The State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill is an accredited polytechnic college that is primarily baccalaureate and residential. SUNY Cobleskill is one of few institutions in the United States where an undergraduate student may also choose to earn an associate degree. The College has an enrollment of approximately 2,500 students in 56 programs divided into two schools, Agriculture and Natural Resources; Business and Liberal Arts & Sciences. An economic engine for rural New York, SUNY Cobleskill is home to a wide array of extended learning and professional development opportunities.
Modeling experiential education, SUNY Cobleskill is committed to providing small classes, excellent facilities, and a hands-on learning environment. Whether students plan to further their education or begin their professional careers, they graduate with the foundation to pursue their goals and to succeed.
Job Description:
The Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Environmental Science (FWES) at SUNY Cobleskill invites applications for a 12-month position as an Instructional Support Assistant (SL-1 Fisheries Technician) with an expertise in Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Science to start in August 2019.
The successful applicant must have a strong interest in higher education and be enthusiastic about creating educational teaching environments that are innovative and inspiring to students in the classroom and in the field. This is a technical position. The successful applicant should demonstrate technical capabilities with using and repairing common fisheries field gear, including boats, motors, nets, electrofishing and water quality sampling gear. In addition, the applicant should be skilled with identification of common New York State fish, aquatic insects and familiar with common fisheries sampling techniques. The applicant should demonstrate leadership skills through involvement in student professional fisheries societies (such as AFS, WAS or related organizations).
We seek an individual with field experiences in the applied aspects of fisheries, aquaculture and aquatic sciences. The successful applicant will be the primary technical assistant for: Fisheries Techniques, Fisheries Science, Fisheries Management, Aquatic Ecology, Pond Management, Fisheries Research, Marine Ecology, Invertebrate Zoology and Aquatic/Marine Resource Management. Preference will be given to applicants dedicated to undergraduate students and their success. Other technical responsibility may be necessary at the direction of the Chair of FWES.
The Department of FWES is a small, collaborative department of 7 full-time faculty, 1 Fish Hatchery Manager, and 4 instructional support staff who are committed to high quality, applied, undergraduate education. Department members share the teaching philosophy that students learn best by doing; therefore laboratories and field trips are “hands-on”. A typical workload for an SL-1 in this Department is assisting a faculty member for 3-4 courses per semester. A fleet of campus vans is available to transport students to field sites.
FWES currently enrolls approximately 280 undergraduates in the following five majors: (1) Bachelor of Technology (BT) in Wildlife Management, (2) BT in Fisheries and Aquaculture, (3) Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Fisheries and Wildlife Technology, (4) AAS in Environmental Studies and (5) B.T. Program in Environmental Management. FWES moved into a new Agriculture and Natural Resources Center in 2014 with state of the art facilities including standalone laboratories in entomology, mammalogy, ornithology, herpetology, aquatic science, a taxidermy studio, two environmentally controlled research rooms and a 40,000 gallon cold water fish hatchery. FWES maintains an impressive teaching specimen collection of fishes, herpetofauna (including one of the largest collections of live North American turtles at any college or university in the world), birds, mammals, a diversity of invertebrates, and higher plants.
Requirements:
Minimum Qualifications
A bachelor’s degree in fisheries, aquatic ecology, aquaculture, wildlife, or other closely aligned discipline is required.
A valid driver’s license is required.
Preferred Qualifications
In addition to the aforementioned minimum qualifications, it is preferred the candidate also have:
College experience as a teaching or lab assistant is preferred.
Demonstration of clear communication, both written and oral.
Preference will be given to those with work experience in the field of applied fisheries, aquaculture or aquatic sciences (such as field sampling techniques).
The ability to manage students and staff in an independent work environment is also preferred.
Additional Information:
This is a SL-1 position.
The salary for this position is $40,000.
The start date for this position is August 1, 2019.
This is a full-time, 12 month position.
The work schedule for this position is Monday through Friday, with some weekend hours. Hours will vary.
This position offers full New York State benefits which are among the most comprehensive in the country.
SUNY Cobleskill is committed to providing a safe and productive learning and living community for our students and employees. To achieve that goal, we conduct background investigations for all final candidates being considered for employment. Any offer of employment is contingent on the successful completion of the background check.
SUNY Cobleskill is committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, and ensuring equal educational and employment opportunity and access to services, programs and activities without regard to an individual’s race, color, national origin, religion, creed, age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, familial status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, criminal conviction, or any other legally protected status. Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodation during the hiring process should contact the Human Resources Office at (518) 255-5514.
Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@goer.ny.gov.
Application Instructions:
The application review process will begin immediately and will continue until a suitable candidate is found. Priority is given to applications submitted by May 15, 2019.
A complete application consists of the following:
1. Letter of application, addressing qualifications, position responsibilities, and college values
2. Current CV or Resume
3. Names, emails and phone numbers of at least three professional references, preferably former supervisors