Current Open Positions

Join our team and do good work in a beautiful place.

Salt Marsh Field Technician

The Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve is seeking a qualified candidate to fill a full-time (40 hour/week) field technician position for 14 weeks during the 2026 field season. This position will support monitoring at salt marsh restoration sites in southern Maine.

Position Goals:
Collect and analyze environmental data to support ecological monitoring of tidal marsh restoration projects. This position will support performance monitoring for existing projects through field data collection, data management, analysis, and outreach. The salt marsh field technician will support a team of partner organizations working in southern Maine. The salt marsh field technician will gain skills in salt marsh assessment and restoration planning, building collaborative partnerships, and communicating the value of habitat restoration.

Sample tasks include:

• Assisting with installation of salt marsh monitoring infrastructure (e.g., vegetation plots, photo stations, water level and salinity wells).

• Collecting field data at a salt marsh restoration site

• Supporting topographic survey using RTK GNSS equipment.

• Data management and archiving

• Assisting with data QA/QC and creating metadata.

• Creating geospatial data and maps.

• Supporting field logistics and helping maintain equipment and supplies.

• Supporting project outreach through media and in-person events.

Required Qualifications:

• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.

• Ability to walk and stand for long periods of time across uneven, muddy ground.

• Willingness to work outside under adverse conditions, including heat, biting insects, and wet terrain.

• At least 2–3 years of completed undergraduate education in biology, environmental science, or related natural resource discipline.

• Ability to work independently and as part of a small team, including good communication and organizational skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Undergraduate degree in biology, environmental science, or related field.

• Familiarity with field data collection protocols and marsh monitoring techniques.

• Coursework or experience in salt marsh ecology, restoration, or hydrology.

• Training or experience with GIS, spatial data collection, and/or R scripting language.

Location: Based at the Wells Reserve in Wells, Maine, with fieldwork primarily in Wells and York, Maine.

Duration: 14 weeks, approximately June–September 2026 (start and end dates are flexible).

Compensation: $22.00/hour for 40 hours per week. Mileage reimbursed at $0.72/mile. Housing is available at the Alheim Commons residential facility located on the Wells Reserve campus at a discounted rate.

Application Process: Apply by April 13, 2026 with a cover letter, resume/CV, and two references, along with an unofficial college transcript. Send all materials in PDF format by email to jaman@wellsnerr.org.

Internships

Internships in coastal science, environmental learning, and conservation practice are available at the reserve. We often identify candidates through the Five College Consortium or NOAA's Hollings Scholar program, and we participate in the MCHT Richard G. Rockefeller Conservation Internship Program and the UMaine NRT program. Please contact the director of your program of interest for information.

Volunteering

For volunteer opportunities, please visit the Volunteering page.