Ocean Career: Massachusetts Audubon Coastal Restoration Field Technician

Mass Audubon is the largest nature-based conservation organization in New England. Founded in 1896 by two women who fought for the protection of birds, Mass Audubon carries on their legacy by focusing on the greatest challenges facing the environment today: the loss of biodiversity, inequitable access to nature, and climate change. With the help of our 160,000 members and supporters, we protect wildlife, conserve and restore resilient land, advocate for impactful environmental policies, offer nationally recognized education programs for adults and children, and provide endless opportunities to experience the outdoors at our wildlife sanctuaries.

About This Position

The Field Technician – Coastal Restoration will perform field work along the Southcoast of Massachusetts at Allens Pond (Dartmouth), Great Neck and Cromeset Neck (Wareham) Wildlife Sanctuaries. The Field Technician will help implement and monitor the response of saltmarsh and low-lying uplands to restoration and management actions. The technician will work within an experienced team to implement ecological management plans that include saltmarsh tidal hydrology and invasive plant management, conducting vegetation, crab, mosquito, and water surveys, maintaining the project data base and GIS and supporting project knowledge sharing and outreach activities. In addition, the technician will maintain and manage project equipment and assist with other wildlife monitoring and management projects at Allens Pond. They will also represent Mass Audubon and engage the public in positive interactions that promote understanding of coastal resilience and threatened wildlife and habitats.

Responsibilities

  • Work within an experienced team and communicate and coordinate with project partners
  • Work outside in often challenging conditions to implement management actions and collect project monitoring data
  • Assist with implementation of project management actions including using hand and power tools
  • Collect and store accurate GIS data with a tablet and handheld GPS
  • Collect, manage, and store accurate survey and photograph data including reference photos, vegetation species and cover data, water salinity and quality and mosquito larvae and crab abundance
  • Participate in internal project team and external partner meetings
  • Assist with coordination and management of project professional training, public outreach, and volunteer programs and events
  • Assist with project reporting and internal and external communication
  • Contribute to fieldwork on various other restoration and monitoring projects as needed

Qualifications

At Mass Audubon, our highest priority is finding the best candidate for the job. Research has shown that people of color and women are less likely to apply for jobs if they don’t believe they meet every one of the qualifications described in a job description. We encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of our described qualifications or you have a less traditional background. We are looking for applicants with the following qualifications:

  • S., B.A., or higher in wildlife biology/management, GIS, botany, ecology, zoology, environmental science, or related field; equivalent experience considered
  • Three to six months prior experience in field monitoring, data collection, project management, and report completion
  • Demonstrated experience with vegetation identification and survey methods
  • Demonstrated experience with GIS, GPS and data entry and management
  • Demonstrated leadership experience using good judgement in field-based projects; demonstrated strong attention to detail
  • Experience operating hand and power tools
  • Ability to work in physically demanding settings and field conditions; walk long distances across varied terrain while carrying personal and project equipment and occasionally lift and move up to 50 lbs
  • Strong interpersonal skills, self-motivation, reliability, flexibility, and positive attitude
  • Ability to interact with project team, partners and the public professionally and work cooperatively and independently
  • Availability to work irregular hours including after dawn, before dusk, and weekends
  • Access to a vehicle for daily driving between sites
  • Data entry and management skills
  • Knowledge of Southern New England saltmarsh ecology and experience working and collecting field data on saltmarshes
  • Knowledge of coastal resilience and wildlife issues
  • Knowledge of MA invasive plant species and control techniques
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills

Compensation, Benefits and Perks

This position’s pay range is $19.85-$22.33/hour; actual salary will reflect level of experience and qualifications relative to position requirements. This position may be eligible for health insurance benefits.

Work Schedule

This position starts on April 14, 2025, and ends on December 20, 2025. Hours for this position are Monday-Friday, 30-40 hours per week.

Other Requirements

Employees must successfully complete a CORI and SORI Background Check and a Motor Vehicle Record (if applicable) is required.

Learn more about this opportunity and how to apply.

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