Seasonal Agroecology Technician

Who We Are: 

Founded in 1891 by a group of visionary volunteers, The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) is Massachusetts’ premier conservation and preservation organization. The Trustees’ preserves, for public use and enjoyment, properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value in Massachusetts. Our properties are open to all, and we thrive by involving as many people as possible in all that we do. We aim to protect special places for future generations to enjoy in perpetuity, and have helped protect more than 50,000 acres, including 27,000+ acres on more than 120 reservations that are open to the public. As a non-profit conservation organization, we are funded and supported entirely by our visitors, supporters, volunteers, and our 100,000 Member households. We encourage you to learn more about The Trustees on our website, www.thetrustees.org. 

Posting Information: 

Salary/Hourly Rate: $18.50 

Hours per week: 30 – 40 

Job Classification: Seasonal, non-exempt 

Job Type: Onsite 

Duration: May 5 – August 25 

Location: Appleton Farms, Powisset Farm, and Chestnut Hill Farm 

What You’ll Do:

Your Impact: 

Our Agroecology Initiative is a foundational body of work within The Trustees’ agricultural strategy and the overall organizational centering of climate resilience. The initiative transforms our agricultural purpose and leverages our farmland to boldly ask questions about emerging climate smart and agroecological practices. Our agroecology work bridges sustainable production and habitat management, seeking to reduce tradeoffs and maximize productivity and ecosystem function. Managed grasslands provide critical habitat for various native species, including threatened grassland nesting birds. As the Agroecology Technician, you will primarily support the important effort at our largest farm, Appleton Farms, in Ipswich, MA, which has supported some of the largest populations of grassland nesting birds in eastern Massachusetts. 

The Role: 

The Trustees seeks an Agroecology Technician for the summer season to assist with implementation and data collection for a series of field-based experiments including grazing impacts on grassland nesting birds, native willows for water quality, and multifunctional perennial hedgerows in field crops. Implementation work represents a substantial component of this role, you will carry out maintenance protocols within these projects, including planting, mulching, weeding, and string trimming. There will also be opportunities to participate in restoration work, vegetation surveys including invasive plants, and grassland bird monitoring across Appleton, Powisset and Chestnut Hill Farms.    

Specifically, you’ll: 

• Support ongoing project implementation: planting, weeding, watering, pruning, etc.   

• Participate in property-wide ‘baseline standards’ data collection. This will include regular monitoring of ecological and agricultural concerns potentially to include soils, forages, vegetation, birds and insects.   

• Carefully record and enter data into existing systems.   

• Survey for and map invasive species populations in pastures and hayfields across Appleton Farms   

• Participate in invasive control efforts in collaboration with Agriculture and Inland Ecology colleagues   

This is a limited term, non-exempt position [(add hours/week)] reporting directly to the Agroecologist.   

Requirements

What You’ll Need: 

Skills and Experience: 

• Comfort working in and around livestock (cattle)   

• Professional or amateur experience with birding   

• Coursework in botany, ecology, environmental science, or related field   

• Ability to work independently and to collaborate with other staff and volunteers   

• Applicants must provide their own transportation to job sites (mileage reimbursement will be available).   

Preferred: 

• Working with livestock or other agricultural experience  

• At least 3 months of previous field experience   

• Experience performing vegetation surveys   

• Strong botanical skills and the ability to identify Massachusetts plant species   

• Ability to identify Northeast invasive plants   

• GIS mapping    

Eligibility Criteria: 

• The ability to work outdoors daily, and at times, under rigorous conditions   

• The ability to perform