Job
Title: Seasonal Botany
and Ecology Field Research Assistant (5
months)
Job
Description:The
Nantucket Conservation Foundation, Inc. (www.nantucketconservation.org),
Department of Science and
Stewardship is seeking two motivated, enthusiastic, self-reliant field
assistants with strong botany skills.
This is a field-based position that includes rare species identification and
habitat inventory, monitoring vegetation communities, various wildlife
monitoring and land management projects. Field assistants will have the
opportunity to gain experience in rare
species conservation, land management-based research and applied ecological
monitoring
– working on a wide variety of different field work projects.
Responsibilities:
1. Monitor vegetation community composition and rare plant species to
evaluate the influence 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. Conduct population ecology studies of several plant and animal
species of conservation concern;
3. Inventory state-listed plant species that currently or have
historically occurred on Nantucket;
4. Inventory, monitoring, and management of invasive plant species
including hand digging and pulling and assisting a certified herbicide
applicator in invasive species management by cutting stems, bagging and hauling
away treated material;
5. Assist in various wildlife management projects: spotted turtle
monitoring using radio-tracking, and horseshoe crab monitoring and tagging, etc;
6. Assist in greenhouse-based projects such as propagating native
species and out-planting for habitat restoration;
7. Data entry, quality control, and proof-reading;
Required
Qualifications:B.S. or B.A. in Ecology, Botany, Zoology, Natural Resource
Management, Environmental
Science, or a related biological/ecological field. One season of field work is
required. Strong plant identification
skills are required. Experience in plant 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.
Physical Demands
and Work Environment: This is a field intensive position and applicants
must be able to tolerate adverse field conditions. Field work includes the
possibility for inclement weather and variable terrain, potential exposure to
herbicides, poison ivy and biting insects (mosquitoes, deer ticks). Nantucket
is an area with a high abundance of tick borne disease although we do take many
precautions. The work involves hiking, standing, bending, kneeling, and hauling
field gear on a routine basis.
Desired Qualifications:Familiarity with the flora of
the northeastern United States and plant taxonomy coursework. A familiarity
with and/or a willingness to learn and participate in wildlife monitoring such
as radio-tracking. Interest in invasive species management and willingness to
participate in manual aspects of herbicide management projects.
Dates/Hours:This is a full-time, temporary position
beginning in mid to late 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 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 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, ~ 33 miles south of Cape Cod, in the Atlantic
Ocean. Nantucket ecosystems are
dominated by sandplain grasslands, coastal healthlands, and scrub oak
shrublands (rare habitats in the Northeast), 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:
Application deadline is Friday January 24,
2014 by 5pm. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
For a
complete application, please submit ONE
DOCUMENT which includes a cover letter, resume and contact information for
three professional references and a copy of your college transcripts (an
unofficial copy is acceptable).
All
applications must be submitted online at:
http://www.smartrecruiters.com/NantucketConservationFoundation
1) On the application page, Click the I'm Interested button.
2) On the popup window - click Apply with Resume
3) When prompted to upload your Resume - please upload ONE DOCUMENT with
a cover letter, resume, contact information for three professional references
and a copy of your college transcripts (an unofficial copy is acceptable!).
For more
information, contact Dr. Jennifer Karberg: [email protected]
The Nantucket Conservation Foundation is an equal
opportunity employer
