Job Description

The Nantucket Conservation Foundation (NCF) is a non-profit land trust that holds approximately 9000 acres in permanently protected land on Nantucket Island. Our Ecological Research, Stewardship and Restoration department seeks a Coastal Ecology Field Assistant to support the field work of the Coastal Ecology Program through the 2025 field season. This position will participate in a wide range of field work including but not limited to salt marsh health monitoring (surveying vegetation, hydrology, and soils), nearshore oyster reef monitoring, water quality sampling, RTK GPS elevation monitoring, and dune restoration monitoring. Additionally, the Field Assistant may be asked to participate in additional Department work related to vegetation community surveys, wildlife ecology work, and occasional public outreach and non-profit events.

The Coastal Ecology Field Assistant will support the goals and objectives of the Coastal Ecology Program of NCF’s Ecological Research, Restoration and Stewardship Department which hosts Ecology Programs focused on Wildlife, Botany, and Coastal areas with extensive collaboration and the potential to work with and learn from a diverse ecology team. For more information on NCF’s mission and current research projects, please visit our website 

Primary Responsibilities:

1. Conduct baseline salt marsh health surveys including identification of salt marsh community vegetation and monitoring of hydrology, soils, and elevation across all Foundation properties.

2. Conduct beach profile transects along dunes and dynamic beaches across the Foundation’s properties throughout the year.

3. Deploy and maintain data collection loggers associated with a variety of projects including water level loggers, DO meters, and tilt meters, in salt and freshwater habitats.

4. Use RTK GPS technology to create detailed elevation profiles within all salt marshes across Foundation properties.

5. Collect samples for water quality analyses at wetland restoration and oyster reef sites following protocols on a seasonal and/or monthly basis.

6. Monitor sites across the island for harmful algal blooms (HABs).

7. Participate in field work to monitor existing coastal restoration projects including removal of purple marsh crabs, beach-dune stabilization plantings, salt marsh dieback restoration, fringing salt marsh vegetation plantings, oyster reef health etc.

8. In the office, perform data quality control and data entry.

9. As necessary, assist in field work related to projects in the Wildlife Ecology Program and the Botany/Plant Ecology Program during the primary field season.

10. Occasional participation in environmental education and interpretive events as well as assisting with random tasks related to development and/or fundraising activities as needed.

11. Communicating, collaborating, and coordinating with NCF’s Coastal Ecology Research Technician

Requirements

Required Qualifications:  B.S. or B.A. in Ecology, Wetland Ecology, Coastal Ecology, Plant Biology, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Science, or a related biological/ecological field.  One full season of fieldwork experience required. Experience using GPS units and app-based GPS programs in the field and competency with Microsoft programs especially Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Strong observational, critical thinking and organizational skills are essential, as is the ability to accurately collect data and record field notes. A valid driver’s license is required.

Desired Qualifications: Experience in vegetation community monitoring techniques and ecological field data collection. Experience with data collection, data entry and quality.

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, digging, and hauling field gear on a routine basis.

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

Location: The Nantucket Conservation Foundation is located on Nantucket Island, MA, ~30 miles south of Cape Cod. Nantucket is dominated by sandplain grasslands, coastal heathlands, and scrub oak shrublands (all rare habitats in the Northeast) as well as barrier beaches, coastal plain ponds and tidal marshes.

Benefits

Wages/Benefits: Wage is $22 per hour, based on a 40-hour work week. Housing is provided in a shared, employee house for a nominal fee. Work-related transportation is provided but is not available after working hours.

TO APPLY:

Application deadline is February 14th, by 5pm. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Application Packet: ONE PDF DOCUMENT THAT INCLUDES: Cover letter, resume, contact information for 3 professional references, and an unofficial copy of your college transcripts.

Applications accepted ONLY through our hiring website:

Click APPLY to job and fill out the form. Upload your Application Packet using the Upload Resume Link.

Questions may be directed to Dr. Jen Karberg at jkarberg@nantucketconservation.org . Applications will not be accepted at this email.

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