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The Department of Marine Resources, Bureau of Marine Science, is seeking motivated, independent individuals to fill a vacant Marine Resource Specialist position located at the West Boothbay Harbor Laboratory.
DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES
MARINE RESOURCE SPECIALIST
-ANTICIPATED VACANCY-
Opening Date: April 30, 2026
Closing Date: End of day May 14, 2026
Location: West Boothbay Harbor
Position Number: 07200-2456
Position Type: Full Time
Class Code: 9359
Grade: 21 (Professional/Technical Unit)
Salary: $22.72 - $31.80 Per Hour*
*(This includes a 5.5% Salary Adjustment)
Interested applicants need to complete and submit an online Direct Hire Application along with a Cover Letter, and detailed Resume.
BRIEF JOB DESCRIPTION: This position is a scientific support position for an extensive fishery-independent survey along the coasts of Maine and New Hampshire.
The project assesses bottom dwelling populations and assemblages of groundfish and crustaceans out to the 100-fathom depth profile. Research is conducted on a 54’ contracted commercial groundfish boat. Up to 120 tows of a specially designed otter trawl are conducted between southern New Hampshire and the Canadian border each spring and fall. Participation on the survey cruise is essential requiring statewide overnight stays for up to 6 days for 5 consecutive weeks. Overnight stays of 1 or 2 nights aboard the vessel may be required as well. Safety of personnel and equipment are paramount in determining cruise schedules and operations; however, work is conducted in inclement weather and adverse conditions such as rough seas.
On ship, the Specialist will be responsible for processing catch samples including enumeration, measuring lengths, weights and sex, and other biological information. The Specialist will be expected to work as a part of a larger team and participate in all survey tasks required on the vessel. Between cruises, this position will be responsible for purchasing equipment, repair/maintenance of gear and equipment, ordering supplies and equipment, completing cruise logs, processing biological samples, and preparing for each survey. The position will be responsible for data entry and quality control of the trawl survey database. The position will also assist in preparing data summaries for written and oral reports or presentations. The position will be assisting in DMR’s Ageing Lab and the ageing workup of certain species. Additionally, this position can assist in other projects at DMR as needed.
For questions specific to the position, please contact Robyn Linner at: Robyn.Linner@maine.gov
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.
KNOWLEDGGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES PREFERRED:
- Extensive at sea work experience and the ability to work independently under physically challenging conditions
- Established, or have the ability and interest in establishing, relationships with fishing industry members
- Ability to use ArcGIS, Microsoft Access, R or other statistical programs
- Working knowledge of resource assessment survey techniques and sampling protocols
- Knowledge/ability to identify marine organisms common in the Gulf of Maine
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to work as part of a team.
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 ($11,857.68-$13,950.24 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 14.11% 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.
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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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If you are unable to complete the online application, please contact the Human Resources representative listed on the job opening you are interested in applying for. They will work with you for an alternative method of submitting.
