RESTORATION INTERN

The Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC) is seeking a Restoration Intern to help advance the goals of its Ecosystem Restoration Program.   

APCC is the region’s leading 501(c)3 nonprofit environmental organization working for the adoption of laws, policies and programs that protect and enhance Cape Cod’s natural resources and quality of life. Founded in 1968, the mission of APCC is to preserve, protect, and enhance the natural resources of Cape Cod. Our vision is a Cape Cod where waters are restored and protected, natural landscapes and wildlife habitat are preserved, and where growth respects the character of town centers and rural lands.

The Ecosystem Restoration Program (ERP) supports towns and other community groups in planning, implementation and monitoring of restoration projects on Cape Cod. Established in 2015, the vision of the ERP is to provide additional resources (capacity, technical expertise and funding) to increase the number and success rate of restoration projects on Cape Cod.

Responsibilities

The intern will be involved in a variety of restoration projects based on the needs of the ERP team. Responsibilities include assisting with site assessment and monitoring of various aquatic habitats, assisting with training volunteers in monitoring and survey protocols, and assisting with education and outreach programming, as part of efforts to restore retired cranberry bogs, remove fish passage barriers, remediate stormwater runoff, improve water quality, and enhance salt marsh integrity.

The intern will primarily assist in the collection and analysis of salt marsh environmental data at several field sites. Specific tasks include vegetation identification, continuous data logger calibration and deployment, elevation/GPS survey, and measuring sediment movement and accumulation. The Restoration Intern will work closely with Salt Marsh Specialist and Lead Ecologist.

Minimum Requirements:

At least three years (six semesters) completed towards a bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, ecology, botany, conservation, environmental sciences, engineering or similar.  

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Candidate should have excellent verbal and written communication skills, and be proficient in Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft Teams, Excel, and Word in a PC environment. Other required knowledge and skills include:

• Experience in field survey and data collection methods (academic or professional).
• Experience with data entry and analysis including working with Microsoft Excel or other software to summarize data including (but not limited to) creating pivot tables and graphs.
• Experience writing scientific reports including methods, results, and conclusions.
• Experience drafting and editing educational and outreach materials, such as factsheets, presentations, etc.
• Comfortable working with teams on various types of projects including fieldwork.
• Ability to work independently managing your time and workload with weekly or biweekly meetings.
• Ability to identify problems and know when to seek guidance from supervisors.
• Ability to review and identify errors in data – requires excellent attention to detail.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Desirable but not Required

• Experience with salt marsh plant species identification, sediment sampling, and GIS mapping.
• Experience handling, maintaining, and/or calibrating environmental sensors or data loggers.
• Experience with GPS field equipment to collect waypoints, line tracking, and/or elevation.
• Experience working with ESRI GIS software (e.g., ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Pro) to map and analyze field data.
• Experience developing social media content, including photo and video for Facebook/Instagram, newsletters or website content.
• Experience working with volunteers or public speaking.

Working Conditions:

This is a paid full-time, seasonal internship from June through September. Pay rate is $18-$22 per hour commensurate with experience. The typical work schedule is a 37.5-hour work week over five days per week M-F.  

Candidate MUST HAVE dependable transportation and a valid driver's license. Work involves traveling to and from sampling locations. Mileage will be reimbursed.  

The candidate must be located within the region to allow for travel to in-person meetings, site visits, field surveys and events as needed.

Desktop work can be completed at the APCC office (482 Main St, Dennis, MA 02638) or remotely. However, field days require in-person attendance and can consist of 6-8 hours outside in the salt marsh exposed to hot, sunny, windy, and/or buggy conditions.

Physical Requirements of the Job:  

Field work will include traversing small streams, wooded trails, densely vegetated areas on mucky unstable ground; navigating small obstacles such as fallen trees, fences, or densely vegetated areas; and lifting heavy objects weighing 10-50 lbs.

To apply:

Use the application link to apply. You must enter your contact information along with an indication of your preferred start date and upload a cover letter and resume. Please include at least two professional and/or academic references (name, position, affiliation, email, address, and phone number).

APCC is an equal opportunity employer and provider. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.