Seasonal Jobs Available!
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge is pleased to announce the availability of five seasonal positions for the 2008 field season. We are looking for responsible and self-motivated individuals to assist with the Refuge’s biological and youth programs. This is a great opportunity for undergraduate students, recent graduates, and graduate students to gain hands-on experience in natural resources management.
The biological technicians and interns will work closely with Refuge biologists to gain numerous field survey techniques used in the field of conservation as well as research and protocol design. The individuals will gain familiarity with daily tasks of a wildlife biologist on a national wildlife refuge, and will learn about other job opportunities both within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and our Federal, State and private partners.
Physical Demand of Work: These jobs include extended hours of field work in New England summer conditions, and can be physically and mentally demanding. Difficult conditions include hot, humid weather, biting insects, ticks, and poison ivy. The work includes walking and running through wet, rough, uneven surfaces, jumping over small ditches and creeks, repeated bending, stooping, reaching, and lifting of moderately heavy items over moderate distances.
Please click on the jobs below for detailed position description and instructions on how to apply.
Sparrow Intern: 18-20 weeks starting late May, $500 per week plus housing
Waterfowl Tech: 16-20 weeks starting early June, GS 5, $15.42 per hour
Plover Tech: 14-16 weeks starting early May, GS 5 $15.42 per hour
Refuge Intern: 14-16 weeks starting early June, $350-450 per week commensurate with experience
Youth Conservation Corps Leader: 10 weeks starting mid June, GS 5 $15.42 per hour
Duration : 20 weeks, starting late May, 40 hours per week
Stipend: $500 per week plus housing
Job Description:
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge has been conducting a long term study on the impacts of mercury on nesting salt marsh birds, particularly salt marsh sparrow. The Sparrow Intern will implement monitoring and research studies on salt marsh integrity and population health of salt marsh sharp-tailed sparrows. Specific duties include:
- Monitoring reproductive productivity, foraging ecology, seasonal movements, and habitat use of salt marsh sharp-tailed sparrows;
- Conducting nest searches and assisting in mist-netting and extraction of birds;
- Conducting hydrological, soil, plant, invertebrate, and fish surveys according to standardized protocol;
- Scheduling field work according to nesting chronology and tidal cycles, and adjusting as needed based on field data, personnel availability and changing environmental conditions.
- Synthesizing related available data into coherent reports and analyzing related data and preparing reports useful for making management decisions.
- Occasionally leading other temporary employees and volunteers in conducting field surveys.
The incumbent will be expected to take meticulous field notes, understand and follow written protocol, work independently, and problem solve in consultation with Refuge biologist.
Qualifications:
- Knowledge of wildlife management and conservation principals and field survey techniques
- Experience with avian population and ecology research
- Good observation skills and meticulous recording skills in the field
- Experience with GPS/GIS a plus
To apply, submit the following to: (Application deadline has been extended to March 15)
- Resume and cover letter describing your qualifications as it related to the job description.
- Your college transcript.
- List three references and their contact information.
Nancy Pau
6 Plum Island Turnpike
Newbuyrport , MA 01950
978-465-5753 x211
nancy_pau@fws.gov
Duration: 16-20 weeks, starting early June, 40 hours a week.
Salary: GS 5, $15.42 per hour
Job Description: The biological technician will assist with diverse habitat and wildlife management and monitoring programs at Parker River NWR. The incumbent will operate waterfowl banding stations on impoundment and assist in invasive plant control and impoundment management. Specific duties include:
- Completing routine surveys and census of waterfowl and shorebird species,
- Conducting waterfowl banding in impoundments using swimming traps,
- Conducting weekly avian influenza surveys along Refuge road, on beach, and in salt marsh habitat,
- Managing water levels in impoundments according to Refuge management plan,
- Conducting vegetation surveys in a variety of habitats;
- Uses Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to map habitats and managements;
- Assisting with inventory, control, and monitoring of non-native invasive species
- Synthesizes related available data into coherent reports and summaries and analyzes related data and prepares reports useful for making management decisions.
The incumbent will be expected to take meticulous field notes, understand and follow written protocol, work independently, and problem solve in consultation with Refuge biologist.
To Apply: This position is advertised on USA Jobs as Announcement Number PH-NM-08-177525, and will close on March 18 . Please visit www.usajobs.gov to create an account and read application instructions. Please find the job announcement here.
Duration: 16-20 weeks starting early May, 40 hours per week; some weekend and extended work hours may be needed.
Salary: GS 5, $15.42 per hour
Job Description: The piping plover is a federally listed threatened species. Parker River annually manages the 6.3-mile Refuge beach in addition to adjacent town and State beaches to enhance successful breeding of piping plovers. The plover technician will work with Refuge biologists to implement recovery actions for the piping plover and least terns. Duties include:
- Monitoring piping plover and tern nesting, reproductive success, and habitat use
- Implementing management actions, such as installing electric or symbolic fences, to protect piping plovers and terns when appropriate.
- Assisting USDA-APHIS with predator management as necessary
- Providing logistic support and nesting updates for local and State partners involved in plover management
- Synthesizing related available data into coherent reports and analyzing related data and preparing reports useful for making management decisions.
- Providing community outreach to promote better public understanding and support of piping plover management
To Apply: This position is advertised on USA Jobs as Announcement Number PH-NF-08-175603, and will close on March 11 . Please visit www.usajobs.gov to create an account and read application instructions. Please find the job announcement here. Please note, even though the USA Job accouncement has a starting date of March, the job at Parker River starts in late May.
Duration : 14-16 weeks, starting early June, 40 hours per week
Stipend: $350-450 per week commensurate with experience, housing may be available
Job Description:
The Refuge intern will work with the Refuge biologist and all other techs and interns on a wide variety of habitat and wildlife management and monitoring programs. Duties are variable, and may include: population counts, vegetative surveys, collecting habitat information, assisting with sensitive wildlife species management, conducting behavioral monitoring, entering data in databases, assisting with inventory, control, and monitoring of invasive plants, and mapping plants or communities using GPS.
This is a training position. The incumbent is expected to gain numerous field survey techniques used in the field of conservation as well as research and protocol design.
Qualifications:
- Understanding of wildlife management and conservation principals
- Experience with basic field survey techniques
- Good observation skills and meticulous recording skills in the field
- Experience with GPS/GIS a plus
To apply, submit the following to: (Application deadline has been extended to March 15)
- Resume and cover letter describing your qualifications as it related to the job description.
- Your college transcript.
- List three references and their contact information.
Nancy Pau
6 Plum Island Turnpike
Newbuyrport , MA 01950
978-465-5753 x211
nancy_pau@fws.gov
Youth Conservation Corps Leader
Duration : 10 weeks, starting mid June, 40 hours per week
Salary: GS 5, $15.42 per hour
Job Description:
This individual will have primary responsibility for the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) Program at Parker River. The YCC is a nation-wide youth summer employment program that has been introducing young men and women 15 through 18 to conservation opportunities since 1970. The YCC group at Parker River consist of up to 6 high school students that participate in an eight hour per day, five day per week non-residential camp. Work consists of facilities upkeep, construction and repair and assisting with the biological program.
To Apply: This position will be advertised on USA Jobs in the coming weeks, and will be linked from this page when advertised. Please visit www.usajobs.gov to create an account and read application instructions. Check back here for updates and link to online job application.