Conservation Intern – Nature Conservancy of Canada

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is the nation’s leading not-for-profit, private land conservation organization, working to protect our most important natural areas and the species they sustain. Since 1962, NCC and its partners have helped to conserve 14 million hectares (35 million acres), coast to coast to coast.

POSITION TITLE: CONSERVATION INTERN
LOCATIONS: Fredericton, NB (3), Halifax, NS (2), St. John’s, NL (1)
NO. OF POSITIONS: 6

The conservation interns will assist in the implementation of the stewardship program for natural areas protected by NCC in the Atlantic Provinces. The interns will work independently and with NCC staff, partners and volunteers, to monitor NCC properties across the provinces, compile fauna, flora and ecosystem inventories, implement management actions, and work with volunteers.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Complete inventories of plants, animals, communities, physical features and anthropogenic influences of NCC properties, in all ecosystems (forest, coastal, wetland, etc.);
• Complete monitoring of properties where NCC owns land;
• Map property features and community and rare plant locations as well as wildlife observations and threats such as invasive species;
• Complete physical land management tasks such as installing signage, removing invasive plant species, cleaning up garbage, and maintaining trails;
• Prepare monitoring reports for NCC properties, including maps, and help with the preparation of Baseline Inventory reports;
• Enter field data into NCC’s Land Resource Management database;
• Assist NCC stewardship staff with stewardship outreach activities and administration as needed.

Required Skills and Abilities

• This posting is targeted to students possessing the following skills:
• University student preferably entering 4th year, or recent graduate with a biology or forestry degree or equivalent experience. Those having also attended a technical school (forestry/wildlife) a strong plus;
• Demonstrated interest in natural history and land conservation;
• Demonstrated excellent plant, animal (bird) and vegetation community identification skills, ability to key out unknown species;
• Experience working outdoors in various terrains and under various weather conditions;
• Ability and skills to undertake physical tasks such as maintaining trails, removing large garbage, and removing invasive species;
• Experience using a GPS for collecting tracks and points, and mapping the data;
• Navigation experience with both map and compass and GPS;
• Ability to work independently and as a team, be self-motivated, display superior time management skills, have attention to detail, and the ability to meet deadlines;
• Familiarity with common computer software (Microsoft Office Suite, graphics programs);
• Experience with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) a strong asset;
• Photography skills an asset;
• Excellent writing, budgeting and organization skills, experience writing reports and entering data;
• Fluency in English; bilingual in French a plus (NB);
• Wilderness or Standard First Aid training;
• Valid Driver’s License, and able to rent a car (must be at least 21 years of age to rent).

Terms of Employment

• Some position funding may require the candidate to have been attending university or college in the areas of Science or Technology, and returning to school in the fall.
• NS position must be enrolled in a Nova Scotia university or college, and ideally in a coop program
• For some positions preference to be given to applicants who identify as belonging to one or more of the following: women, indigenous, persons with disabilities, or visible minority. Candidates who wish to qualify for preferential consideration must self-identify;
• Must have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations.
• This is a full-time, 16-week (May 10 – August 27, 2021) position. Salary is $17/hour ($637.50/week).
• NCC has developed COVID-19 protocols related to workplace and travel health and safety that all staff, including interns, must observe. Provincial guidelines are also monitored and applied within the NCC workplace and activities.
• Position will be either based in Fredericton, NB, Halifax, NS, or St. John’s, NL with travel throughout the province for fieldwork, with a small number of overnights and possibly some weekend work. Travel expenses will be reimbursed.

Applications

Interested applicants must:

Apply through the Nature Conservancy of Canada jobs website at http://www.natureconservancy.ca/en/who-we-are/work-with-us/ and click on “Conservation Internship Program”

Application Deadline: February 26, 2021

We thank everyone who applies for their interest in the Nature Conservancy of Canada; however only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.