Marine Resource Specialist

If you are a current State of Maine employee, please submit your application through the internal application process using the Find Jobs report in PRISM. Seasonal employees who do not have PRISM access should apply through the State’s career page and indicate on the application that they have previously worked for the State.

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DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES

MARINE RESOURCE SPECIALIST

-LIMITED PERIOD-

Opening Date: November 02, 2026

Closing Date: End of the day November 17, 2026

Location: West Boothbay Harbor

Position Number: 07200-2747

Position Type: Limited Period

Class Code: 9359

Grade: 21 (Professional/Technical Unit)

Salary: $23.75 - $33.23 Per Hour*

*(This includes a 5.5% Salary Adjustment)

Interested applicants need to submit a Direct Hire Application along with a Cover Letter, and detailed Resume*

*For us to properly determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for any posting, you must be sure your resume includes the month and year for any relevant experience listed. Your resume should include the duties and responsibilities associated with each position. Any experience that was not full-time employment should be identified as such.

The Department of Marine Resources (DMR) is seeking applicants for a limited period Marine Resource Specialist position in the Division of Marine Mammal Research located at the West Boothbay Harbor facility.

BRIEF JOB DESCRIPTION: The Department of Marine Resources (DMR) is hiring a Marine Resource Specialist to work within the Survey Program in the Division of Marine Mammal Research. The position will assist with planning, coordinating, and implementing visual surveys to detect endangered North Atlantic right whales and other marine species in the Gulf of Maine. Tasks will include conducting aerial and vessel-based surveys as a marine mammal observer and working with teams of DMR scientists and contractors to collect observational data on marine species the Gulf of Maine. This position will be responsible for data quality assessment / quality control (QA/QC), maintaining & preparing field equipment for surveys, and maintaining the survey photo database. This position will assist with the production of deliverables by the program including daily, monthly and annual reports, scientific publications, media publications, and educational materials for a range of audiences. Additionally, this position may work across programmatic lines to participate in projects for other programs within the Division of Marine Mammal Research and the Bureau of Marine Science. This position is performed under limited supervision and will work independently and as part of a team.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES PREFERRED:

• Knowledge of Mysticetus LLC. for use in data collection or other survey data collection programs is preferred.
• Experience as a marine mammal observer, or aerial or vessel platforms, or general aviation and/or vessel-based experience is preferred.
• Experience with photo-identification of individual North Atlantic right whales.
• Northwest Atlantic marine species identification, and/or North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium Sightings or Photographic Databases is also preferred.
• Knowledge of the coast of Maine and Maine-based fisheries in also preferred.

The successful candidate should be comfortable at sea and able to conduct research activities in a variety of weather conditions. This position prefers candidates with experience in coding languages (R, Python, C++, MATLAB, or GIS) and/or a willingness to learn coding and mapping software. This position requires excellent communication skills, keen observational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

For questions specific to the position, please contact Paul Nagelkirk at: [email protected]

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Intermediate education, training, and/or experience in the compilation and summarization of scientific field and laboratory data including coursework or demonstrated experience in natural resource science, management, technology, laboratory, or field work.

Currently, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions.

No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

·        Work-Life Balance – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave. 

·        Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($12,213.60-$14,369.04 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.  

·        Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements. 

·        Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($365.28 annual value). 

·        Retirement Plan – The State of Maine contributes 14.06% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.  

·        Gym Membership Reimbursement – Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense. 

·        Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts – Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses. 

·        Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness – The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office. 

·        Living Resources Program – Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.

·        Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including fathers and adoptive parents—receive forty-two (42) consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.  

·        Voluntary Deferred Compensation – Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions. 

·        Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness. 

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work.  Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role.

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness.  We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics. 

If you’re looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you.  Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

Thinking about applying?
Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting.  If you’re currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your lived experience and passion set you apart.

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