Seasonal Wildlife Field Assistant

Job Description: The Nantucket Conservation Foundation (NCF) is a non-profit land trust that holds approximately 9,000 acres of permanently protected land on Nantucket Island. Our Ecological Research, Stewardship and Restoration Department seeks a Wildlife Field Assistant to conduct wildlife-related ecological field work and stewardship activities for the 2026 field season. Candidates should have some wildlife-related field work experience, and be motivated, enthusiastic, and self-reliant.

For more information on NCF, our mission and current research projects, please see the Foundation’s website www.nantucketconservation.org

Primary Responsibilities:

• Survey spotted turtle populations as part of a wetland restoration project; use radio telemetry to track movements of spotted turtles;
• Assist with shorebird population monitoring, nest searching, banding of American oystercatchers; maintaining fencing and interacting with the public on beaches;
• Survey horseshoe crab populations on harbor beaches during day and night high tides;
• Bat population monitoring through deployment of acoustic detectors, mist-netting, and radio telemetry to locate maternity roosts;
• Conduct surveys of spring peeper chorusing phenology;
• Participate in surveys for Tree swallows, Eastern whippoorwills, and American woodcock;
• Tick presence/absence and abundance surveys;
• Monitoring of Invasive insect presence including Southern Pine Beetle and Spotted Lantern Fly;
• Data entry and quality control;
• Inventory, monitor, and manage invasive plant species including hand digging, pulling and assisting a certified herbicide applicator;
• Assist with other wildlife or general ecology research as needed;
• Occasional participation in environmental education and interpretive events as well as assisting with random tasks related to development and/or fundraising activities as needed;
• Occasional collaboration and coordination on projects with partner conservation organizations on Island.
• Communicating, collaborating, and coordinating with NCF’s Wildlife Ecology Project Manager

Physical Demands and Work Environment: This is a field work intensive position and applicants must be able to tolerate long field days with sometimes adverse conditions including inclement weather and variable terrain, poison ivy and biting insects (mosquitoes, ticks). Nantucket is an area with a high incidence of tick-borne disease so precautions to minimize risk are highly encouraged. Must not be squeamish about getting a bit dirty, handling animals, and occasionally working at night in full dark. The work involves hiking, standing, bending, kneeling, and hauling field gear on a routine basis.

Dates/Hours: This is a full-time, temporary position beginning in mid-April and ending in late August or early September; exact start and end dates are somewhat flexible. Hours are 40 hours per week with daily hours variable depending on particular projects: early-morning and late-night field work will be required depending on project, weather, tides, etc. Weekend work will occasionally be required for certain field projects and non-profit 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. For more information on our mission and research projects, please see the Foundation’s website (www.nantucketconservation.org).

Requirements

Required Qualifications: B.S. or B.A. in Wildlife Ecology, Biology and/or Management, Environmental Science, or a related biological/ecological field. One full season of field work experience required with experience in wildlife monitoring and handling. Experience using GPS units in the field and competency with Microsoft programs. 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: Previous wildlife handling and trapping experience is strongly preferred. Interest in invasive plant species management and willingness to participate in manual aspects of invasive species management projects.

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 during working hours.

TO APPLY:

Application deadline is Friday, January 30, 2025 by 5pm. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis so applicants are encouraged to submit materials early.

Completed application should include a cover letter, resume, contact information for three professional references and an unofficial copy of your college transcripts. Please combine all these documents in to ONE PDF file and submit to this website only: https://apply.workable.com/nantucket-conservation-foundation/

Questions may be directed to Danielle O’Dell at dodell@nantucketconservation.org but applications will not be accepted at this email.