Environmental Technician

Who We Are: 

Save the Sound leads environmental action in your region. We fight climate change and build resilient communities, save endangered lands, protect the Sound, and restore its rivers. We do this in many ways, from legislative advocacy and legal action to engineering, environmental monitoring, and hands- on volunteer efforts. For more than 50 years we’ve been ensuring people can enjoy the healthy, clean, and thriving environment they deserve—today and for generations to come.

Our Water Quality Team advocates for the health of Long Island Sound through community organizing; data collection, analysis and visualization; legal and legislative advocacy; engaging and informative storytelling; and targeted pollution reduction campaigns. Our growing team brings a variety of backgrounds, characteristics, and skillsets together to produce tangible outcomes that improve the environs of Long Island Sound. We are highly collaborative, nimble, and innovative in our approach to achieving our shared mission of clean and life-filled waterways.

Learn more about us at www.savethesound.org.  

Program Background

Bacterial pollution leading to beach closures is a critically important issue. In 2013, Save the Sound initiated a seasonal community-based water quality monitoring program in Westchester that measures bacteria levels and shares the findings with the public. Save the Sound also coordinates and participates in a Sound-wide study, the Unified Water Study, to measure eutrophic conditions in embayments of Long Island Sound.

Position Description

This is a seasonal position - April through November 2025 - reporting to the Environmental Analyst. Office work will be in the Larchmont, NY office in Westchester.  Field work will take place in the western Long Island Sound.

You will be a part of our dynamic water quality sampling program working with community science volunteers from Long Island Sound shoreline communities and will coordinate the collection and participate in the processing of water quality samples in our lab located in Larchmont, NY.  Sampling will focus on water quality parameters including pathogen indicator bacteria, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll-a, nutrients, pH, and others as necessary.  The position will assist in data analysis and the development of figures, maps, and tables for reports. 

The Environmental Technician will work with a core group of approximately 20-30 volunteers who will be trained in water quality collection protocol from shoreline/riverbank locations. The position will also work closely with monitoring groups participating in the Unified Water Study.  In addition to supporting the weekly sampling runs of volunteers and Unified Water Study groups, the Environmental Technician will also conduct monitoring from Save the Sound’s water quality vessel with supervision from Save the Sound staff. 

This position will involve time in the field, lab, and office.  Time in the field will include water sampling, boat outings, stream walks, and a significant amount of driving to and from sampling locations.  Lab work will include calibration of water quality instruments. When in the office, the environmental technician will conduct research associated with our water quality monitoring work. The schedule includes very early morning sampling events once or twice a week throughout the season.

Desired Qualifications: 

We are looking for a highly motivated individual with:

• Excellent organizational skills, experience working with data, and strong familiarity with Microsoft Excel
• Ability to work independently and prioritize daily tasks to meet program goals
• Strong communications skills
• Ability to work with and coordinate all types of people mixed in a group setting
• Science education and a passion for protecting and restoring water quality
• Access to a car and a clean driving record
• Desired experience: water quality monitoring, environmental education and/or comfortable on a motorboat in the Sound are all a plus

TERMS & COMPENSATION:

This is a temporary (roughly 7 months), full time, at-will position that pays $24/hour for an average work week of 40 hours/week. The position is required to be in the office 5 days a week. The work will begin in April and run through November 2025. This seasonal position includes holiday, sick and vacation pay but no other benefits. Reimbursement for work-related travel is provided. Some early morning, evening and weekend hours may be required as needed.

Additional Details Common to All Positions 

Save the Sound’s Commitment to Equity and Diversity 

Save the Sound is an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination based on age, color, disability, marital or parental status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or any other legally protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Our organizational leadership and staff are working to deepen Save the Sound’s diversity, equity, and inclusion. We seek to attract a more diverse applicant pool, and to add and retain more outstanding Black, Indigenous, and People of Color to all levels of our team. We work in diverse communities and landscapes and are actively working to increase our focus on driving environmental justice and equitable outcomes through our work. 

Shared Organizational Job Responsibilities 

• Maintaining positive and productive working relationships with all Save the Sound staff members, including providing and receiving constructive feedback;
• Participating in building productive relationships with Save the Sound's members, external partners, policy makers, and the general public;
• Completing all administrative work on time, such as timesheets, purchase orders, project reports, and planning documents.

TO APPLY:

Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter, and list of references via our career page on BambooHR. Applicants are encouraged to apply early, as applications will be reviewed as they are received. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

We are a thoughtful and thorough organization. We will be in touch to acknowledge receipt of your application and to schedule selected applicants for an interview. Our hiring process can take from 7 to 10 weeks. You will be informed when the hiring process is complete. Please be patient.