MA-EPPC subscribers,

Please review or distribute, as appropriate, this job opportunity
description. The position is a six-month internship with The Nature
Conservancy in New Jersey, with a focus on forest health and
invasive plant species.

Thank you,

Ellen Creveling
Conservation Science Coordinator

Position Description

Title: Polly Holden Botanical Assistant Intern
(full time, temporary)
Job name: Science Intern
Job number:: 950005
Supervisor: Conservation Science Coordinator
Location: Chester, Morris County, New Jersey
Position duration: Monday, April 14th through Friday, October
10th, 2008

Summary of Position:
The Polly Holden Botanical Assistant Intern will contribute to
applied forest health and biodiversity research efforts, with a
focus on key threats to northern New Jersey forests. The position
will primarily involve conducting botanical field surveys in
northern New Jersey and the Pine Barrens regions of New Jersey, but
other responsibilities comprise a wide variety of tasks including,
but not limited to field work, literature research, data entry, and
report writing. The intern will be exposed to a broad range of
educational opportunities during the course of the summer field
season. These may include learning about the identification of a
variety of taxa and the practical conservation of large landscapes,
participating in conservation planning efforts and GIS analyses,
working with stewardship staff on land management issues, and
gaining exposure to a global conservation organization. The
position will be based at The Nature Conservancy's New Jersey Field
office, located in Chester, New Jersey. This is a paid position for
35 hours/week.

Essential Functions:
1. Conduct invasive species mapping, perform forest health surveys,
participate in deer browse impact research, map natural communities,
and conduct rare plant surveys and multi-taxa surveys as needed.
2. Assist in planning the logistics and protocols for a long-term
biological inventory and monitoring program.
3. Perform a variety of other office-based work including data
entry, data analysis, and report writing.
4. Contribute to various on-going conservation science, planning,
and on-the-ground-management activities, with opportunities to learn
new skills and enhance existing knowledge.

Qualifications:
1. Bachelor's degree in biology, forestry, range, fisheries,
wildlife management, a related field, or equivalent experience, and
one field season of plant surveying.
2. Ability to identify the plant species of New Jersey or the
demonstrated ability to learn these species quickly.
3. Ability to perform physical labor under a variety of weather
conditions.
4. Ability to work alone or in a team in the field, as well as to
navigate by GPS.
5. Ability to work efficiently and in an organized manner with
strong attention to detail.
6. A cheerful and outgoing personality, positive attitude, sense of
humor and team spirit.
7. Willingness to work nights and weekends as needed.

Application deadline: Friday, March 14th, 2008
Please e-mail or send a cover letter, resume, and three references
to:
Heather Austin
Conservation Operations Manager
2350 Route 47
Delmont, NJ 08314

HAUSTIN@TNC.ORG
The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer