Field assistant in botany (Nantucket Island, MA, USA)

* Due to a withdrawal of an applicant, we are re-opening this position for one week: Application deadline is Friday March 25th by 5pm.

The Nantucket Conservation Foundation, Inc. (www.nantucketconservation.org), Science and Stewardship Department seeks a motivated, independent, and enthusiastic field assistant with strong botany skills for the 2016 field season. This position is primarily field-based, requiring extensive plant identification. Field work may include rare plant identification and documentation, vegetation community sampling, land stewardship activities and some wildlife monitoring as part of the Department’s overall Science and Stewardship program. Field assistants will have the opportunity to gain experience in rare species conservation, land management-based research applied ecological monitoring, and hands-on restoration activities while involved in a wide variety of different field work projects.

Primary Responsibilities:

1. Quickly develop a working knowledge of the island’s plant species;
2. Monitor vegetation community composition and rare plant species to evaluate the influence of different management regimes (prescribed burning, brush-cutting, shrub removal, deer exclosures, tidal flow reintroduction) on the restoration and maintenance of rare grasslands, heathlands, shrublands and wetlands;
3. Conduct population ecology studies of several plant and animal species of conservation concern;
4. 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;
5. Inventory state-listed plant species that currently or have historically occurred on Nantucket;
6. Assist in various wildlife management projects, including horseshoe crab monitoring and possible acoustic monitoring for bats;
7. Assist in greenhouse-based projects such as native seed collection, propagation and out-planting for habitat restoration;
8. Data entry, quality control, and proof-reading;
9. Occasional participation in environmental education, interpretive and/or fundraising activities, as needed.

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. Work may be infrequently be scheduled at night, during the early morning and/or weekends depending on weather, tides, etc. for particular projects.

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 tickborne 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.

REQUIREMENTS

Required Qualifications: B.S. or B.A. in Ecology, Botany, Zoology, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Science, or a related biological/ecological field. One full season of field work experience 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.

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. A familiarity with and/or a willingness to learn and participate in wildlife monitoring projects.

Wages/Benefits: Wage is commensurate with experience, in the range of $12-13 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.

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 heathlands, and scrub oak shrublands (all global rare ecosystems), 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).

TO APPLY:

Application deadline is Friday March 25th by 5pm.

Visit: https://nantucket-conservation-foundation.workable.com

For a complete application, please create ONE DOCUMENT as a PDF INCLUDING:

Cover Letter

Resume

Contact Information for 3 references

Undergraduate College Transcripts

On the Career website, click APPLY to job and, using the upload Resume link - upload the above document.