Environmental Intern (35 Hour)

The Bureau of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division, Marine Fisheries Program is seeking to hire an Environmental Intern, target class, EP Fisheries Biologist 1.  

Hours per week: 35

Shift: First shift, but hours may vary according to field sampling or out of office state meeting needs.

Location: Old Lyme 

The department is seeking expertise that is vital for sustainable fisheries management, quota monitoring, fish stock assessments, and complying with state statutes and federal mandates. The incumbent will be involved in meeting the agency’s responsibility to effectively and efficiently manage both commercial and recreational fisheries in Connecticut  consistent with state policy articulated in the Coastal Management Act (22a-92(c)(1)(I)): “to manage the state's fisheries in order to promote the economic benefits of commercial and recreational fishing, enhance recreational fishing opportunities, optimize the yield of all species, prevent the depletion or extinction of indigenous species, maintain and enhance the productivity of natural estuarine resources and preserve healthy fisheries resources for future generations”. The incumbent will be involved in the collection of fishery-dependent and independent data that are necessary to maintain compliance with mandatory elements of interstate fishery management plans of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) as enforced under the federal Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act.

Position requires Connecticut Safe Boating Certificate or equivalent and may require out of state and overnight travel and work aboard research vessels in sometimes harsh weather.

Applicants are required to submit a cover letter and resume with the application submission. 

Qualified current State employees being considered for further steps in the hiring process may be required to submit their last two performance appraisals while qualified non-state employees being considered for further steps in the hiring process may be required to submit two letters of reference.   

This position is non-competitive. Open to the public.

In a state agency receives training in introductory professional environmental work for the development of technical and professional skills and knowledge in order to qualify for advancement to the professional environmental work of the agency; performs a wide variety of increasing difficult duties as technical skills are acquired during the course of the training period.

This position will perform critical data entry, data quality assurance/quality control, reporting compliance monitoring, field data collection, data analysis and interpretation, and data request fulfillment, as well as supporting verbal and written interactions and correspondence with peer professionals, regulated license holders and the general public. Duties may also involve fish ageing, leading field sampling crews and various administrative duties related to the fishery management program. This position will also eventually represent the Marine Fisheries Program on several species technical committees of the ASFMC.

Some knowledge of basic theories, principles and practices of environmental and policy analysis; some knowledge of basic statistics; general knowledge of environmental program planning principles and practices; interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills; analytical skills; research and organizational skills; ability to understand and interpret legislation and technical data; ability to utilize computer software.

A Bachelor's or Master's degree in a scientific or technical discipline related to the environmental field including but not limited to the biological, earth, or physical sciences; environmental planning; environmental law; leisure services; geographic information systems; geography with a concentration in geographic information systems; environmental or natural sciences; or natural resources.

·        B.S. or M.S. in Marine Biology, Fishery or Natural Resource Management

·        Proficiency in statistical analysis of fisheries biological, catch, effort and landings data

·        Proficiency in SAS, R, SQL and use of databases

·        Experience in working with the commercial fishing industry

·        Experience in fishery biology and species identification

·        Experience in fishery-dependent and independent sampling techniques and proficiency in field sampling

·        Connecticut Safe Boating Certificate or equivalent and experience in small boat handling

·        Excellent oral and written interpersonal skills

Incumbents in this class may be exposed to some danger of injury or physical harm from on site environments and moderate degree of discomfort from exposure to year round weather conditions.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.