Bird Projects Assistant

Bird Projects Assistant - Atlantic Canada

Bird Studies Canada (Atlantic Region) is seeking applicants for the position of Bird Projects Assistant. This position is being staffed as a 6-month internship starting in October 2009 with Bird Studies Canada - Atlantic Region in Sackville, NB. The Projects Assistant reports to the Atlantic Canada Program Manager and works with other BSC Atlantic staff as assigned.

The Assistant's primary responsibilities will be to assist with three BSC projects in Atlantic Canada. These are:

- Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas: assist with volunteer management and communications
- Maritimes Nocturnal Owl Survey: assist with owl surveys in the field in March 2009
- Important Bird Areas (IBA): assist with the development and implementation of an IBA Caretaker Network in Nova Scotia

The Assistant may be required to make presentations to naturalist clubs and other relevant groups, design a newsletter, write articles for various publications, enter/proof/verify data, develop web content, create maps using GIS, and various other tasks as assigned.

The position is based at the BSC Atlantic Region Office, co-located with the Canadian Wildlife Service in Sackville, New Brunswick, and may require travel within the three Maritime provinces.

Applicants should hold a B.Sc. or M.Sc. in biology or a related field, and have relevant work experience. The position requires strong communications skills (written and oral); computer skills (familiarity with website design, as well as MS Office including Word, Access, Excel and Power Point, and Arc GIS products); and familiarity with birds and the Maritime birding community. Assets include prior field experience in ornithology, analytical skills, and the ability to communicate effectively in both English and French. A valid driver's licence is required. As this position is being filled under the federal Science Horizons Youth Internship Program, candidates must be 30 years of age or under, a recent graduate from a recognized post-secondary academic institution in one of the environmental or related disciplines, legally able to work in Canada, and can not have participated in Science Horizons or other federal government Youth Employment Strategy programs in the past. Further details on the Science Horizon program and eligibility are available online at http://www.ec.gc.ca/sci_hor/

Salary is $2400/month plus legal benefits (EI, CPP and vacation pay).

Closing Date: Friday, September 25 2009

Please send a cover letter, resume, and names, email addresses and phone numbers for three references to:

Becky Whittam
Bird Studies Canada - Atlantic Region
P.O. Box 6227
Sackville, NB E4L 1G6
Fax 506-364-5062
bwhittam@birdscanada.org

E-mail applications (MS Word, PDF, or text files) are preferred.

While Bird Studies Canada thanks all those who apply, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.