Restoration Intern
Chicago, IL 
Share
Posted 34 months ago
Position No Longer Available
Email Job 
Position No Longer Available
Email Job
Job/Internship Description
Overview Now in its second century, Audubon is dedicated to protecting birds and other wildlife and the habitat that supports them. Audubon's mission is engaging people in bird conservation on a hemispheric scale through science, policy, education and on-the-ground conservation action. By mobilizing and aligning its network of Chapters, Centers, State and Important Bird Area programs in the four major migratory flyways in the Americas, the organization will bring the full power of Audubon to bear on protecting common and threatened bird species and the critical habitat they need to survive. And as part of BirdLife International, Audubon will join people in over 100 in-country organizations all working to protect a network of Important Bird Areas around the world, leveraging the impact of actions they take at a local level. What defines Audubon's unique value is a powerful grassroots network of approximately 450 local chapters, 120 campus chapters, 17 state and regional offices, 34 Audubon Centers, Important Bird Area Programs in 50 states, and 700 staff across the country. The National Audubon Society is a federal contractor and an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. We are committed to a policy of nondiscrimination, inclusion and equal opportunity and actively seek a diverse pool of candidates in this search. The National Audubon Society endeavors to make https://careers-audubon.icims.com/ accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Accommodations@audubon.org. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications. Position Summary Restoration Interns play a critical role in the overseeing and restoration of Forest Preserves of Cook County (FPCC) and Chicago Park District (CPD) Natural Areas. Under the direction of Audubon's Stewardship Program Associate, Restoration Intern - Crew Chief and Restoration Intern - Assistant Crew Chief, Restoration Interns will help to restore ecological health and integrity of prairie, savanna, woodland, wetland, and hemimarsh habitats by removing invasive species at various preserves and natural areas in Cook County. This internship is an excellent opportunity to gain experience in natural areas administration and land stewardship, as well as contribute to the growing network of individuals and organizations in the Chicago area that possess a personal commitment to conservation. The commitment is a full-time, 40 hours per week, seasonal paid position that runs from June through October. The 40-hour workweek requires commitment to a Monday through Friday schedule with most workdays scheduled 7am-3pm. Interns must also be extremely flexible with scheduling as fieldwork is subject to change daily to hourly due to weather, work adjustments, and crew needs. They are also expected to be prepared to work occasional weekends throughout the season. Interns should have reliable transportation to and from work sites. Interns will report to the Stewardship Program Associate and preference will be given to those who commit to the full length of the program. The program is physically rigorous and challenging but offers interesting and educational experiences to an energetic and motivated individual. The positions are offered through Audubon's Wings Internship program in partnership with the FPCC and CPD. This program offers: * Paid position with competitive compensation. * Reimbursement of mileage to and from work sites. * Uniforms, work vests, and personal protective equipment (PPE) provided by Audubon. * Ecological certifications, licenses, conference, and field seminar experience. Essential Functions * Stewardship and land management responsibilities in ecological restoration. * Brush and weed management by using a wide variety of tools, including backpack herbicide sprayers, brushcutters, and hand tools. * Restoration techniques, including plant identification, planting native plugs, seed collection, processing and dispersal, and when applicable, controlled brush pile burns. * Ability to test for and obtain IL Herbicide Applicator License, and obtain certifications in Brushcutter, Brushpile Burns, Group Leadership, Managing Invasives, and other ecology-related field courses during the course of the internship. * Develop leadership and team-building skills while receiving professional job-skill training. * Learn effective collaboration by working alongside Audubon crews and staff, partner restoration staff, volunteers, and other conservation partners in the region. * Attend educational trainings and events to gain exposure to other conservation organizations and professionals for the purpose of future job placement. * Professional and appropriate interaction with members of the public and volunteers carrying out work and visiting the preserves and natural areas. COVID-19 Procedures * Conduct activities in compliance with any local, state, and federal orders. * Avoid person-to-person contact, such as shaking hands or hugging. * Adhere to social distancing protocols. * Drive to work sites separately (no carpooling). * Wear protective gear (e.g., masks, gloves). * All Audubon staff and volunteers are required to wear masks indoors. Outdoors, masks should be worn when you cannot appropriately social distance. * Clean equipment thoroughly after use. As much as possible, do not share equipment. If you must share, disinfect equipment before giving it to a colleague. Qualifications and Experience * Must be 18 years or older. * Strong interest in conservation and/or working outdoors. * Ability to work Monday-Friday, 40 hours per week, June -October. * Willingness to work an extremely flexible schedule that can change daily to hourly, including some weekends, as applicable. * Must have access to a car or other means of transportation to get to and from meet sites, designated worksites, and training locations. * Ability to work in inclement weather conditions, withstanding extreme temperatures, heavy mosquito presence, and difficult terrain. * Ability to work collaboratively as a member of a team. * Ability to perform repetitive tasks with attention to detail. * Ability to quickly study for and pass the Illinois Herbicide Applicator Exams. * Experience with, or ability to quickly learn, safe usage of basic maintenance tools including hand tools, brushcutters, and potentially chainsaws. * Ability to lift, carry and move heavy objects up to 50lbs for extended periods of time. * Ability to follow instructions and use independent judgment in decisions, as needed. * Recent graduate of an institution of higher learning OR previous experience in habitat restoration preferred, but not required.

 

Read More
Position No Longer Available
Position Summary
Company
National Audubon Society
Start Date
As soon as possible
Employment Type
Full Time
Period of Employment
Open
Type of Compensation
Paid
College Credits Earned
No
Tuition Assistance
No
Required Student Status
Open
Preferred Majors
Other
Email this Job to Yourself or a Friend
Indicates required fields