Aquatic Ecology Monitoring Member – Cape Cod National Seashore
Summary: American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service, is seeking two Aquatic Ecology Monitoring Member to contribute to aquatic monitoring projects alongside Cape Cod National Seashore staff.
Start Dates: One Member will start on March 7th and the other in April 10th, 2022
End Dates: November or December 2022 (36 weeks after start date)
* A 36-week minimum commitment is required *
Location: The Cape Cod National Seashore is located in Wellfleet, MA.
Cape Cod is a large peninsula extending 60 miles into the Atlantic Ocean from the coast of Massachusetts. Located on the outer portion of the Cape, Cape Cod National Seashore's 44,600 acres encompass a rich mosaic of marine, estuarine, fresh water, and terrestrial ecosystems. These systems and their associated habitats reflect the Cape's glacial origin, dynamic natural processes, and at least 9,000 years of human activity. Geomorphic shoreline change, ground water fluctuations, tidal dynamics including rising sea level, and atmospheric deposition are among the many physical processes that continue to shape the Seashore's ecosystems. Marine and estuarine systems include beaches, sand spits, tidal flats, salt marshes, and soft-bottom benthos. Freshwater ecosystems include kettle ponds, vernal pools, sphagnum bogs, and swamps. Terrestrial systems include pitch pine and scrub oak forests, heathlands, dunes, and sandplain grasslands. Many of these habitats are globally uncommon and the species that occupy them are correspondingly rare.
For more information regarding the Cape Cod National Seashore, please visit: https://www.nps.gov/caco/learn/index.htm.
Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $300/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.
Housing: ACE members will be accommodated in provided park housing at no cost for the duration of the term.
AmeriCorps Education Award Program: This position may be eligible for a 1200-hour AmeriCorps Education Award ($4,546.50) upon successful completion of service hours. Additional enrollment steps are required.
AmeriCorps Provided Childcare Coverage & Loan Forbearance: AmeriCorps members may also be eligible for qualifying child care coverage and federal loan forbearance. Additional enrollment steps are required.
Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general information online here.
Housing: ACE members will be accommodated in provided NPS housing at no cost for the duration of the term.
Reimbursable Relocation Allowance: ACE members will have access to a $150.00 reimbursable relocation allowance ($75.00 disbursed at the beginning and $75.00 disbursed at the end of the term). Further details regarding distribution of these funds will be provided during the interview process.
Schedule: The internship position is Monday-Friday with occasional optional weekend work. Daily work hours vary depending on the tides and project schedule, but are usually 8hrs/day.
Position Overview: The main duties will be assisting with aquatic ecology monitoring and research projects in ponds, estuaries, and coastal wetlands focused on water quality, ecosystem monitoring, horseshoe crab tagging and tracking, and habitat mapping, and will include serving in the field, lab, and on computers.
A rough breakdown of the member's time is 40% field, 30% lab, 20% data entry/management and 10% other duties as assigned. The duties are critical to management and protection of water and submerged resources that are heavily impacted by human activities. The ACE member will serve as part of a team with interns, volunteers, technicians, and the Aquatic Ecologist.
Duties and projects include:
- Monitoring and research activities in the field as well as processing and analyzing samples in the laboratory.
- Involvement in both the field and lab for a variety of natural resource projects, including the Inventory and Monitoring program, and applied research to inform tidal restoration and coastal management, and habitat use by fauna.
- Collecting biological and sediment samples in the field using standard techniques.
- Performing laboratory analysis and written documentation of activities.
- Gaining experience in a range of freshwater and coastal environments, on various monitoring to management-oriented projects, with a range of field and laboratory methods and equipment.
- Assisting with pond shoreline restoration projects.
- Science communication activities to promote resource stewardship and science literacy.
- Field duties will involve wading in muddy and shrubby conditions, and snorkeling.
- Use of motorized and non-motorized (canoe/kayak) watercraft to assist with coastal resource projects.
NPS training will be provided for non-motorized (canoe/kayak) and motorized watercraft to assist with coastal resource monitoring projects. Additional safety training will be provided for field and laboratory work, as well as safe vehicle operation.
This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.
Qualifications:
Required:
- Members must be US citizen or Permanent Resident, as required to comply with U.S. government contracts
- Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
- Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
- A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request).
- Must have a personal vehicle.
- Willing to undergo and must pass required criminal history checks.
- Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
- Ability to swim and demonstrate proficiency onsite.
- Previous experience or willingness to learn how to operate small watercraft.
- ACE Members must verify that they are fully vaccinated for Covid-19 or have requested and been granted a medical or religious exemption to vaccination by the time they start their term.
- To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website here.
Preferred:
- Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a minimum of a bachelor's degree and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as ecology, marine biology, botany, wildlife sciences, biology, natural resources management, environmental science, or related disciplines.
- Ability to conduct field surveys under demanding weather in rough terrain and in water.
- Ability to use field guides and dichotomous keys for plant and invertebrate ID.
- Experience in water quality monitoring, instrumentation and laboratory analysis
- Knowledge of marine vegetation, invertebrates, and fish
- Knowledge of the natural history and scientific processes of the Northeastern United States; for example: ecology of marine ecosystems, dune and barrier beach ecosystems, coastal geologic processes, freshwater ecosystems, marine biology.
- Deep interest in aquatic ecology/water quality and a respect for nature.
To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience, and contact information for three professional/academic references to the online application page. Early consideration will be given as resumes are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact NPS Recruitment and Outreach Specialist, Shannon Borowy at sborowy@usaconservation.org.
EEO: American Conservation Experience provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, American Conservation Experience complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.