Ecological Restoration Fellow

About Mass Audubon
Mass Audubon is the largest nature-based conservation organization in New England. Founded in 1896 by two women who fought for the protection of birds, Mass Audubon carries on their legacy by focusing on the greatest challenges facing the environment today: the loss of biodiversity, inequitable access to nature, and climate change. With the help of our 160,000 members and supporters, we protect wildlife, conserve and restore resilient land, advocate for impactful environmental policies, offer nationally recognized education programs for adults and children, and provide endless opportunities to experience the outdoors at our wildlife sanctuaries. Explore, find inspiration, and take action at massaudubon.org.

About This Position
Mass Audubon is committed to creating a more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and just organization and to providing greater access to nature for everyone. Part of this work requires us to address the historic inequities within the environmental and conservation fields, which is why we launched the Environmental Fellowship Program for Early Careers (EFP). The EFP is a unique program designed to increase pathways into environmental professions for people whose identities have been historically underrepresented. Each 14-month fellowship is hosted within one of four departments/teams: Land Conservation, Conservation Science, Nature in the City, or Environmental Education. Our fellows will tackle some of the most pressing environmental concerns of our time while working with a passionate and dedicated team of professionals. In addition to professional experience, the fellows are given opportunities for networking, mentoring, and skill development within a supportive cohort model. To learn more about the program, please register for our Information Session which will take place on Thursday, February 22nd at 6pm EST.

About the Conservation Science Department and Ecological Restoration Program
Mass Audubon recently launched our Action Agenda, a five-year plan to address the rapid loss of biodiversity, inequitable access to nature, and the threat of climate change. Conservation is a key component of our success, involving collaboration among colleagues throughout the organization to protect, restore, and steward land for wildlife and for people.

The Ecological Restoration Fellow will join our Ecological Restoration Program within the Conservation Science Department, based out of Mass Audubon Headquarters in Lincoln, MA. Ecological Restoration is the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been damaged, degraded, or destroyed. The Ecological Restoration Program focuses on improving the health and functioning of rivers and wetlands on land owned or influenced by Mass Audubon. Our program is focused on 4 types of projects: urban wetlands, salt marshes, cranberry bogs, and dam removal. Our projects generally comprise large-scale, one-time actions, and take 3-5 years to complete.

The Ecological Restoration team is committed to creating a positive work environment and a meaningful experience for the fellow. We value cultivating joy, curiosity, healthy work-life boundaries, progress over perfection, collective responsibility, and mutual respect.

The Ecological Restoration Fellow is committed to protecting the nature of Massachusetts by supporting our Ecological Restoration work including on-the-ground projects, monitoring, public outreach and engagement, and other potential focus areas.
Application Instructions
Please submit a resume with your ADP application. In addition, please complete the following Microsoft Form to apply for this role: https://forms.office.com/r/zcfH3bgdYs.

Responsibilities
The Ecological Restoration Fellow will play a key role in supporting various Ecological Restoration projects, with a focus on dam removal, salt marsh restoration, cranberry bog restoration, and urban wetland initiatives. The Fellow will assist with project management, background research about sites and watersheds, and GIS work, aiding in the enhancement of ecosystems and resilience. The position offers the opportunity to gain experience in office-based and fieldwork activities, collaboration with diverse stakeholders, and the utilization of specialized software tools.

The following list details tasks that the Ecological Restoration Program frequently undertakes, and we envision that a Fellow could be involved in these tasks. It's important to note that prior experience with these activities is not a strict requirement. We assure you that the Ecological Restoration team is committed to providing full support as you take on these responsibilities. If there are tasks you haven't done before, rest assured that we are here to teach and guide you through the process. Final task and project assignments will be decided in consultation with the Fellow considering their professional development interests.

1. Project Management

• Assist in the coordination and project management of dam removal, salt marsh restoration, cranberry bog restoration, and urban wetland projects.
• Collaborate with team members, stakeholders, and volunteers to develop scopes of work, manage budgets, consider project designs, and address public and regulatory concerns.

2. GIS and Research Work

• Conduct GIS analyses to support project planning and implementation.
• Perform literature reviews on relevant ecological research, especially pertaining to restoration practices.
• Develop and maintain GIS databases to track project progress and ecological data.

3. Programmatic Support

• Assist the Ecological Restoration team with development of internal documentation and processes to facilitate internal and external communication about specific projects and the program.

4. Fieldwork

• Assist with data collection and study design (vegetation surveys, electrofishing surveys)
• Support the implementation of new and ongoing monitoring and restoration management practices.
• Undertake additional fieldwork tasks as required, contributing to various restoration and monitoring efforts.

Qualifications
At Mass Audubon, our highest priority is finding the best candidate for the job. Research has shown that people of color and women are less likely to apply for jobs if they don’t believe they meet every one of the qualifications described in a job description. We encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of our described qualifications or you have a less traditional background. We are looking for applicants with the following qualifications:

Must Haves

• Must have obtained a bachelor's degree by the start of the fellowship; degrees or coursework especially suitable for this work include: biology, ecology, landscape architecture, Ecological Restoration, environmental science, environmental studies, environmental planning, civil and environmental engineering, or a related field
• A commitment to practicing conservation through a lens of equity, inclusion, and access
• Demonstrated interest in conservation and/or Ecological Restoration and a willingness to learn
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work both independently and as a member of a team
• Comfort working in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook) and using Microsoft collaboration platforms (Teams, SharePoint)
• Interest in community engagement work

Nice to Haves

• Experience communicating technical content to a variety of audiences
• Experience with natural resources fieldwork (ex: environmental, water, biological, ecological, etc.) through coursework, projects, professional, or volunteer experience
• Interest in learning about Massachusetts state and federal environmental regulations
• Experience being on a construction site, including following relevant safety protocols and obtaining necessary training (i.e. OSHA 10-Hour Construction Safety)
• Experience with GPS devices and digital data collection, and/or ArcGIS mapping software and database design/management

Compensation, Benefits and Perks
This position’s pay range is $50,000-$55,000/year; actual salary will reflect level of experience and qualifications relative to position requirements.
Benefits eligible staff at Mass Audubon may elect to enroll in medical, dental, and vision plans. Mass Audubon also offers disability and life insurance plans, a retirement plan through MetLife, and Flexible Spending Account options. Mass Audubon employment also includes access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and the Reciprocity Agreement through the Consortium of Non-Profit Arts/Cultural/Environmental Organizations of New England. Mass Audubon employees also enjoy 13 paid holidays (holidays may shift annually due to where days fall within calendar).

Work Schedule
Full time schedule of 40 hours, Monday through Friday

Other Requirements
Employees must successfully complete a CORI and SORI Background Check and a Motor Vehicle Record (if applicable) is required.

Mass Audubon’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Justice
Mass Audubon embraces diversity and equal opportunity in a serious way. We are dedicated to forming a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. People of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

Mass Audubon’s mission is to “protect the nature of Massachusetts for people and for wildlife” by building a strong coalition of employees, volunteers, and community members. We recognize that the environmental movement and field of conservation have been affected by societal systems that have limited opportunity and access for many people. As a result, Mass Audubon is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. We are engaged in an ongoing process of organizational assessment and change, designed to remove barriers and create a workplace where all forms of diversity are recognized and valued.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Mass Audubon is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. Mass Audubon prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.