Lead Field Technician - Great Marsh

About Mass Audubon
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. Explore, find inspiration, and take action at massaudubon.org.

About This Position
Work as part of a small crew of technicians to restore resiliency to salt marsh habitats on the North Shore of Massachusetts. Duties include restoring salt marsh hydrology at Parker River NWR by cutting and placing hay in ditches, and manually remove perennial pepperweed from salt marshes and adjacent areas within the Great Marsh Region (coastal towns from Salisbury to Gloucester) by hand pulling plant materials, bagging and safely disposing of them. This position will participate in programs on the Parker River NWR and Mass Audubon’s properties to monitor coastal resilience and restoration projects and coordinate and assist with outreach to landowners to acquire permission to perform invasive plant control work. The position will use a mobile mapping app map to report areas infested with pepperweed and report results of management efforts.

Responsibilities

• Work to remove perennial pepperweed by hand from coastal habitats
• Oversee daily, hour-to-hour activities of the invasive plant control field techs, assessing safety and the feasibility of the daily work plan in coordination with the Community Science and Coastal Resilience Manager and/or the Great Marsh Restoration Coordinator
• Communicate with the Great Marsh Restoration Coordinator to set pepperweed removal plans, report issues or needs for the work, and keep Coastal Resilience Manager informed on progress the invasive plant control team is making
• Work as a team and under the director of a Marsh Coordinator and Refuge Biologist to implement an innovative marsh restoration technique called ditch remediation
• Using walk-behind agricultural tractors and a diversity of hand tools, the team will cut and place hay in selected ditches to accelerate healing process
• Follow pre-established monitoring protocols to document treatment, and record all treatment dimensions and conditions using ArcGIS Online and Survey123
• Communicate with the public to educate them of the work and the goals of the project; be an ambassador for Mass Audubon mission
• Assist with training volunteers, interns, and others that may participate in the project
• Assist in other targeted habitat management and coastal resilience projects on Mass Audubon properties, the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, and other locations in the Great Marsh
• Collaborate with other teams of educators and coastal resilience interns to be informed about and informative to the public about projects that intersect with the specific duties of the invasive plant control team

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:

Must Haves

• A degree (or pursuing towards a degree) in ecology, coastal geology, hydrology, marine biology, biogeochemistry, botany, natural resource management, or other related disciplines appropriate to the position; a combination of relevant education and appropriate experience is also acceptable
• Strong work ethic and interpersonal skills, work well independently, be in physical condition as needed for the requirements of this position, and be willing to work occasional weekends
• Ability to interact with project partners and the public in a professional manner
• Must be enthusiastic about physical work to achieve conservation management outcomes
• Ability to work in difficult weather conditions (strong wind, rain, extreme temperatures) while maintaining appropriate safety protocols
• Applicants must have a valid driver’s license and their own transportation to various field work sites
• Must be able to use ArcGIS Field Maps App on a tablet or cell phone

Nice to Haves

• Plant identification skills and an academic background in botany, wildlife, zoology, or related fields are preferred

Compensation, Benefits and Perks
This position’s pay range is $19.20-$21.60/hour; actual salary will reflect level of experience and qualifications relative to position requirements. This position is eligible for health insurance benefits.

Work Schedule
Full time schedule of 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, 7:00am-3:30pm. Hours start later as daylight occurs later. Very occasional weekends or evenings to support events. This is a 5-month position starting on June 1, 2024 and ending on October 31, 2024.

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

Mass Audubon’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Justice
Mass Audubon embraces diversity and equal opportunity in a serious way. We are dedicated to forming a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. People of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

Mass Audubon’s mission is to “protect the nature of Massachusetts for people and for wildlife” by building a strong coalition of employees, volunteers, and community members. We recognize that the environmental movement and field of conservation have been affected by societal systems that have limited opportunity and access for many people. As a result, Mass Audubon is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. We are engaged in an ongoing process of organizational assessment and change, designed to remove barriers and create a workplace where all forms of diversity are recognized and valued.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Mass Audubon is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. Mass Audubon prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.