Natural Resource Management Assistant

POSITION DETAILS
Position Title: Natural Resource Management Assistant
Park Unit: Cape Cod National Seashore
Location: Wellfleet, Massachusetts
Number of positions available: 1
Can this position be fully remote: NO

INTERNSHIP DATES AND LENGTH
Duration: 52 Weeks (not flexible)
Start Date: 01/06/2025
Flexible Start Date: YES

LIVING AND RELOCATION ALLOWANCE:
Weekly Stipend: $565.00
Relocation Allowance: $400.00

CURRENT NUMBER OF APPLICANTS: Under 75 (This posting will close after receiving 75 complete applications or at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday, 16 June, whichever occurs first.)

POSITION DESCRIPTION
The main duties will be assisting with coastal wetland ecology monitoring projects associated with the Herring River Restoration Project focused on water quality and ecosystem monitoring and will include serving in the field, lab, and on computers. A rough breakdown of the intern’s time is 40% field, 30% lab, 20% data entry/management and 10% other duties as assigned. The duties are critical to baseline, pre-restoration monitoring of the Herring River system and planning for a large and complex project to restore tidal flow to the former estuary. Similar work in other estuarine systems can also be expected.

The Intern will serve as part of a team with other interns, volunteers, technicians, and the Restoration Ecologist, along with a project team comprised of non-NPS government and NGO partners.

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 the Herring River monitoring program and other natural resource projects and applied research to inform salt marsh restoration and coastal management.
• Perform laboratory analysis and written documentation of field sampling.
• Perform routine maintenance, data acquisition, troubleshooting, and data management for automated/continuous samplers and data loggers.
• Collect and process wetland sediment samples; use field GPS and other survey equipment to acquire three dimensional survey data.
• Use GIS for spatial data processing/management, data analysis, and basic map preparation.
• Gain experience in a range of coastal environments, on various monitoring to management-oriented projects, with a range of field and laboratory methods and equipment.
• Science communication activities to promote coastal wetland stewardship and science literacy.

POSITION IMPACT
The CACO Natural Resource Assistant working on the Herring River project is a critical team member for maintaining and continuing several long-term data sets that are integral the management of the project. Data collection prrograms include synoptic and continuous water quality, water level, groundwater elevations, and floodplain elevatons. These are conducted year-round and require consistent staffing to to ensure data quality and contininuity. The SIP intern provides coverage through all seasons and fill gaps when seasonal and other staff are not available. The programs also require significant data management to ensure data are sufficent for public release, which is essential for a restoration project subject to intense public interest and oversight.

DELIVERABLES

Work Products:

• Field data and results of lab analyses (chlorophyll, color, grain size, etc.);
• Geospatial data sets and mapping products;
• Completion reports based on these tasks;
• Presentations of findings to CACO staff and agency/community partners;
• Poster or paper presentation(s) to a local conference(s);
• Opportunity to develop and implement a special project that advances the intern's academic/professional interests and conforms with program goals.
  

DESIRED INTERN QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants for the position must hold or be pursuing a minimum of a master's degree and/or have equivalent experience in subject areas such as ecology, marine biology, botany, wildlife sciences, biology, coastal geology, natural resources management, environmental science, or related disciplines.

Qualifications Required:

• Must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident
• Must be able to communicate clearly and concisely in English, both verbally and in writing
• Must be able to complete tasks well independently and on a team
• Ability to use field guides and dichotomous keys for plant and animal ID
• Physically able to conduct field surveys under demanding weather in rough terrain and in water
• Must know how to swim
• Must have a valid driver's license, provide documentation of a clean driving record, and have a personal vehicle
• Must have a demonstrated interest in coastal wetland ecology and a respect for nature
• Ability and willingness to undergo a federal criminal background check is required
• Proficiency in English is required

Qualifications Preferred:

• Experience in water level and water quality monitoring and instrumentation
• Experience in field and laboratory analysis of water and coastal sediments
• Knowledge of marine vegetation and invertebrates
• Previous experience with non-motorized watercraft for scientific purposes
• Experience with GPS and GIS for spatial data acquisition, analysis, and presentation
• Knowledge of the natural history and scientific processes of the Northeastern United States; for example: ecology of marine and estuarine ecosystems, coastal geology

The applicant must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. legal permanent resident (“Green Card holder”). Prior to starting this position, a government security background clearance will be required. The applicant must be available to participate for 52 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.

WORK SETTING
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. Cape Cod is a relatively mild coastal environment with summer season between May and September. Winter weatherbrings storms, winds and freezing temperatures with little snow accumulation in the long term. Beaches, ponds and hiking trails abound. Supermarkets and laundrymats are in Provincetown (8 milesfrom the Lab) and Orleans (20 miles). Local amenities include many restaurants and small specialty markets. Nearest Mall stores are in Hyannis. The summer tourist season brings activity from Memorial Day to Labor Day and constrasts markedly from the quiet winter season.

VEHICLE AND DRIVERS LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

• Applicant must have a valid driver's license to drive a government vehicle.
• A personal vehicle is REQUIRED for this position.

HOUSING
Park housing is available and will be provided at no cost to the participant. CACO intern housing is shared 2- or 4-bedroom furnished houses with shared or unshared bedroom. Residents bring their own linens. Kitchens are furnished with basics. Housing is within a few miles of our primary worksite. Housing can have up to 8 residents who are also interns, seasonal employees, or research technicians. Residents are responsible for cleaning and trash. Electricty, heat, and water are covered by the park. Internet/cable/phone are not provided.

KEYWORDS
Coastal Resiliency, Blue Carbon, Cape Cod, Saltmarsh Restoration, Coastal Wetlands

IMPORTANT NOTICES
This posting will close after receiving 75 complete applications, or at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday, 16 June, whichever occurs first. Once you begin applying for a position, the application must be completed in one sitting. You cannot save and return later to complete it. Applicants can apply for up to five Scientists in Parks Intern positions per winter. You need to complete a separate application for each position in order to be considered. You should receive a confirmation email after successfully submitting an application. Sometimes institutional email filters/settings can redirect or block emails related to the application. We recommend watching spam, junk, and promotional email folders in case your service delivers messages there. Please visit How to Apply for additional resources and information about applying (i.e., learn what materials to have ready for applying, find a worksheet that previews application questions, etc.)

LEARN MORE
https://www.scientistsinparks.org/