Current Employment Opportunities

Region: British Columbia, Victoria
Position Title: British Columbia Lead Stewardship Monitoring Technician Intern
Number of Positions: 1

View PDF of this Job Description

The Shell Conservation Internship Program is a partnership initiative between the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) and Shell Canada Limited to provide university/college students with practical experience in the conservation field. Launched in 2002, the Shell Conservation Internship Program will, in 2012, engage students from across Canada in stewardship and management work on NCC properties, and in other career-related activities that advance the work of NCC. This partnership builds on the successful history of Shell Canada and NCC working together over the past 29 years to conserve many of our country’s most important natural places.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada protects critical natural areas of ecological importance in British Columbia. NCC BC is responsible for the stewardship of over 182,500 acres of habitat, including 23 conservation covenants. Interns play an integral role in stewarding these properties by assisting BC staff with stewardship activities; particularly ecological and compliance monitoring of conservation covenants.

Covenants (also known as conservation easements) are use restrictions that landowners place on their properties through agreements with NCC, and are legally binding on present and future owners. For covenants to work effectively, annual monitoring of the covenant land is performed to ensure compliance with the agreement. The intern will undertake monitoring tasks throughout the Central Interior, Southern Interior, and Coastal British Columbia.  Extensive travel and independent fieldwork requires liaising with landowners, staff, volunteers and partner organizations.

This position is also a leadership position with enhanced responsibilities in coordinating the activities of all other BC Region interns during the term.

Specific Responsibilities

1. Conduct monitoring site visits for all NCC covenants in the Central Interior, Southern Interior, and South Coast of B.C.:
   • Participate in a week of training on covenant monitoring;
   • Review covenant project background materials including: Baseline Documentation Reports, management plans, restoration plans, communications files, previous monitoring reports and maps;
   • Conduct monitoring surveys and prepare monitoring reports in accordance with NCC’s protocols to ensure that covenanted properties are continuing in their natural states in accordance with the terms of the legal agreements between the landowners and NCC;
   • Correspond with landowners prior to and after monitoring site visits including follow-up of any covenant violations;
   • Undertake independent fieldwork, GPS mapping, photo monitoring and report preparation, as well as liaison with BC Region staff, landowners and other land trusts throughout the region.
   
   
2. Participate in the Shell Conservation Internship Program activities as directed by NCC staff:
• Prepare materials and participate in a conference for the Shell Conservation Internship Program;
• Submit photographs and stories as requested in a timely manner; and
• Prepare a final report discussing your experience as a Shell Conservation Intern.


3. Provide leadership and coordination to other interns working for the BC Region including:
   • Prepare start-up packages and various training resources;
   • Provide leadership, coordination and some administration services to Interns while working alongside them as team members on projects;
   • Serve as a communication link between the NCC BC staff, NCC National staff and Interns;
   • Organize project related administration work, including time & billing, expense claims and project reports with the support of the NCC BC Region staff;
   • Communicate NCC and SCIP policies and procedures to Interns as needed;
   • Facilitate and participate in regular meetings with Interns and the Director of Land Stewardship and other Regional Staff as required;
   • Encourage and empower Interns' personal and professional growth;
   • Promote a sense of team, collaboration and cohesion among Interns; and
   • Complete and submit all necessary SCIP and NCC reports in a timely manner.

Skills and Abilities

This posting is targeted to students possessing the following skills:

• Able to work independently, occasionally  in isolated situations;
• Demonstrate strong interpersonal, organization and communication skills;
• Experience with botany (plant identification), geomorphology (terrain analysis), hydrology, wildlife identification, cartography, air­photo interpretation, and surveying;
• Knowledge of plants, plant communities, ecological processes and associated biodiversity of BC’s biogeoclimatic zones;
• Familiarity with B.E.C. system, T.E.M. mapping, Describing Ecosystems in the Field, site interpretation, photopoint monitoring and GPS mapping;
• Strong computer skills associated with mapping and writing, database management, and report writing. Familiarity with Abode Creative Suite and GPS Trimble mapping is an asset;
• Backcountry travel skills;
• Valid Class 5 Driver’s Licence

Terms of Employment

• This is a full-time 24 week (April 16th – September 28th, 2012) position. Salary is $18/hour ($630/week).
• This position is based in Victoria, but requires the ability to travel throughout BC. Extended overnight stays are required frequently. The selected individual must be prepared to travel using his/her personal vehicle.  Travel expenses including mileage will be reimbursed.

Applications

Interested applicants should attach their cover letter and resume (as word documents) and e-mail them to:

Special Projects Director B.C. Region,
The Nature Conservancy of Canada
Reference position title: “Monitoring Tech Intern”
Closing date: February 24, 2012
Email: bcoffice@natureconservancy.ca

NCC is a non-profit, non-advocacy organization that takes a business-like approach to preserving Canada’s natural heritage. Our focus is on conservation through private action, and we have a strong track record of partnering with individuals, corporations, community groups, conservation groups and government bodies to create win-win solutions that benefit nature.