Job Title: Seasonal Ecology Field Assistant (5 months)
Job Description: The Nantucket Conservation Foundation, Inc.
(www.nantucketconservation.org), Department of Science and Stewardship seeks 2 (two) seasonal field assistants to work on conservation and land management-based ecological research and stewardship for the 2018 field season. Both successful candidates need to have strong skills in plant identification and an interest in wildlife management and monitoring.
Ideally, one candidate must have experience in wildlife monitoring. The successful candidates will be hired with complementary skill sets to create an efficient team and a strong learning environment. These positions are field-based and include a wide range of ecological field application from vegetation community surveys and rare plant searches to small mammal trapping and bat acoustic monitoring. Successful candidates will be motivated, enthusiastic, self-reliant and willing to learn. For more information on our mission and research projects, please see the Foundation’s website (www.nantucketconservation.org) and our Science and Stewardship Department blog (www.ncfscience.org).
TO APPLY: https://nantucket-conservation-foundation.workable.com
Application deadline is Friday January 19, 2018 by 5pm but we may review on a rolling basis.
Click APPLY to job and, using the Upload Resume link, upload ONE PDF DOCUMENT INCLUDING: Cover Letter, Resume, 3 references, and unofficial undergraduate college transcripts
Primary Responsibilities:
1. Quickly develop a working knowledge of the island’s plant species;
2. Monitoring vegetation communities and rare plant species in
connection with research and management projects using various sampling
methods: (percent cover, line intercept, species counts, presence/absence, etc.);
3. Small mammal trapping, insect pitfall trapping, and spotted turtle
surveys;
4. Assisting with bat population monitoring using acoustic detectors,
mist netting and possible radio tracking;
5. Inventory state-listed plant species that currently or have
historically occurred on Nantucket;
6. Population ecology studies of several plant and animal species of conservation concern;
7. Inventory, monitoring, and management of invasive plant species
including hand digging and pulling and assisting a certified herbicide applicator by cutting stems, bagging and hauling away cut material;
8. Assist in greenhouse-based projects such as native seed
collection, propagation and out-planting for habitat restoration;
9. Data entry and quality control;
10. Occasional participation in environmental education, interpretive
and/or fundraising activities as needed.
Dates/Hours: This is a full-time, temporary position beginning in mid-May and ending in mid-October; exact dates are somewhat flexible. Hours are generally Monday through Friday, averaging eight hours per day, although work times will occasionally vary depending on project, weather, tides, etc.
Wages/Benefits: Wage is $13 per hour based on a 40-hour work week. Housing is provided in a shared, employee house. Work-related transportation is provided but is not available after working hours. Required
Qualifications: B.S. or B.A. in Ecology, Botany, Zoology, Wildlife Management, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Science, or a related biological/ecological field. One full season of field work experience required. Successful applicants will have strong plant identification skills and an interest in wildlife handling and monitoring.
One successful candidates must have experience with wildlife handling and monitoring. Experience in vegetation community monitoring techniques and ecological field data collection. Experience using GPS units in the field and using Microsoft Excel for data entry. Strong observational, critical thinking and organizational skills are essential, as is the ability to accurately collect data and record field notes. Individuals must be able to work both independently and as a member of a team. A valid driver’s license is required.
Desired Qualifications: Familiarity with the flora of the northeastern United States and past plant taxonomy coursework. Interest in invasive species management and willingness to participate in manual aspects of herbicide management projects. Having or willingness to independently obtain a MA Herbicide Applicator license is useful but not required.
Physical Demands and Work Environment: This is a field work intensive position and applicants must be able to tolerate adverse field conditions.
Field work includes the possibility for inclement weather and variable terrain, poison ivy and biting insects (mosquitoes, deer ticks). Nantucket is an area with a high incidence of tick-borne disease so precautions to minimize risk are encouraged. The work involves hiking, standing, bending, kneeling, and hauling field gear on a routine basis. While field assistants will not be applying or working directly with herbicide, they will be working in the vicinity of herbicide application with precautions taken to avoid direct exposure.