Black Rail Technician

Project Dates:  ~ April 8 through ~July 31

Work Location:  New Jersey Atlantic Coast and Delaware Bayshore marshes

Job Description: A boat operator for a 15’ G3 40 HP motorboat for nocturnal call-playback surveys of coastal marshes of the NJ Atlantic and Delaware Bay shorelines. The position also includes acoustic recording unit (ARU) placement and maintenance on non-survey nights. April will include preparation for surveys (creating routes and ground truthing, preparing ARUs for deployment), May through mid-July will be surveys and ARU deployment, and late July will be data entry, data QC, and preparing ARUs for winter storage. 

Work Schedule: ~40-hour workweek (8 hrs/day for 5 days/week). This position will require both night and day work, according to a given week’s needs and weather conditions (one week will feature nocturnal week, the next week diurnal week, repeat).

Preferred Skill Set:  A NJ Boater Safety Certificate. Verifiable and extensive experience as a boater (especially at night) with preference given to those who are familiar with NJ waters. Familiarity with boat maintenance and ability to make minor repairs and troubleshoot in the field in difficult conditions (nighttime). Ability to use GIS and/or Google Earth for mapping survey routes, and navigation systems for following routes in the field. Familiarity with secretive marsh birds, especially Black Rail, and survey methods for them (call-playback and ARU).  Applicant should be in good physical condition, willing to work independently and as part of a team (nocturnal surveys will always have an assigned surveyor on-board), organized and enthusiastic about working to help protect one of NJ’s most endangered species.

Required: Valid driver’s license in New Jersey

Compensation: +/- $17 - $22.50 per hour (depending on experience). Housing available at a reasonable cost.

Application Process:  Submit a letter of interest (including 3 references) along with credentials/resume to: Christina.Davis@dep.nj.gov by 5:00 pm on 26 January 2024. Those selected for an interview will be contacted electronically.