Species at Risk Intern

Located at the head of Lake Ontario and within the municipalities of Burlington and Hamilton, Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) is the largest botanical garden in Canada and one of the nation’s earliest nature sanctuaries. Comprising some 2700 acres of protected wetlands, botanical collections, parkland and display gardens, and within easy access of millions of nature-starved urban citizens, RBG dedicates its expertise in horticulture, conservation, science and education to connect people, plants and place for the purpose of nurturing and preserving healthy growing life on our planet. RBG directs its efforts, and seeks the support of individuals and organizations, to realize its vision of a world in which everyone is awake to the beauty, diversity and necessity of plants, and from that consciousness more actively works together to protect and preserve plant species and habitats and, by extension, our planet.

The position is responsible for assisting the Species at Risk Biologist with implementing SAR monitoring and restoration programs. The position will involve activities in the wetlands, forests, and meadows of Royal Botanical Gardens’ nature reserves. These activities include management of special protection habitats, removal of nonnative species, site restoration plantings, inventory of rare flora and fauna, radio-telemetry tracking of turtles, data summaries and reporting, and public outreach.

Positions:1

Duration:8 months with possible extension

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Assist in monitoring selected Species at Risk populations (plants, turtles, and birds), tree health, and forest understory flora
• Assist in plant community assessments and protection projects for selected Species at Risk
• Assist in various non-native species control programs within the forests and wetlands, including site-specific plant community restoration projects
• Assist with managing and analyzing data collected to produce reports, and summarize that information within our Geographic Information System (GIS)
• Potentially carry-out an independent project in support of the supervisor’s goals
• Undertake a presentation to others regarding a topic related to the internship
• Assist in the development of reports, fact sheets, webpage material and/or other communications for both scientific and lay audiences
• Adheres to all safety policies and procedures, and wears all required personal protective equipment

Qualifications

The individual should have these minimum qualifications and skills:

• Post-secondary degree in the environmental field and some related work experience
• Flora and fauna identification skills, specifically with differentiating between native and non-native species
• Knowledge of pertinent federal and provincial Species at Risk-related legislation
• Familiar with ecosystem restoration tools and techniques including situations that may involve use of pesticides
• Familiar with various ecosystem monitoring protocols
• Knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Word
• Basic statistical analysis ability
• Ability to do heavy physical labour and the flexibility to respond to an unpredictable schedule
• Experience handling wildlife an asset
• Experience with volunteering in conservation groups is an asset
• Applicant must maintain current certification with Standard First Aid and CPR

Working Conditions:

• This position requires working a minimum 35 hour workweek; days can be unpredictable, including early mornings, late evenings and weekends as required, as selected projects are influenced by species’ behaviour and weather conditions.
• Both indoor and outdoor work in most weather conditions and environments, which at times includes heavy physical labour

Eligibility:

In order to be eligible for the position the applicant must meet the following criteria:

• 30 years of age or less at the start of the position
• Legally entitled to work in Canada; this includes Permanent Residents and persons granted refugee status in Canada
• This position is anticipated to begin in early April, and is pending budget approval

RBG is committed to becoming an environmentally sustainable organization. This is an integral part of our corporate culture and we require all our employees to assist us with this goal. Employees need to be committed to making the best ecological decisions possible in the execution of their responsibilities, keeping in mind the possible effects decisions may have on both the human and natural environments now and into the future.

Closing Date: February 7, 2022

Please submit applications with a cover letter and resume saved as one pdf file using the naming convention of your first then last name and position title (e.g. Jane Smith Job Title.pdf).

RBG is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fair and accessible employment practices. Upon request, suitable accommodations are available under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.