Senior Entomology Technician

State of Maine•Old Town, ME

23h•Onsite

About The Position

The Maine Forest Service Forest Health and Monitoring (FHM) Division has a vacancy for a Senior Entomology Technician in the Old Town, Maine area. FHM cooperates with other state, local, and federal collaborators to support the overall mission of the Maine Forest Service to protect and enhance the forest resources of Maine for the benefit of present and future generations. Through statewide forest health monitoring systems and advice and assistance for pest management and damage prevention to homeowners, municipalities, and forest landowners and managers, the division supports the overall health of Maine’s forest resources. This is technical services work involving the detection, evaluation, and impact assessment of forest health issues (insects, diseases, abiotic factors) in both field and laboratory environments and conducting a wide variety of forest resources surveys. This position may supervise or act as lead for technical and seasonal personnel assigned to assist in meeting project objectives. Work is performed under limited supervision. Supervision may be exercised over subordinate personnel.

Requirements

Knowledge of integrated pest management, forest and tree ecology including forest health topics
Familiarity with the use of taxonomic keys to identify host plants, insects and diseases
Possess or be able to obtain a valid Maine Driver’s License
A four (4) year combination of training, education, and/or experience in basic technical field or laboratory entomology, pathology, forestry, or related work, including at least two (2) years of actual on-the-job experience in forest inventory analysis and insect identification
Pesticides Applicator License as issued by the Maine Pesticide Control Board (must be met prior to attaining permanent status)

Nice To Haves

Ability to become adept at the use of MS Office and ArcGIS Software Suites
Ability to become licensed as a commercial pesticide applicator in multiple categories related to position duties
Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication, and presentations skills
Ability to reach logical conclusions and make sound technical recommendations based on data gathered
Ability to work well as a leader and team player as well as independently
Experience organizing, prioritizing, and managing multiple work projects and types of activities while meeting and managing deadlines

Responsibilities

Performing forest health evaluations and field studies to determine causes, extents and severity of damages including establishing temporary and permanent forested and non-forested survey plots and conducting a variety of surveys to mark the area
Collect data for monitoring and assessment and identify damage and environmental impacts
Providing diagnostic services and technical advice regarding insect and disease problems to landowners, the public, and other agencies to assess problems, recommend controls, and protect resources
Performing inspections and surveys related to state and federally regulated pests to prevent the introduction or spread of foreign or quarantined pests
Collect, process, document and appropriately store, analyze and report on field samples to determine damage agents using specialized entomology and pathology techniques
Collaborates with universities and state and federal agencies on insect and disease projects to provide information and services to landowners
Maintain records, assigned equipment and supplies
Supervise or act as lead for technical and seasonal personnel assigned to assist in meeting project objectives

Benefits

13 paid holidays
12 days of sick leave annually
3+ weeks of vacation leave annually (accrual increases with years of service)
Personal leave (for overtime-exempt employees)
Health Insurance Coverage (State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums)
Health Insurance Premium Credit (decreases employee-only premiums by 5%)
Dental Insurance (State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums)
Retirement Plan (State of Maine contributes at least 14.11% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS))
Gym Membership Reimbursement (up to $40 per month)
Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness
Living Resources Program (employee assistance program)
Parental leave (42 consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave for all employees welcoming a child, including fathers and adoptive parents)
Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act
Voluntary Deferred Compensation (MaineSaves 457(b) account)
Wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness