The Maine Coastal Program’s Mapping Initiative is seeking a Marine Mammal and Avian Observer. The position is three-quarters to full-time June 28 through December 30. We are in need of filling this position immediately.

The Maine Coastal Mapping Initiative, created by the Maine Coastal Program in 2012, is acquiring critical data about the seafloor and our oceanic environment, including bathymetry (seafloor depth), sediment information, benthic fauna type and abundance, and water column information. As part of this work, we record observations of marine mammal species and seabirds during seafloor mapping surveys off the coast of Maine. These spatial data are used to create observation maps that can be used to identify species hotspots or movement patterns.

The observer is responsible for going out on our bathymetric survey boat on all days that the boat is collecting data, recording marine mammal and avian sightings in a geospatial recording app, summarizing all these data on a state provided computer using Microsoft Excel and Access, and mapping sightings in ArcGIS. During non-boat days the position will be stationed at the Maine Department of Marine Resources office in West Boothbay Harbor.

Survey days will be out of Boothbay Harbor, Maine and South Portland, Maine. Each survey day runs from approximately 6am-4pm each day.

Preference will be given to applicants with experience in marine mammal observing, Northeast waterbird identification, Microsoft Access, Excel, ArcGIS and R.

The position will be paid $15/hour and include a stipend for any travel expenses.