Habitat Restoration Specialist (Remote)

ERT is seeking a Habitat Restoration Specialist to perform the following tasks in support of customers at the NOAA Office of Habitat Conservation (OHC), Restoration Center (RC). 

Restoration Planning:

• Support the identification, design, implementation, and monitoring of restoration projects that align with NOAA RC program priorities, such as Community Based Restoration Program (CRP) and Damage Assessment Remediation and Restoration Program (DARRP)
• Support Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) restoration planning in collaboration with New Jersey trustees, including the identification, selection, design, and implementation planning of projects.
• Support the coordination of restoration planning and implementation, gathering information from state and federal trustees, local governments, and the public to understand regional priorities and interests.
• Develop restoration plans and evaluate individual restoration projects, including drafting project concepts, budgets, and monitoring/evaluation and adaptive management plans.
• Conduct independent literature and expert opinion research and provide reports addressing case strategy and decisions.

Habitat Restoration Implementation:

• Provide knowledge of marine and physical sciences, program management, coordination, and technical leadership in restoration project planning and implementation.
• Coordinate with technical professionals on conceptual designs, project feasibility, construction, budget and schedule development and maintenance, funding awards management, contracting tasks coordination, and project monitoring plans development.
• Work to identify, evaluate, and implement priority restoration projects for CRP and/or NRDA cases in the New York/New Jersey region.
• Maintain ongoing contact and meet with local partners and co-trustees, oversee project implementation, and manage the development of implementation, monitoring, and adaptive management plans.

Content Development:

• Develop topic papers, and review, and edit content for case documents such as restoration plans, and other scientific and strategy documents to inform case strategy and decisions.

Environmental Compliance:

• Coordinate with regulatory agencies to ensure restoration projects comply with applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
• Develop and complete necessary NEPA environmental compliance documentation, including Categorical Exclusions (CATEX), Environmental Assessments (EA), and tiered Programmatic Environmental Impact Statements (PEIS).
• Draft appropriate permit and consultation requests to ensure compliance with applicable regulations and support technical development of EAs and EISs.

Outreach:

• Assist in coordinating public meetings, press releases, events, and other outreach activities to publicize NRDA case efforts and engage the public meaningfully.
• Frequent in-person participation in, and/or development of documentation for public meetings.

Data Management:

• Maintain and input specific restoration project data, ensuring accurate and timely tracking and reporting progress.

Required

• 6-10 years of specialized experience with demonstrated ability to plan and implement aquatic habitat restoration
• Advanced knowledge and scientific/technical skills related to freshwater, coastal, and marine habitats, and fishery habitat restoration in the Northeast region
• Experience coordinating and planning complex restoration projects with diverse stakeholders
• Experience working with local, state, and federal agencies and organizations on natural resource management and planning
• Knowledge of environmental compliance requirements for restoration project types and geographic areas in the Northeast Region
• Strong organizational and project management skills, including project scheduling, budgeting, and handling multiple, concurrent, and competing projects and responsibilities
• Ability to perform field assessment activities to identify and evaluate habitat restoration projects
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work independently, reliable, self-starter, self-motivated, and detail-oriented
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Willingness to travel frequently (e.g., several times per week) to attend meetings with Federal and state agency personnel, New Jersey based non-governmental organizations, and local Passaic River area communities, organizations, and site visits to Passaic River watershed project sites.

Must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident (Green card) and be able to pass a background investigation to obtain a security badge to access applicable government systems and facilities.

Education
BA/BS degree in coastal or aquatic sciences, fishery biology, ecology, hydrology, water resources, earth science, engineering, or a related field. MS degree preferred.

Location
Location of the position is in Newark, NJ metropolitan area (i.e., within 50 miles of Newark, NJ) with frequent, regular on-site presence required up to 3-4 days per week, either at the NOAA Fisheries, Sandy Hook, NJ office or regional site visits and meetings with partners, including state, local and Federal agencies, in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area. 

Salary
The salary range for this role is $80,000 - $90,000/year. 

Benefits
All full-time employees are eligible to participate in our flexible benefits package, which includes:

• Medical, Rx, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with company-matching
• 11 Paid Federal Government Holidays
• Basic Life & Supplemental Life
• Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
• Employee assistance program (EAP)
• Tuition Reimbursement, Personal Development & Learning Opportunities
• Skills Development & Certifications
• Professional Membership Reimbursement
• Employee Referral Program
• Competitive compensation plan
• Discretionary variable incentive bonuses based on factors such as individual performance, business unit performance, and/or the company’s performance
• Publication and Conference Presentation Awards with bonuses

ERT is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor and Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer - All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status.

#LI-Hybrid