Parks and Recreation Aide 7 - Water Quality Program Specialist

Job Description:

Parks and Recreation Aide 7 - Water Quality Program Specialist

Description

Duties Description

The Water Quality Program Specialist 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, the field, and from home. The applicant must have excellent written and verbal communication skills and be meticulous in the collection and handling of data. The Water Quality Program Specialist will help coordinate the Agency’s water quality program to manage and maintain the water quality, safety, and recreational uses of state park waterbodies. The work will focus on monitoring, protection, and stewardship of the waterbodies in New York State Parks including lakes, ponds, streams, rivers, wetlands, marine and estuarine environments. The duties will largely involve assisting with the beach monitoring program as well as supporting the Agency’s Harmful Algal Bloom protocol.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Analyze State Park waterbody data and assist in determining priority actions and projects to restore or improve aquatic ecosystem integrity
• Submitting samples to appropriate laboratories for testing; completing appropriate tests, recording all measurements in the field, and entering and filing data
• Assist with recording daily park beach water quality data, reporting beach closures internally and on a public-facing website
• Assist with reporting and tracking of HAB events, creating and sharing resources, and making decisions based on reported conditions
• Pick-up and drop-off park beach and HABs samples to labs, trips to the warehouse for equipment
• Planning, scheduling, and leading field work including equipment loading, mapping, sampling, and coordination with regional staff and/or partners
• Assist with planning /coordinating statewide trainings for staff (beaches / HABs)
• Assist in coordinating with parks and regions on water quality issues, sample submissions, beach closures, etc
• Assist in creating guidance documents, PowerPoint presentations, unit flyers, and more resources as needed
• Coordinating with partners for data gathering and analysis, data handling and fulfilling data requests
• Making recommendations and providing reports to address water quality issues at State Park waterbodies
• Assist Water Quality Unit staff with other program tasks as needed

Minimum Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

No minimum qualifications per Civil Service.

Additional Comments

OPERATIONAL NEEDS:
* Must 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.
* Must be at least 18 years old

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• A bachelors or masters degree in biology, ecology, natural resources or a related field with 1-2 years of experience. At least one year of experience conducting ecological field surveys, including vegetation and wildlife surveys
• Ability to commit to summer fieldwork schedule which could involve overnight travel and weekend work
• Ability to swim and comfort on water in small boats
• Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, Microsoft Access and database management and Power Point
• Good communication and writing skills
• Previous aquatic ecosystem or water quality-related coursework, fieldwork, or professional experience
• Plant identification or botany skills; previous wetland experience
• Previous environmental education experience
• Previous grant writing or management experience
• A working knowledge of including ArcGIS/Arc Pro

BENEFITS:

There are various benefits that a seasonal employee may be eligible for based on their negotiating unit and time and attendance requirements:

• Vacation, Holiday, Sick, And Personal Leave
• Health Care Coverage
• Tuition Assistance Programs
• NYS Retirement System Membership

To learn more about our benefits, visit: https://parks.ny.gov/employment/benefits.aspx

Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.

Closing Date/Time: 05/22/25

Salary:

From $24.13 to $24.13 Hourly