NANTUCKET CONSERVATION FOUNDATION, INC.
Job Announcement
Job Title: Seasonal Ecology Field Assistant (5 months)
Job Description:
The Nantucket Conservation Foundation, Inc. Science and Stewardship Department seeks 2 (two) seasonal field assistants to conduct ecological research and stewardship activities for the 2019 field season. Both successful candidates need to have strong field work experience. We are looking for one candidate with excellent plant ID and monitoring skills and an interest in wildlife ecology. The second successful candidate will have extensive wildlife experience as well as plant ID experience and interest. Both field assistants will participate in ALL aspects of field work whether wildlife or plant ecology. In your application cover letter, please explicitly state if your application qualifies you for the plant-focused position or the wildlife-focused position.
These positions include a wide range of primarily field-based activities including vegetation community composition sampling, rare plant searches, small mammal trapping, wildlife radio relocation and bat acoustic monitoring. Successful candidates will be motivated, enthusiastic, self-reliant and willing to learn quickly. For more information on NCF’s mission and current research projects, please see the Foundation’s website www.nantucketconservation.org and our Science Blog www.ncfscience.org.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Quickly develop a working knowledge of the island’s plant species;
- 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.);
- Small mammal trapping, insect pitfall trapping, and spotted turtle surveys;
- Assisting with bat population monitoring using acoustic detectors, mist netting and possible radio telemetry;
- Inventory state-listed plant species that currently or have historically occurred on Nantucket;
- Population ecology studies of several plant and animal species of conservation concern;
- 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;
- Assist in greenhouse-based projects such as native seed collection, propagation and out-planting for habitat restoration;
- Data entry and quality control;
- 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 candidate 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.
TO APPLY:
Application deadline is Friday January 18, 2019 by 5pm, we review applications on a rolling basis.
Applications accepted ONLY through our hiring website: https://nantucket-conservation-foundation.workable.com
Click APPLY to job and fill out the form and upload your Application Packet using the Upload Resume link
Application Packet: ONE PDF DOCUMENT INCLUDING
Cover Letter, Resume, Contact Information for 3 references, and Unofficial Undergraduate College Transcripts*
*Please note, applications sent without transcripts will NOT be accepted. There are many free websites that will combine your transcript pdfs with your application pdf. Contact us with any issues.