Coastal Waterbird Program Assistant Field Coordinator

About Mass Audubon

Mass Audubon is the largest nature-based conservation organization in New England. Founded in 1896 by two women who fought for the protection of birds, Mass Audubon carries on their legacy by focusing on the greatest challenges facing the environment today: the loss of biodiversity, inequitable access to nature, and climate change. With the help of our 160,000 members and supporters, we protect wildlife, conserve and restore resilient land, advocate for impactful environmental policies, offer nationally recognized education programs for adults and children, and provide endless opportunities to experience the outdoors at our wildlife sanctuaries.

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About This Position
Mass Audubon is seeking to fill a seasonal Assistant Field Coordinator position to conduct research, monitoring, management, and protection of coastal birds and other natural resources, and to train and supervise staff and volunteers in these activities. This will be a largely field-based position with 4-5 days of fieldwork per week with 1-2 days of office support, depending on regional field support needs.

Work will be primarily conducted on Cape Cod, with occasional travel to other coastal regions throughout the state (North Shore, Boston, South Shore, Buzzards Bay, and Islands) to assist field crews in those locations. This position reports to the Coastal Waterbird Program Field Coordinator and Program Manager. Housing options may be available depending on location and availability. For more information, visit (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

Application Instructions
Please submit a resume, cover letter, and three references with your ADP application. In addition, please ensure that you answer the questions at the start of the ADP application form to assist the hiring team in determining prospective work locations and housing needs based on location. Your application will not be processed without completion and receipt of the items above. Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Interviews will begin in January and positions will be filled by February 13, 2026.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and support Coastal Waterbird Program field crews and volunteers to meet research, wildlife management and education objectives of the program
• Train and supervise field crews and volunteers in collection and management of biological data on nesting, foraging and migrating species of coastal waterbirds; accomplish the wildlife management objectives of the Coastal Waterbird Program including protocols for predator and vegetation management; train and supervise staff to accomplish education objectives, including landowners and managers, community groups, and the public
• Provide additional field and monitoring support in different regions as needed on a flexible basis
• Play a key role in regional contracted projects such as beach renourishment monitoring, beach raking operations, and other state approved coastal zone improvement projects
• Accomplish the wildlife management and education objectives of the Coastal Waterbird Program
• Establish and cultivate relationships with public and private landowners, and with beach managers on regional beaches; educate beach goers about coastal wildlife protection daily
• May lead formal educational sessions with CWP staff and the public
• Lead daily informal educational interactions with beach goers
• Assist in the management of databases including abundance, productivity, and behavioral data; create GIS/Google Earth maps of coastal resources
• Compile data for state plover, tern, and oyster catcher census forms and write summary reports for specific sites on results and management activities
• Supervise and conduct research on special projects as directed

Qualifications
At Mass Audubon, our highest priority is finding the best candidate for the job. Research has shown that people of color and women are less likely to apply for jobs if they don't believe they meet every one of the qualifications described in a job description. We encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of our described qualifications or have a less traditional background.

We are looking for applicants with the following qualifications:

Must Haves

• At least 21 years of age
• B.S. or B.A. or higher in wildlife biology/management, ecology, zoology, environmental science, or related field, or equivalent experience, as well as 6 to 12 months of previous supervisory experience
• 6 to 12 months of prior experience with piping plover/tern/avian field monitoring, data collection and management required
• Demonstrated experience utilizing judgment in field-based wildlife research and management projects
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Excellent communication skills both verbally and in writing
• Kayaking experience and comfort training staff on kayaking techniques and safety.
• Must be able to work long hours outside in all weather conditions
• Must be able to lift and carry up to…