Rita Barron Fellowship, Charles River Watershed Association – Massachusetts

Organization: Charles River Watershed Association

Position Title: Rita Barron Fellowship

Location: Weston, Massachusetts

Dates and compensation: The Fellowship is a one-year, full-time position, and provides a stipend of $30,000 plus benefits for the work period. The Fellowship runs from June 1, 2015 to June 15, 2016.

Application Deadline: March 3, 2015

Description: The Rita Barron Fellowship is named in honor of the Charles River Watershed Association’s (CRWA) second Executive Director, who worked for fifteen years as a pioneering leader in river and watershed protection. The Fellowship provides an opportunity for a qualified candidate to work in an exciting and dynamic organization under the direction of some of the country’s leading water resources scientists. The Fellow will work closely with the science and advocacy staff of CRWA on a variety of ongoing projects and programs. Tasks are likely to include some or all of the following: working with and training volunteers; supervising and mentoring interns; conducting field work; maintaining field equipment; managing and analyzing data; performing desktop geographic analyses, producing maps and graphic presentation materials; researching, writing and editing scientific reports and grants; advocacy work; and public presentations to various audiences.

The Fellowship, now in its tenth year, provides a recent graduate an opportunity to work in a dynamic non-profit organization. This position is intended for a well trained individual entering the field of watershed science and management; individuals with significant experience in this field will not be considered for the position. The position will provide the right candidate with valuable real-world experience in water resources management, significant on the job-training and skill building, and opportunities to work with a variety of other environmental agencies and organizations.

Qualifications: The successful candidate will:

• Have a documented interest in the environment.
• Have a Master’s degree in one of the following areas: environmental science, water resources, hydrology, biology, chemistry, civil/environmental engineering, or a related field.
• Be highly proficient in ArcGIS.
• Have experience working as a volunteer or with volunteers; volunteer management experience is a plus.
• Be able to perform physical tasks in the field under all weather conditions, including lifting at least thirty pounds without difficulty.
• Be able to work periodic early mornings, evenings and weekends and have flexibility to be on-call for water quality sampling during wet weather events.
• Be available to legally work in the U.S.
• Have a valid driver’s license and regular access to a car.

 Candidates must be self-motivated and demonstrate an ability to work well with others as well as on their own with minimal supervision. Strong computer, public speaking, research and writing skills are all highly desired, fluency in Spanish is a plus. Experience with environmental field work, particularly water quality monitoring and/or benthic macroinvertebrate sampling, invasive species management and data analysis, either paid or volunteer, is a plus. Database management, statistical analysis experience, web coding and programming, or direct experience with Massachusetts environmental policies and regulations are all also a plus. Candidates will be interviewed and selected based on criteria such as prior experience, recommendations, academic performance, communication skills, and technical skills.

How to Apply: Interested candidates should send a cover letter and a resume by email no later than March 3, 2015 to Julie Wood, Director of Projects.