Lead Field Technician - Great Marsh at Mass Audubon

Newburyport, Massachusetts, United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

31 May, 26

Salary

24.0

Posted On

02 Mar, 26

Experience

0 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Team Leadership, Salt Marsh Restoration, Invasive Plant Removal, Field Data Collection, Mobile Software Utilization, Hydrology Restoration, Equipment Operation, Task Delegation, Public Communication, Safety Protocols, Interpersonal Skills, Problem Solving, Habitat Management, Coastal Resilience, Tractor Operation, Hand Tool Proficiency

Industry

Non-profit Organizations

Description

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 [http://www.massaudubon.org/]. About This Position This position co-leads a team of twelve technicians within the spring and fall implementing salt marsh restoration and will solely lead a crew of seven technicians throughout the summer manually removing invasive plants to restore resiliency within salt marsh habitats on the North Shore of Massachusetts. This work with the Wetland Restoration Coordinator on weekly and daily work planning and implementation. In addition, this position will provide regular updates on progress and escalate critical issues to the Coordinator as needed. Depending on the time of year, duties will include but are not limited to: 1) restoring salt marsh hydrology at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge (PRNWR); 2) manually removing invasive Perennial Pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) from salt marshes and adjacent areas within the Great Marsh (coastal towns from Salisbury to Gloucester); 3) supervising and directing restoration technicians to ensure efficient time and task management; and 4) ensuring the collection of monitoring data and utilizing mobile-based software. The Lead Field Technician – Great Marsh will also participate in additional efforts on the PRNWR and Mass Audubon properties to support coastal resilience and restoration projects, represent both agencies with allied organizations, and assist with related data management and reporting. Interviews will begin in early March for this position; final offers will be dependent on funding. Application Instructions Please submit a resume and cover letter with your ADP application. Responsibilities * Work with the Wetland Restoration Coordinator and Monitoring Coordinator to co-lead technician team and help delegate tasks to implement salt marsh restoration * Use walk-behind agricultural tractors and hand tools to cut and pack hay into ditches to accelerate healing process; in some cases, assist with digging shallow trenches (runnels) by hand. * Lead a crew of technicians to hand pull perennial pepperweed and deliver it to appropriate drop-off locations. * Create and communicate daily and weekly plans with the Coordinators and technicians; report issues or needs immediately, and keep appropriate staff informed of progress. This includes but is not limited to: daily start times, monitoring field conditions, in field decision making and implementation, keeping track of equipment and supplies * Thoroughly ensure pre-established monitoring protocols are followed, and all required data is collected using FieldMaps and ArcGIS Online * Train, delegate, and assist volunteer groups * Assist in other targeted habitat management and coastal resilience projects on Mass Audubon property, the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, and other locations in the Great Marsh * Notify landowners of invasive removal and communicate with the public the work and goals of the project and allay potential concerns about the presence of the team and their work; be an ambassador for Mass Audubon’s mission * Assist partners with projects happening throughout the Great Marsh to further gain field experience and assist with outreach related to saltmarsh restoration and/or habitat restoration 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 * At least 18 years of age * Experience working in salt marshes and/or working in restoration * Work experience or formal education in ecology, coastal geology, hydrology, marine biology, biogeochemistry, botany, natural resource management, or other related disciplines appropriate to the position; or a combination of relevant education and appropriate experience * A strong work ethic and interpersonal skills; ability to work well independently and on a team * Willing to work occasional weekends for volunteer and outreach events * Good sense of personal dynamics in a team of coworkers and ability to set tone and model positive attitude and problem-solving * Ability to interact with project partners and the public in a professional manner * Ability to work productively with others while abiding by Mass Audubon policy for maintaining public health * Enthusiastic about physical work to achieve conservation management outcomes and be physically able to lift 50 lbs., pull heavy sleds over long, uneven surfaces, and repeated bending and lifting * Ability to work in difficult weather conditions (strong wind, rain, extreme temperatures) while maintaining appropriate safety protocols * Ability to use technology on a mobile device or tablet Nice to Haves * Previous leadership experience * Experience implementing salt marsh restoration techniques known as Ditch Remediation and Runneling * Salt marsh and invasive plant identification skills * Experience using ArcGIS Field Maps App * Public outreach experience * Field work experience in hydrology, geomorphology, and bird ID skills Compensation, Benefits and Perks This position’s pay range is $22.50-$24.00/hour; actual salary will reflect level of experience and qualifications relative to position requirements. This is not a benefits eligible position. Work Schedule This position starts on March 23, 2026 and ends on November 20, 2026. Exact position start date is tentative based on weather and field conditions. Full time schedule of 40 hours, Monday through Friday. Start times and length of workdays are due to change based on work needs and tide schedule. A typical workday is 7:00am-3:30pm. 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.

Responsibilities

This role involves co-leading a team for salt marsh restoration during spring and fall, and solely leading a crew in the summer for manual invasive plant removal, while coordinating daily and weekly work plans with the Wetland Restoration Coordinator. Responsibilities also include ensuring monitoring data collection using mobile software and participating in broader coastal resilience projects.