The Senior Ecologist will be responsible for overseeing, prioritizing, and conducting field-based inventory and research to document the location, condition, and status of Maine's natural communities and ecosystems of statewide significance and rare, threatened, and endangered plant species. New field inventory sites will be identified using remote sensing tools and modeling. The Senior Ecologist will summarize and analyze information more broadly on the status and trends of biodiversity in Maine and communicate the results in written and oral form to various audiences. The Senior Ecologist frequently supports landowners, land managers, and conservation organizations in need of assistance with natural resource inventories, land acquisition, development of management plans, reviews of harvest prescriptions, and climate change mitigation. This position will work with other ecologists and biologists at the Maine Natural Areas Program and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife.

The successful candidate will demonstrate knowledge of botany, forest ecology, forestry, and conservation biology. Successful candidates can use information systems and technologies to collect, analyze, and interpret natural resource data; present at workshops, and engage stakeholder groups. The successful candidate will demonstrate effective oral, written, and electronic communication skills and be able to employ these skills when interacting with different audiences, ranging from laypeople to technical experts and scientists. The successful candidate will also demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to plan, direct, and coordinate the activities of field staff, establish and maintain effective working relationships, and work as part of an interdisciplinary team to support division/department goals. Candidates must be able to think creatively, demonstrate initiative, and implement multiple projects independently. Work will require overnight travel, including multi-day trips with irregular hours, and fieldwork in remote and off-trail places throughout the state, primarily during the growing season but as needed at other times of the year.

Candidates interested in this position need to complete and submit an online State of Maine Direct Hire Application, along with Cover Letter, Answers to the Supplemental Questions, and a detailed Resume at: https://www.maine.gov/nrsc/jobs/index.shtml#acf

Applications must be received by March 3, 2025.