environmental studies, biology, geology, or a related field.
• Valid driver’s license and personal vehicle.
• At least three years of state-permitted and licensed driving experience; be at least 21 years old; and pass the required motor vehicle record check and SCA driver training, including online and behind-the-wheel assessment components.
• Comfortable working in and around water and outdoors year-round in all weather conditions, including cold, heat, humidity, and rain.
• Able to lift and carry up to 40 pounds.
• Able to follow rigorous sampling procedures and laboratory best practices, as well as laboratory and field safety protocols.
• Comfortable working with and around chemicals in a laboratory environment.
• Willing to operate a state-owned sedan, truck, or SUV.
• Able to swim.
• 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.
• Able to canoe or kayak, or willing to learn on the Hudson River and tidal creeks.
• Willing to work in chest waders, hip boots, dive boots, wet suits, water shoes, and other protective equipment.
• Comfortable working with or around power and hand tools, or willing to learn their safe operation.
• Able to adapt to work schedules and projects that may change on short notice or be ambiguous, and positively interact with people of varying perspectives.

Responsibilities

• Assist with monthly water-sample collection at multiple Hudson River Estuary sites, using hand-held meters, recording field data, and following standard sampling protocols.
• Assist with in-house processing and analysis of water samples for multiple parameters, including preparation of chemical reagents and standards as needed.
• Assist with monthly maintenance of Hudson River weather stations, including sensor and instrumentation maintenance and troubleshooting, data retrieval, and use of hand-held meters.
• Support calibration, deployment, maintenance, and troubleshooting of water-quality monitoring instruments, including monthly instrument swaps and deployments at multiple sites.
• Prepare for monthly sampling by labeling bottles and cuvettes, cleaning and storing sampling equipment, weighing filters, and completing related tasks.
• Digitize field data sheets and enter data into Microsoft Access, Excel, and online databases.
• Maintain, organize, and keep the working laboratory space in order.
• Assist, as needed, with other Research program initiatives, including water-level monitoring and surveying, visiting researcher projects, and tidal wetland and aquatic habitat monitoring.
• Provide assistance as needed to other Research Reserve programs, including invasive species management, public education, marsh monitoring, and the TIDES education program.
• Participate in SCA Corps-wide training and service projects.
• Complete AmeriCorps reporting requirements, including timesheets, monthly reports, education pre- and post-tests where applicable, and evaluations at the beginning, midpoint, and end of the term.
• Submit timesheets through SCA’s ADP timekeeping system and complete weekly output reports and monthly member narratives.
• Complete required online New York State employee and contractor training, laboratory safety training, and boater safety training.

Benefits

• $500 weekly living allowance, subject to applicable taxes.
• Full-time AmeriCorps education award of $7,395 upon successful completion of the program.
• Eligible for free health insurance.
• Eligible for AmeriCorps childcare assistance.
• Eligible members with qualifying federal student loans may receive student loan forbearance and interest-payment deferment.
• Free housing may be available through a lottery and is not guaranteed, or a $1,000 monthly housing allowance is available for positions outside New York City.
• Training opportunities include AmeriCorps and SCA training, risk management, workplace harassment and drug-abuse training, Mental Health First Aid, Wilderness First Aid and CPR, environmental education and leadership, Hudson River ecology, Leave No Trace Level 1, professional development and job readiness, and outdoor educator conferences and service events.

What This Job Offers

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