Job ID: 44025
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Full Time/Part Time: Full-Time
Regular/Temporary: Temporary
Description:
The Nature Conservancy is the leading conservation organization working to make a positive impact around the world in more than 35 countries, all 50 United States, and your backyard. Founded in 1951, the mission of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. Building on the Conservancy’s science-based, collaborative, results-oriented approach and its record of contributing creative and effective solutions to conservation challenges, we are currently implementing a suite of projects that will help cities conserve and benefit from nature and enhance the quality of life for all urban residents. Visit www.nature.org to learn more.
The Healthy Trees, Healthy Cities (HTHC) Initiative is a program of The Nature Conservancy that helps to maintain the health of urban forests, to address the major threat that non-native pests pose to our trees and forests in urban and rural settings, and to engage people in the care and stewardship of community trees and forests. The goals of the program are to improve the health and long-term viability of urban trees, prevent new pests and pathogens from degrading natural forests, and to connect urban residents to nature where they live, work, and play.
The Nature Conservancy seeks a temporary Urban Conservation Crew Member in Philadelphia. In partnership with the US Forest Service, The Nature Conservancy aims to measure the ecological health of forest fragments in and around the city. These fragments provide vital habitat for remaining wildlife but are subject to tremendous pressure from air pollution, water contamination, and invasion from nonnative species of plants and insects. Crews will participate in the Forest Service’s FRAME (Forest Fragments in Managed Ecosystems) research and may collect data on trees, soil and vegetation. This Urban Conservation field program is a seven (7) week leadership and professional development experience which allows youth over the age of 18 to work with and learn valuable conservation skills from natural resource managers and scientists from The Nature Conservancy, the US Forest Service, and other partner organizations.
Roles and Responsibilities:
The Urban Conservation Crew Member will be part of a four (4) person team that is responsible for the biological monitoring of sites in and around Philadelphia as assigned by the Conservancy and collaborators. Under the guidance of a Crew Leader, the Crew Member will also have the opportunity to design, implement, and present an urban conservation project. S/he may assist other Conservancy staff with various tasks and projects and may be required to assist with office work relating to the program.
This temporary position begins on June 27th and ends August 12th, 2016. Crew Members must be present on all days throughout the full duration of the field program, from approximately 9AM to 4:30PM. This position requires daily outdoor physical labor for extended periods of time in adverse conditions.
S/he will directly report to the Pennsylvania Outreach Program Manager. Alumni of The Nature Conservancy's Leaders in Environmental Action for the Future (LEAF) program are strongly encouraged to apply.
Duties:
- Attend field work orientation and training sessions conducted by Conservancy staff and collaborators prior to and/or during the field research period.
- Assist staff and research scientists from the Conservancy and US Forest Service with biological monitoring as listed above.
- Research and present an urban conservation project related to resource management in Philadelphia.
- Complete necessary paperwork to ensure proper administration and evaluation of the program.
- Maintain field equipment and tools in proper working order.
The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of men and women of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and cultures. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, gender identities, military or veteran status or other status protected by law.
Qualifications and Education Requirements:
- Works under minimal and direct supervision from a Crew Leader; must make independent decisions based on experience and judgments.
- Requires considerable physical exertion and/or muscular strain.
- Requires long hours in isolated settings.
- Coordinates multiple projects with several variables, setting realistic deadlines and managing timeframes.
- Resolves routine issues independently, consulting with supervisor to develop plans for resolution of complex and unusual problems.
- Cultivates and develops creative ideas to improve conservation strategies.
- Must be 18 before the start of the program.
- Pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in biology, ecology, natural resources management or related field.
- Willing to work outdoors for long hours in potentially inclement weather.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience working in a team environment.
- Must have housing for duration of program. Housing is not provided.
- Preference will be given to alumni of the Conservancy’s LEAF high school internship.
- Good team player with flexibility, strong communication and organizational skills.
- Ability to clearly communicate via written, spoken and graphical means in English.
- Experience working with or knowledge of natural systems, preferably in an urban environment.
- Ability to perform physical work, sometimes under adverse conditions or in inclement weather.
- Ability to complete tasks independently with respect to timeline(s).
- Ability to manage time and diverse activities under deadlines while delivering quality results.
- Enthusiasm for living and working in an urban environment.
- Ability and willingness to travel to field sites, potentially over long distances on public transportation or in a Conservancy-provided vehicle.
To Apply:
Apply on www.nature.org/careers. Job ID #44025. Application deadline is March 20, 2016.