Job Description

The Nantucket Conservation Foundation, Inc. Science and Stewardship Department seeks one seasonal field assistant with exemplary botanical identification to conduct ecological field work and stewardship activities for the 2022 field season. Candidates must have strong field work experience and excellent plant ID skills and experience using dichotomous keys to learn new plants and have completed past field work. Candidates should be motivated, enthusiastic, self-reliant and able to learn quickly. For more information on NCF’s mission and current research projects, please see the Foundation’s website www.nantucketconservation.org and read our Science Blog.

Field methods used in this position include plant identification, vegetation community composition sampling, rare plant inventories and wetland plant surveys. An interest in wildlife is preferred as the successful candidate will also assist in and learn about crab trapping, wildlife radio telemetry, bat acoustic monitor deployment and potential songbird banding and shorebird monitoring.

Primary Responsibilities:

1. Quickly develop an independent, working knowledge of the island’s plant species;
2. Monitor 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.) and in various habitats (grasslands, salt marshes, wetlands);
3. Inventory state-listed plant species that currently or have historically occurred on Nantucket;
4. Survey salt marsh health with GPS technology and vegetation ID;
5. 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;
6. Assist in greenhouse-based projects such as native seed collection, propagation and out-planting for habitat restoration and native garden establishment;
7. Assist with wildlife monitoring such as:
   1. Horseshoe crab populations on harbor beaches during day and night high tides;
   2. Spotted turtle populations through trapping and radio telemetry;
   3. Bat population monitoring through deployment of acoustic detectors;
   4. Salt marsh crab trapping and removal from key marshes;
8. Data entry and quality control;
9. Occasional participation in environmental education and interpretive events as well as assisting with some tasks related to development and/or fundraising activities as needed.

Requirements

Required Qualifications: B.S. or B.A. in Ecology, Botany, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Science, or a related biological/ecological field. One full season of field work experience required. Competitive applicants will have strong plant identification skills. Experience in vegetation community monitoring techniques and ecological field data collection. Interest in wildlife ecology. Experience using GPS units in the field and using Microsoft Excel for data entry. Interest in invasive species management and willingness to participate in manual aspects of herbicide management projects. 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.

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.

Benefits

Dates/Hours: This is a full-time, temporary and seasonal position beginning in early to mid-May and ending in mid- to late- October; exact dates are flexible. Hours are 40 hours a week with daily hours variable depending on particular projects: early-morning and late-night field work will be required depending on project, weather, tides, etc. Weekend work will be required for certain field projects and non-profit events.

Wages/Benefits: Wage is $15-$17 per hour (commensurate with experience) based on a 40-hour work week. Housing and utilities are provided in shared, employee house. Work-related transportation is provided but is not available after working hours.

COVID-19 Considerations: For the health and safety of our staff, exact start dates may depend on current recommendations for travel and quarantine requirements and NCF may require a quarantine and/or negative COVID test prior to start date. To maintain a safe working environment for NCF staff and the community, NCF staff are required to adhere to all federal, state and local COVID-19 guidelines. Additionally, all staff are required to adhere to NCF’s internal COVID-19 operating procedures and protocols.

How to Apply

• To Apply: Application deadline is Friday April 15th, 2022 by 5pm. We will review applications on a rolling basis so apply early.
• Completed Application includes: Cover letter, resume, contact information for 3 professional references and an unofficial copy of your college transcripts combined in ONE pdf document.
• Applications accepted ONLY through our hiring website: https://apply.workable.com/nantucket-conservation-foundation/
• Questions: contact Dr. Jen Karberg, [email protected]

Job Categories: Ecology. Job Types: Temporary.

Apply for this Job