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Seasonal Botany and Ecology Field Research Assistant (5 months) in Nantucket

by Sara Gomez Garcia on December 8, 2014

LOCATION
Nantucket, MA
COMPANY DESCRIPTION
The mission of the Nantucket Conservation Foundation is to assist in the preservation of Nantucket’s character by permanently conserving, maintaining, and managing natural areas and habitats and to encourage an appreciation of and interest in the Island’s natural resources.
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:
– 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;
– Conduct population ecology studies of several plant and animal species of conservation concern;
– Inventory state-listed plant species that currently or have historically occurred on Nantucket;
– 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 cut material;
– Assist in various wildlife management projects, including horseshoe crab monitoring and tagging and 4-toed salamander population research;
– Assist in greenhouse-based projects such as propagating native species and out-planting for habitat restoration;
– Possibly assist with sheep management and research projects;
– Data entry, quality control, and proof-reading;

QUALIFICATIONS
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, poison ivy and biting insects (mosquitoes, deer ticks). Nantucket is an area with 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 and precautions are taken to avoid direct exposure. Desired Qualifications: Familiarity with the flora of the northeastern United States and plant taxonomy coursework. Interest in invasive species management and willingness to participate in manual aspects of herbicide management projects. A familiarity with and/or a willingness to learn and participate in wildlife monitoring projects.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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, in the range of $12-13 per hour. 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, ~ 30 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) and our Science and Stewardship Department blog (www.ncfscience.wordpress.com). Application: Application deadline is Friday January 16, 2015 by 5pm.Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis so we encourage early application submittal. For a complete application, please submit ONE DOCUMENT which includes a cover letter, resume and contact information for three professional references. Please also include a copy of your college transcripts (an unofficial copy is acceptable) as part of the document or contact us for direct email. All applications MUST be submitted online at:  http://www.smartrecruiters.com/NantucketConservationFoundation
1) On the application page, Click I’m Interested2) On the popup window – click Apply with Resume3) When prompted 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!).
The Nantucket Conservation Foundation is an equal opportunity employer

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