Vegetation Monitoring Member - Cape Cod National Seashore

EPIC • Wellfleet, MA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service, is seeking ONE Vegetation Monitoring Member to contribute to ecosystem monitoring projects alongside Cape Cod National Seashore staff. For more information about ACE, please visit our website. Start Date: June 7, 2026 Estimated End Date: August 29, 2026 (or, 12 weeks after start date) There is some flexibility in these start/end dates if necessary to accommodate the selected candidate a 12-week minimum commitment is required Location Details/Description: The Cape Cod National Seashore is located in Wellfleet, MA. The intern's office location is at the North Atlantic Coastal Laboratory in Truro, MA. Cape Cod is a large peninsula extending 60 miles into the Atlantic Ocean from the coast of Massachusetts. Located on the outer portion of the Cape, Cape Cod National Seashore's 44,600 acres encompass a rich mosaic of marine, estuarine, fresh water, and terrestrial ecosystems. These systems and their associated habitats reflect the Cape's glacial origin, dynamic natural processes, and at least 9,000 years of human activity. Geomorphic shoreline change, ground water fluctuations, tidal dynamics including rising sea level, and atmospheric deposition are among the many physical processes that continue to shape the Seashore's ecosystems. Marine and estuarine systems include beaches, sand spits, tidal flats, salt marshes, and soft-bottom benthos. Freshwater ecosystems include kettle ponds, vernal pools, sphagnum bogs, and swamps. Terrestrial systems include pitch pine and scrub oak forests, heathlands, dunes, and sandplain grasslands. Many of these habitats are globally uncommon and the species that occupy them are correspondingly rare. For more information regarding the Cape Cod National Seashore, please visit the parks website. Position Overview: The Vegetation Monitoring Member will work under the general supervision of CACO's plant ecologist, but they will work with a couple of other interns and a volunteer to conduct this work. They will follow instructions and standardized procedures for collecting and managing field data and ensure a high level of quality control of the data collected. The data collection will include, but may not be limited to, vegetation and soil sampling in a variety of salt marsh (and some freshwater wetland) habitats. The technician will also participate in routine natural resource management activities ongoing at the Seashore. This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups. Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm

Requirements

• Members must be authorized to work in the United States. ACE does not provide sponsorship for employment visas.
• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request). Members must be 21+ to drive due to ACE's insurance and liability requirements.
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required criminal history checks
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning of term feedback forms, end of term evaluations and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation.
• Member may not participate in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement.

Nice To Haves

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a minimum of a bachelor's degree and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as ecology, botany, biology, natural resources management, environmental science, or related disciplines.
• Ability to conduct field surveys under demanding weather in rough terrain.
• Ability to use field guides for plant ID.
• Knowledge of the natural history and scientific processes of the Northeastern United States; for example: ecology of marine ecosystems, dune and barrier beach ecosystems, coastal geologic processes, freshwater ecosystems, marine biology.
• Bilingual applicants are encouraged and welcome.

Responsibilities

• Follow instructions and standardized procedures for collecting and managing field data
• Ensure a high level of quality control of the data collected
• Vegetation and soil sampling in a variety of salt marsh (and some freshwater wetland) habitats
• Participate in routine natural resource management activities ongoing at the Seashore

Benefits

• Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $450/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.
• This position is part of the Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement must meet the PLC Eligibility Requirements to be considered for this position. Members may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service and 640 hours of service. If the duration of a PLC-eligible term is not long enough for Members to accrue 640 hours of service (~16 weeks), the total hours served at the completion of the term may be eligible to be combined with hours accrued from another PLC-eligible term to meet the 640 hours requirement. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age ( You must be between the ages of 16 and 30. Some agencies also interpret these guidelines to include veterans up to age 35) and citizenship.
• Housing: ACE members will be accommodated in provided park housing at no cost for the duration of the term. Due to the rural location of the park, the selected member must have access to a personal vehicle for activities (like grocery shopping) outside of work duties.
• Reimbursable Relocation Allowance: ACE members will have access to up to (NTE) a taxed reimbursable relocation allowance of $150 total ($75 at the beginning and $75 at the end) to be used for eligible expenses.
• Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern