JOB: Habitat Monitoring Specialist

Jan. 28th, 2023 - Feb. 28th, 2023

We're looking for a Field Specialist to join our team in Garibaldi, OR!

If you love working outdoors, have a science background, and want to help the Oregon Coast thrive, this could be your dream job!

Tillamook Estuaries Partnership (TEP) received additional funding through the National Estuary Program thanks to bipartisan support in Congress.  We are using these funds to create a new Habitat Monitoring Specialist position that will work closely with TEP staff, partners, and volunteers throughout Tillamook County.  

Scroll down to read more about the job, the type of person we need to fill the position, and find out how to apply. 

Job Description

The Habitat Monitoring Specialist is an important position within TEP’s team of skilled professionals.    The high-level objectives of this position are:

• Monitor water quality and habitat characteristics in order to identify status and trends of changing environmental conditions that will, in turn, help inform and prioritize adaptive management strategies
• Monitor the effectiveness of restoration and conservation actions

Job-specific responsibilities for the Habitat Monitoring Specialist include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Work as part of TEP’s team to implement our ecosystem monitoring and water quality programs and, by extension, support TEP’s Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP).
  • Execute ecosystem monitoring plans at TEP restoration sites:  temperature and water level loggers, crest gauges, time lapse cameras, habitat surveys, photo surveys, etc.
  • Support the Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program (VWQMP) including sample collection, volunteer training and scheduling, standard operating procedures (SOP) updates, and (when contractor is unavailable) sample processing and reading, data entry, and supply inventory management.
  • Support TEP and Partner water quality, habitat, and species monitoring programs such as ocean acidification, dissolved oxygen, microbial source tracking, seagrass surveys, shellfish surveys, rapid bio assessments (RBAs),  beach cleanups/surveys, etc.
  • Assist TEP staff and Partners with pre- and post-restoration project effectiveness monitoring using standardized protocols (AREMP, etc.) for culvert replacements, tidegate removals, Large Woody Debris (LWDs) placements, Beaver Dam Analogs (BDAs), etc.
  • Assist with and pilot drones during monitoring surveys.
  • Calibrate, deploy, check, retrieve, maintain, and repair instruments and equipment.  Precise and accurate data management.
  • Maintain a clean and organized work space in lab(s) and storage unit(s).
  • Develop, update, and adhere to SOPs for monitoring tasks. 
  • Accurate data collection and entry with appropriate quality control.
  • Lead citizen volunteer, intern, partner, and youth monitoring teams when applicable.  Engage VetsWork fellows when hosted by TEP.
• Create ArcGIS maps of monitoring locations, past and current TEP restoration projects, etc.
• Create video clips from still shots and time lapse camera footage
• Manage TEP truck operations and maintenance schedules
• Develop and implement additional monitoring programs, time and funding dependent.
  • Implement nurdles monitoring program.  Recruit, train, and retain citizen volunteers.
  • Plan and implement pilot program for riverine/marine debris monitoring and removal.  If successful, expand program.
• Collaborate with TEP’s Community Education & Engagement Team to provide opportunities for education, hands-on experience, youth mentorship, and community service.

In order to contribute to the success of TEP as an organization, the Habitat Monitoring Specialist will have the following general responsibilities:

• Support TEP staff, Board of Directors, and partners in the development and implementation of CCMP, 5-year strategies, and annual work plans.  Track accomplishments.
• Maintain close working relationships with local, state, and federal partners, scientists, educators, volunteers, and special interest groups
• Represent TEP at meetings, committees, conferences, workshops, and events as needed
• Support TEP- and partner-led nursery, education, and engagement programs as needed
• Communicate TEP’s achievements through reports, quarterly newsletters, website content, and social media postings
• Participate in TEP fundraising efforts
• Any other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications/Requirements (Job Specific)

• Associates Degree or higher with specific course work in biological, chemical, or physical science
  OR
  Two years’ professional/military experience in laboratory, field, or other scientific data collection without or without a post-high school degree 
• Timeliness
• Strong attention to detail; ability to follow directions and adhere to protocols
• Proficiency with Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, and Adobe or other similar software. 
• Reliable transportation to/from TEP’s office (located in the Port of Garibaldi) that does not interfere with the hours required for this position. 
• Proof of valid driver’s license and current auto liability insurance required (i) prior to driving any TEP-owned vehicle and (ii) prior to driving any vehicle, including personal vehicle, for TEP-related business during work hours.

** Note that drone certifications and experience in the field techniques listed in the job requirements are not pre-requisites for hire.  TEP offers hands-on training as well as annual professional development for its staff.

Preferred Experience (Job Specific)

• Laboratory or scientific field experience, courses, or certifications
• Familiarity with GIS software and statistics, interest in further skills development

Preferred Attributes  (General)

• Interact with staff, Board Members, and public with a high level of professionalism
• Demonstrate a concern for effectiveness (e.g. proactively analyze current procedures and offer suggestions for possible improvements)
• Effective communications (e.g. respectful and courteous in all verbal and non-verbal communications)
• Self-motivated
• Willing to carry out tasks and respond to situations as they arise with minimal supervision
• Ability to prioritize tasks to manage multiple projects, adapting as needed to changing priorities, deadlines, and instructions
• Demonstrates integrity and ethical behavior
• Works in an economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable manner
• Displays a positive attitude toward and enthusiasm for functioning as a part of a high-performance team
• Understands and continuously learns about a broad range of issues related to habitat restoration and living resources and is able to condense that knowledge into forms that are easily understood by partners and the general public
• Experience working with diverse populations, rural communities, and private landowners

Work Environment

This position is subject to all TEP policies including, but not limited to, those provided in the Employee Handbook, Fiscal Policy, safety protocols, and standard operating procedures (SOPs). This position may be subject to periodic background checks during employment.

TEP full-time staff typically work four 10-hour days each week, Mondays through Thursdays.  Evening and weekend work may be required occasionally to support TEP.  The Habitat Monitoring Specialist position has flexibility to work part-time or full-time, in order to accommodate the personal needs of the preferred candidate.  Options include (i) a four-day work week; (ii) a five-day work week; and (iii) a schedule between 28 and 40 hours each workweek (same days, same hours every week).   Actual work schedules for the Habitat Monitoring Specialist will be set between the Executive Director and the successful candidate upon hire.

Work shall be performed in office, lab, and outdoor environments.   Work assignments may require walking or standing most of a given day, sitting, keyboarding, bending, pulling, reaching, stooping, climbing, crawling, kneeling, in-water work, lifting up to 30 pounds, and contending with adverse weather conditions requiring special clothing and safety precautions.    Walking/hiking may be on uneven surfaces, through rough terrain, and up/down slopes.

Some work assignments may require working independently in a remote field setting.  The Habitat Monitoring Specialist shall be expected to follow field safety protocols.

TEP’s office is located in the Port of Garibaldi.  If you rely on public transportation, note that buses do not come directly into the Port of Garibaldi and that walking to the TEP office from the nearest stop through the Port and over railroad tracks is required.  

Travel during work hours for this position will frequently be >100 miles per month.   TEP reimburses its employees for their personal vehicle usage during company-related travel, excluding commuting to and from work, at the IRS standard mileage rate.

Project work may occasionally be required at TEP’s Native Plant Nursery, which is located adjacent to a minimum-security youth detention facility.  The Habitat Monitoring Specialist may engage with at-risk, incarcerated youth who are under guarded supervision by the Oregon Youth Authority (OYA).  Background checks and other safety and security protocols may be required by OYA. 

Salary and Benefits

The full-time salary range for this position is $34,700 - $47,300 per year, based on a 40-hr week work schedule.   Actual offer of compensation shall be dependent upon experience and shall be pro-rated if employee’s work schedule is less than 40-hrs per week.  TEP processes payroll on a monthly basis. 

This position is eligible for enrollment in TEP’s comprehensive benefits package. Details on benefits can be provided to candidates during the interview process.  

An example of TEP’s current benefits package for regular, full-time employees who work 40-hrs per week is provided below.  (Benefits would be prorated for full-time employees who work under 40-hrs per week.)

• Medical, Dental, Vision Health Insurance (TEP pays 100% for employee, 80% for spouse and dependent children)
• Retirement Program – TEP contributes an additional 7% of the employee’s salary into a 401k, with tiered vesting structure based on years of employment with TEP; employee may also contribute to 401k)
• Holidays – 10 federal holidays plus 2 floating holidays
• Vacation – Approx 10.5 days per year (accrual system to be explained upon hire)
• Professional development/training budget:  $1250 per year

An example of TEP’s current benefits package for regular, part-time employees who work 28-hrs per week is provided below. 

• A $300 monthly stipend to help defray the cost of personal health insurance coverage
• Retirement Program – TEP contributes an additional 7% of the employee’s salary into a 401k, with tiered vesting structure based on years of employment with TEP; employee may also contribute to 401k)
• Holidays – 10 federal holidays plus 2 floating holidays, based on a 7-hr workday
• Vacation – Approx 10.5 days per year (accrual system to be explained upon hire)
• Professional development/training budget:  $875 per year

Application Process:

To apply, please submit by email:

1. A resume,
2. A statement of qualifications and interest, and
3. Three professional references.

The statement of qualifications should describe the applicant’s relevant experience, interest in the position, and whether interested in a part-time or full-time position.  The statement should not exceed two full, single spaced pages.   Applicant contact information must include mailing address, phone number, and email address.   Professional references must include names, email addresses, and phone numbers.

Please email application materials to Dr. Kristi Foster, Executive Director at kristi@tbnep.org.   Applications will be accepted until 5:00pm (Pacific Time), Tuesday, February 28, 2023.   Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

TEP will review applications in early March.  All applicants will be contacted by email and advised whether or not they are proceeding to the interview phase of the selection process.  Interviews will be conducted in person or via Zoom, depending on the applicant’s location.  We hope to make our selection and offer of employment before mid-April.  The preferred start date for this position is in May, 2023; the exact date shall be agreed upon by the successful candidate and TEP.

Tillamook Estuaries Partnership is an equal opportunity employer.  TEP does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, or sex in administration of its programs or activities, and, TEP does not intimidate or retaliate against any individual or group because they have exercised their rights to participate in actions protected, or oppose action prohibited, by State of Oregon and Federal civil rights and non-discrimination laws, or for the purpose of interfering with such rights.