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 Title: Seasonal Botanist Research 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 field assistant with strong botany skills. This is a field-based position inventorying rare species and habitats, monitoring vegetation communities and applying management techniques in native ecosystems.  Botany field assistants will have the opportunity to gain experience in rare species conservation, land management-based research and applied ecological monitoring.

Responsibilities:

1. Participate in multiple projects monitoring 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 of state-listed plant species that currently or have historically occurred on Nantucket;
4. Inventory, monitoring, and removal of invasive plant species;
5. Assist in greenhouse-based projects related to propagating native species and research on invasive species.

Required Qualifications: B.S. or B.A. in Ecology, Botany, Environmental Science, or a related biological/ecological field. Strong plant identification skills required.  At least one season of field work post-college. Experience in plant community monitoring techniques, ecological field data collection, GPS use, and 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, under potentially adverse field conditions. A valid driver’s license is required.

Dates/Hours: This is a full-time, temporary position beginning in mid to late May and ending in mid to late 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 (avg $12-13 per hour). 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, ~ 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 February 10, 2012 by 5pm. For a complete application, please submit a cover letter, resume and contact information for three professional references, along with a copy of your college transcripts.  All applications must be submitted online at: 

http://www.smartrecruiters.com/NantucketConservationFoundation

For more information, contact Dr. Jennifer Karberg: [email protected]

The Nantucket Conservation Foundation is an equal opportunity employer