Department of Civil Service

Description:

Title: Water Quality Program Assistant (Park and Rec. Aide 5) - Water Quality Unit

Position Type: Full time temporary Summer Seasonal Position. Work week will be weekdays, Monday - Friday, approximately 37.5 hours per week. Travel percentage is approximately 50%. Anticipated work dates are May 15, 2025 through September 30, 2025.

Location: 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12207

Duration and Salary: 16-week position from mid-May through early-mid September. (may be flexible based on a student's schedule - will discuss when setting up an interview)

Pay Rate: $19.85/hour.

Agency Summary:
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (NYS OPRHP) is seeking resumes of qualified individuals to support the Division of Environmental Stewardship (DESP)'s Water Quality Unit located in Albany, NY. The Water Quality Unit is responsible for:
-Monitoring water quality issues at bathing beaches and waterbodies
-Coordinating identification and response to Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)
-Responding to issues associated with potential impacts to rare, threatened, and endangered aquatic plant and animal species
-Aiding in the coordination, advisement and oversight on natural resource stewardship projects involving aquatic habitats.

Position Summary:
The Water Quality Program Assistant will assist the Water Quality Unit with achieving unit goals and will collaborate closely with unit staff. The applicant must be able to work as a member of a small team and be comfortable working in the office and the field. This position may also serve to satisfy a student internship need.

Job Duties:
- Assist with recording daily park beach water quality data, reporting and tracking HAB events, and aid in making decisions based on reported conditions.
- Pick-up and drop-off park beach and HABs samples to labs.
- Assist with field work preparation including equipment loading, mapping, and coordination with regional staff and/or partners.
- Potential fieldwork could include collecting water and plant samples on foot or by boat, conducting tests for various water quality parameters, collaborating with partners on data collection, and assisting with aquatic invasive species management.
- Assist Water Quality Unit staff with other program tasks as needed.

The basic skills/abilities a successful candidate would possess are:
- Possess and maintain a valid driver's license that allows the candidate to legally operate a motor vehicle in New York State as a term and condition of employment.
- Able to work outdoors in extreme conditions (long hours, inclement weather, heat, humidity, cold, biting insects).
- Perform work on unpaved, uneven surfaces (tripping hazards).
- Perform work in, on, and around water (rivers, lakes, oceans, etc.).
- One to two years of college experience in biology, ecology, natural resources, or related field
- Proficiency with MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- Excellent communication and writing skills.

The ideal skills/abilities a successful candidate would possess are:
- Experience performing water quality sampling.
- Excellent organizational and record-keeping skills with attention to detail.
- Ability to work early hours and interact with the public professionally.
- Excellent communication, data management, and technical writing.
- Completed or 2+ years towards a degree in biology, environmental science, natural resources, or related field.
- Experience with creating educational materials
- Proficiency with ArcGIS.

To Apply:
If you are interested in being considered for this position, please send an email to Sarah Moss (she/her) (sarah.moss@parks.ny.gov) with a resume, cover letter and contact information for 3 professional references by April 18, 2025. In the subject line for the email please state: "Water Quality Program Assistant 2025".

Please email or call (sarah.moss@parks.ny.gov or (518) 419-5126) with inquiries about the position.

Skills:

Microsoft Office (Outlook/Access/Excel)

ArcGIS - ideally

Hands-on Field Work-Water Quality ideal

Organizational/Record-keeping skills

Internship Areas: Agriculture, Environmental Conservation, Scientific Research