Program / Extension Aide II- Water Resource Technician

The Opportunity

As a university founded to be a place where “…any person can find instruction in any study,” inclusion and belonging are at the core of our values and mission. We strive to be a welcoming, caring, healthy, and equitable community where students, faculty, and staff with different backgrounds, perspectives, abilities, and experiences can learn, innovate, and work in an environment of respect, and feel empowered to engage in any community conversation. As a member of the Cornell University community, it is important to recognize our shared responsibility to each other to cultivate a culture of inclusion for all.  Cornell Core values 

As an individual contributor you will model and support a culture of inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing and continually seek to understand how your role, behaviors, and actions impact the success of this culture.    

While position responsibilities vary greatly, the Skills for Success and Leadership Skills for Success are foundational to what is expected of every employee and leader working at Cornell.  These skills are essential for individual and organizational success. Staff Skills for Success; Leadership Skills for Success

About the College

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is a pioneer of purpose-driven science and Cornell University’s second largest college. We work across disciplines to tackle the challenges of our time through world-renowned research, education, and outreach. The questions we probe and the answers we seek focus on three overlapping concerns: natural and human systems; food, energy, and environmental resources; and social, physical, and economic well-being.

The Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering (BEE) is one of the largest of its kind in the country with a very diverse faculty, staff, and student population. The department serves three integrated functions: teaching undergraduate and graduate students, researching problems in biology and the environment, and public outreach to help society implement new knowledge.

The New York State Water Resources Institute (NYSWRI) resides within CALS and BEE. Its mission is to improve the management of water resources in New York State and the nation. NYSWRI collaborates with regional, state, and national partners to increase awareness of emerging water resource issues and to develop and assess new water resource management approaches, technologies, and policies. NYSWRI connects water research and water management communities.

What We Need

The Program Extension Aide II will assist New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Hudson River Estuary Program with monitoring and restoration efforts to improve the understanding on water resources within the Hudson River Estuary Watershed. This involves working within a multi-disciplinary team tasked with managing and protecting the Hudson River Estuary and its watershed through outreach and science partnerships with watershed groups, county agencies, municipalities, regional nonprofits, and other stakeholders.

The Water Resource Technician will assist in preparation for field excursions, monitoring ambient water quality in rivers and streams, assessing potential barriers for aquatic organisms in waterways, planting streamside trees through the Hudson Estuary Trees for Tribs Program, and outreach about watershed protection and restoration.  

While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

This is a full time, 37.5- hour a week 7-month fully benefits eligible appointment.

Application will be accepted through April 6, 2026.

Relocation assistance will not be provided for this position.

• Associate’s degree from an accredited university in Environmental Science, Biology, Ecology, Natural Resources, Watershed Management or related field and 1+ year relevant work experience or equivalent combination.
• Comfortable working in streams and rivers (in hip/chest waders).
• Ability to work outdoors in all types of weather.
  Ability to lift 50 pounds.
• Ability to prioritize multiple activities and tasks from multiple leaders while meeting deadlines.
• Experience with reading reports, documents, written material, etc. and identifying key information.
• Be open and flexible to change and feedback.
• Ability to work independently at times.
• Works well with others in a positive collaborative manner.
• Must have a valid and unrestricted driver license and be comfortable driving larger vehicles (SUV’s, Trucks, etc.) and cleared to drive for university business.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Proven experience in communicating effectively, both written and oral.
• Experience in and/or demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and wellbeing.
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude in adverse conditions.

If you have all those things, great! We have a few more things that we would prefer you to have, but it’s ok if you don’t.

• Bachelor’s degree from a credited university in Environmental Science, Biology, Ecology, Natural Resources, Watershed Management, or related field.
• Background or working knowledge in watershed and natural resource management with an understanding of stream ecology and practical field experience.
• Understanding and use of water quality monitoring equipment and techniques.
• Experience in collecting water quality monitoring data (water samples, macroinvertebrates).
• Working knowledge and experience with GIS software (ArcGIS Pro, QGIS, etc.)
  North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative (NAACC) certification, or knowledge of NAACC assessment protocol.
• Computer literacy in database use, management and design, use of enterprise ArcGIS, and Microsoft Suite (Survey 123, ESRI Story map, Word, Excel, etc.)
• Knowledge and ability to identify native trees and shrubs of New York State.
  Outreach and public communication skills.

Rewards and Benefits

• This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. Employees typically perform this role remotely 2 days per week and on-campus 3 days per week. The university reserves the right to modify, suspend, revoke or terminate the hybrid work arrangement at any time.
  Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, and sustainability.
• Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: Understand Your Benefits | Working at Cornell.
• Our leave provisions include health and personal leave, three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1. To offer greater flexibility for observing faiths and traditions we also offer two additional floating holidays. Learn more about our generous leave provisions: Holiday and Accrued Time Off | Working at Cornell 
• Cornell’s impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children’s Tuition Assistance Program. Learn more about our extensive educational benefits: Education Benefits | Working at Cornell

Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell:
Total Rewards | Working at Cornell.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Cornell is an equal opportunity employer. For more information, visit hr.cornell.edu/eeo.