Job Announcement
Jo
NANTUCKET CONSERVATION FOUNDATION, INC.
Job Announcement
Job Title: Seasonal Botany Field Assistant (5 months)
Job Description:The Nantucket Conservation Foundation, Inc.
(www.nantucketconservation.org), Department of Science and Stewardship is
seeking a motivated, enthusiastic, self-reliant botany field assistant to
participate in conservation and land management-based ecological research. This
position is field-based with a strong focus on monitoring the response of
vegetation communities and rare species populations to management techniques.
Successful candidates will have the opportunity to gain experience in rare
species conservation, land management-based research and applied ecological
monitoring. This position is primarily focused on vegetation-based research
but
some time will be spent on wildlife-focused monitoring and research as well.
The field assistant may have the opportunity to work on an independent project
that complements the research focus of the Nantucket Conservation Foundation.
Responsibilities: The Botany Field Assistant will be involved in a variety of
projects throughout the field season including:
1. Monitoring vegetation community composition to evaluate the
efficacy of
different management regimes (prescribed burning, brush-cutting, sheep
grazing, shrub removal, deer exclosures, tidal flow reintroduction) on the
restoration and maintenance of rare grasslands, heathlands, shrublands and
wetlands;
2. Inventorying state-listed plant species that currently or
historically
occurred on Nantucket;
3. Population ecology studies of several plant and animal species
of
conservation concern;
4. Inventory, monitoring, and removal of invasive plant species;
5. Assisting in greenhouse-based projects related to propagating
native
species and research on invasive species.
6. Assisting in wildlife management projects: spotted turtle
monitoring,
assessing feral cat populations and diet preferences, horseshoe crab
monitoring and tagging, etc;
7. Co-leading interpretive walks for Conservation Foundation
members;
8. Data entry, quality control, proof-reading, and possibly data
analysis;
9. Assisting with periodic sheep flock movement and maintenance;
Qualifications:B.S. or B.A. in Ecology, Botany, Natural Resource Management,
Environmental Science, or a related biological/ecological field. Preference
will be given to candidates with at least one season of field work experience.
Strong observational, critical thinking and organizational skills are
essential,
as is the ability to accurately record field notes and collect data.
Applicants
with strong plant identification skills and familiarity with the flora of the
northeastern United States will be given highest consideration. Applicants
should have experience in plant community monitoring techniques, ecological
field data collection, GIS/GPS use, and data entry. A familiarity with and/or a
willingness to learn and participate in wildlife monitoring techniques is
required. Individuals must be able to work both independently and as a member
of a team, under potentially adverse field conditions. A valid driver’s
license
is required.
Dates/Hours:This is a full-time, temporary position beginning in mid-May and
ending in mid-October; exact dates can be flexible. Hours are generally Monday
through Friday, averaging eight hours per day, although work schedule may vary
depending on weather, tides, etc.
Wages/Benefits:Housing and work-related transportation is provided. Wage is
commensurate with experience. Medical and unemployment insurance, paid
holidays,
and paid sick days are not available to seasonal employees. Transportation is
not provided after working hours.
Location: The Nantucket Conservation Foundation is located on Nantucket
Island,
MA (www.nantucket.net), ~ 33 miles south of Cape Cod. Nantucket is dominated
by
sandplain grasslands, coastal healthlands, and scrub oak shrublands (all rare
habitats in the Northeast) as well as coastal plain ponds and tidal marshes.
For
more information on our mission and research projects, please see the
Foundation’s website (www.nantucketconservation.org).
Application: ApplicationDeadline is February 15, 2011. Please submit one
document containing a cover letter, resume, contact information for three
professional references, along with a copy of your college transcripts via
email
to:
Dr. Jennifer M. Karberg
[email protected]
The Nantucket Conservation Foundation is an equal opportunity employer
