Ecological Field Technician

About Mohonk Preserve:

Located in the beautiful Hudson River Valley, Mohonk Preserve is New York’s largest nonprofit nature preserve. Our mission is to protect the Northern Shawangunk ridge and inspire people to care for, enjoy, and explore the natural world. We manage over 8,000 acres of mountain cliffs, forests, fields, and streams through four integrated programs – Conservation, Education, Stewardship, and Visitor Experience – and welcome over 300,000 members and visitors each year who come to hike, run, rock climb, boulder, bike, cross-country ski, snowshoe and enjoy and experience nature.

Based in a vibrant university community, Mohonk Preserve offers a great working environment in one of New York’s greenest counties, with all-season recreation, access to Preserve lands, a dynamic, committed team of conservation professionals and long legacy of conducting ecological research and environmental education. The Preserve is also the home of one of America’s premier rock-climbing destinations.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Mohonk Preserve is an Equal Opportunity Employer dedicated to creating an inclusive culture where employees from diverse backgrounds can thrive and support our mission. Successful candidates will be equity-minded and committed to furthering our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice (DEIJ) goals. Mohonk Preserve encourages applications from women, minorities and/or other underrepresented groups.

About the Position:

As a member of the Conservation Science team, the Ecological Field Technician will primarily assist with conducting bird and salamander community surveys. Field data collection on birds includes monitoring for presence/absence and abundance via manual point-count surveys and deploying autonomous recording units (ARUs aka bioacoustic monitoring). Salamander surveys include monitoring for presence/absence and abundance via transect surveys as well as assessing surrounding forest vegetation, soil and microclimate conditions. Secondary duties include data collection on vernal pools, various phenology life stages on both flora & fauna, and assisting with our Invasive Species Program. The Technician will follow established field protocols in both new and existing monitoring sites.

The Technician will also be responsible for entering and managing the collected data. This position will support departmental initiatives, outreach opportunities, and carrying out the Preserve’s mission.

The position is supervised by the Associate Director of Conservation Science & Research and requires working closely with other department (Conservation & Education) and Mohonk Preserve staff. This hourly, grant-funded position runs for approximately 21 weeks, April-September 2024, for a maximum of 800 hours.

Classification:

Part-time, Seasonal, Non-exempt

Compensation:

  $20.00/hour; housing available upon request 

Essential Functions:

• Point-count surveys in forested and old-field habitats to assess bird communities.
• Deploying ARUs (Cornell University Swift units) for forest bird bioacoustic monitoring.
• Transect surveys to assess forest salamander communities.
• Forest vegetation, soil, microclimate surveys (including species identification and data collection of plant heights, canopy cover, and habitat quality) using transects, quadrats, soil probes, and other forestry equipment.
• Vernal pool monitoring including surveying for species occupancy and reproductive success as well as assessing water quality.
• Recording phenology observations on various flora & fauna species throughout the Preserve.
• Record, manage, enter, and perform quality checks on scientific data.
• Perform other related duties to support department and Preserve as assigned by the Associate Director of Conservation Science & Research.

Desired Skills and Experience:

At Mohonk Preserve, our priority is finding the best candidate for the job. We encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all the qualifications or have a less traditional background.

• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Forestry, Ecology, or related field OR equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience conducting field research required.
• Experience (at least some) with identifying Northeastern birds by sight and sound.
• Experience identifying Northeastern vegetation is preferred, or the ability and desire to learn (training is provided)
• Experience navigating off-trail using GPS coordinates (training is provided)
• Capable (and enthusiastic!) to occasionally walk several miles in a given day carrying a backpack over uneven terrain in potentially adverse field conditions (biting insects, rain, heat, humidity, etc.)
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail with both field work and managing data.
• Proficient computer skills - Microsoft Office 365 applications, remote work platforms (e.g., Teams, Zoom).
• Have a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice to ensure that all people are respected and welcomed at the Mohonk Preserve. This includes participating in ongoing education and other work the organization undertakes to develop and incorporate these principles.
• Must be able to work independently and interact professionally with a variety of Preserve stakeholders.
• Ability and willingness to work irregular hours, including early mornings and possibly some weekends.
• Must have a valid driver’s license.

Bonus skills

• Experience with bioacoustic monitoring using ARUs.
• Experience with data management and analysis
• Experience with ArcGIS software
• Bi-lingual

Physical Demands:

• Frequently uses a computer keyboard, reads, writes.
• Frequently works outdoors.
• Requires standing, walking, hiking, stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching, carrying equipment, sometimes for an extended period of time.
• Occasional events indoors or outdoors outside standard office hours and in other locations around the Preserve

Location:

Mohonk Preserve’s main offices are located at our Visitor Center in Gardiner, NY. This position will be based out of the Preserve’s Daniel Smiley Research Center (DSRC) on the grounds of the Mohonk Mountain House resort. Mohonk Preserve offers hybrid work schedules at this time – coordinated with their supervisor and depending on the job, staff may be able to split time working remotely, as well as in the office and in-person on the land. Generally standard working hours, with some flexibility, to be coordinated with supervisor.

Benefits:

• Direct Payroll Deposit
• Mohonk Preserve membership for duration of position.
• Access to lands and some activities of Mohonk Mountain House resort

Eligibility for certain benefits is dependent upon a variety of factors including employment status.

This job announcement is not intended to represent a complete, comprehensive list of all duties and responsibilities that may be required in this position.  There may be unplanned activities and other duties assigned.

Mohonk Preserve is a smoke-free campus.

How to Apply:

Applications accepted via e-mail only. Please submit as a single PDF: cover letter, resume, and names and contact information for 3 professional references by 5PM EST March 1st, 2024 to: research@mohonkpreserve.org

Include “Ecological Field Technician” in email subject line.

The anticipated start date of this position is April 8-15th, 2024; start date somewhat flexible.

No phone calls please

Additional Information:

More information about Mohonk Preserve can be found at https://www.mohonkpreserve.org/

Ecological.Field.Tech.Position.Announcement_2024.pdf