Herbert J. Esther and M. Atkinson Conservation Internship
Lovejoy Conservation Internship

Native Plant Trust is the nation’s first plant conservation organization and the only one solely focused on New England’s native plants. We save native plants in the wild, grow them for gardens and restorations, and educate others on their value and use. We are based at Garden in the Woods, a renowned native plant botanic garden that attracts visitors from all over the world. From this flagship property in Framingham, Massachusetts, 25 staff and many of our 1,500 trained volunteers work throughout New England each year to monitor and protect rare and endangered plants, collect and preserve seeds to ensure biological diversity, manage sites for ecological balance, conduct research, and offer a range of educational programs. Native Plant Trust also operates a nursery at Nasami Farm in western Massachusetts and manages six sanctuaries in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont that are open to the public. Native Plant Trust is among the first organizations worldwide to receive Advanced Conservation Practitioner accreditation by London-based Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), which included an endorsement by an International Advisory Council representing six continents. Please visit www.NativePlantTrust.org.

Two of Native Plant Trust’s core initiatives – the New England Plant Conservation Program (NEPCoP) and the Plant Conservation Volunteer (PCV) program – engage professional and community volunteers in rare species monitoring, habitat management, reintroduction and augmentation projects, and long-term conservation planning. We work closely with Natural Heritage programs and with conservation organizations in all six New England states.

Description
Native Plant Trust is offering two 25-week internships for the 2022 field season. The two conservation internships offer a range of learning opportunities in areas that are integral to NEPCoP and the PCV program, from coordinating with landowners and volunteers to conducting botanical surveys and processing data. Interns will work with conservation staff to create a personal education plan, have the opportunity to take Native Plant Trust’s educational programs and courses at no cost, and participate in seminars and an informal reading and discussion group in the conservation department.

In addition, all interns complete an independent project on a topic of interest in botany, ecology, and/or conservation. Depending on COVID-19 restrictions, interns based in New England will also have the option of participating in botanically-interesting field trips and seasonal contract work, which may include the planning and implementation of habitat restoration and management activities, invasive species initiatives, and seed collection.

Desired Skills
Candidates should be passionate about plant conservation, have some familiarity with the flora of New England and associated ecological systems, excellent speaking and writing skills, a willingness to call landowners to secure access to their property, and a sense of humor. Experience with volunteers and data management is preferred. Interns must respect and maintain the confidentiality of rare species locations and sensitive data.

Details
Starting date: April 4, 2022, but can be flexible.

Location: Based at Garden in the Woods in Framingham, MA (pending state of COVID-19 pandemic) with remote option available. Both in-person and remote options will have the potential for field trips and site visits.

Hours and Compensation: 40 hours/week at $14.25/hour. Depending on the state of the COVID-19 pandemic, conservation interns will have the option of renting a room for the duration of the internship, in a newly renovated house steps away from the Garden, for $300/month. This includes all utilities except internet and phone. Anyone interested in in-person employment will need to show proof of full vaccination, including boosters, and must follow all COVID-19 safety precautions while on site.

Native Plant Trust is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.

To Apply
Submit cover letter, resume, and list of three references by February 6, 2022, by email to:
Micah Jasny
Botanical Coordinator
mjasny@NativePlantTrust.org