About Community Science Institute: Community Science Institute is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and NYSDOH ELAP-certified water testing lab. Our mission is to empower communities to protect water quality through volunteer stream and lake monitoring in the Cayuga Lake watershed and the surrounding region. CSI recruits, trains, and coordinates volunteers to participate in our four water quality monitoring programs: Synoptic Stream and Lake Monitoring, Red Flag Monitoring, Biomonitoring, and Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring. In partnership with these volunteers, we build long-term datasets of regulatory quality data that can help guide the sustainable management of local water resources while empowering volunteers to act as stewards of water resources. These data are available to the public on our online water quality database: www.database.communityscience.org. Alone, these data speak volumes, but we help give them a voice through our outreach and education initiatives including our Water and Community events, Water Bulletin Newsletter, summer Journey of Water youth education program, Biomonitoring Open Lab nights, and Monthly Updates. In addition, CSI offers fee-based, certified drinking water testing services and counts the Tompkins County Health Department and Cornell University as well as dozens of businesses and hundreds of private homeowners among our clients. In this way we provide a valuable service to our community while earning fees that help support our nonprofit mission.

About the Position: We are seeking a full stack Ruby on Rails database developer to maintain, update, and improve CSIs public water quality database www.database.communityscience.org. Making CSIs volunteer-collected data available to the public on our database is a core part of our organizations mission. The database developer will be responsible for maintaining the database as well as incorporating upgrades and data visualization improvements that will enhance the end user experience.

Responsibilities and Opportunities of the Position:

• Improve functionality and organization of water quality data entry system for ease of use by staff.
• Complete development of the Harmful Algal Bloom section of CSIs database.
• Complete development of the Biomonitoring section of CSIs database.
• Contribute to a mission-driven organization working to monitor and protect water quality in collaboration with a network of over 250 local volunteers.
• Maintain CSIs public water quality database server and security.
• Work with CSI staff and volunteers to understand the data visualization needs of the public to design and implement creative techniques to visualize and communicate water quality trends across time and space.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience with full stack Ruby on Rails development.

• Front-end and back-end development.

• MySQL experience desirable.

• Ability to take initiative, work independently, solve problems, and pay attention to details.

• Enthusiasm for CSIs mission.

Enhancing Qualifications:

• Experience with Google Maps API, Highcharts, or JavaScript.

• Data visualization experience, especially with scientific data.

• Experience with environmental science, chemistry, hydrology, or a similar field.

• Familiarity with the Finger Lakes region.

• Experience with science communication.

Special requirements:

• Reliable and secure internet connection for remote work.

• Must supply their own computer and other related accessories for remote work.

Hours, compensation, and benefits:

• Part time, 10 hours/week, flexible scheduling

• Remote, preferably in New York State or other nearby state as some in-person work in Ithaca,

NY may be required occasionally

• $30-$35/hour wage, depending on qualifications

• Thirteen paid holidays plus one floating holiday

• Paid health time (AKA sick time) and paid vacation/personal time

• Simple pension plan with CSI contribution overseen by CFCU Wealth Management

Application: Please email your resume and cover letter outlining why you are well-suited for and interested in this position to CSIs Executive Director, Grascen Shidemantle, at info@communityscience.org with Database Developer in the subject line. Please note that both a resume and a cover letter are required for an application to be considered. The job will remain posted until the position has been filled.

Inclusion statement: CSI is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage qualified applicants from historically underrepresented groups in the sciences to apply. We will fully consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, culture, ethnicity, national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, age, religion, lifestyle, marital status, or veteran status.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $30.00 - $35.00 per hour

Expected hours: 10 per week

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Ability to Commute:

• Ithaca, NY 14850 (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Ithaca, NY 14850