[PCA] JOB: Seed Collector for Gateway National Park/Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, 16 months (NYC area)

[Kwong, Olivia]

NATURAL AREAS CONSERVANCY (NAC)

Seed Collector for Gateway National Park/Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Greenbelt Native Plant Center

BACKGROUND

The Natural Areas Conservancy (NAC) is a new organization created to work
in partnership with the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation to restore,
protect, and manage a network of green and blue space that promotes a
healthy, livable, and diverse New York City. The NAC is tasked with
expanding and diversifying the protection, management, and restoration of
10,000 acres of forests, wetlands, and grasslands currently overseen by the
Parks Department’s Natural Resources Group.  This public/private
partnership will unify the identity of NYC’s natural areas, increase public
awareness and volunteerism, and integrate advanced technology.

The Greenbelt Native Plant Center is a 13 acre conservation nursery,
greenhouse, seed production and seed bank facility owned and operated by
the City of New York, Department of Parks.  In operation since 1998, the
GNPC maintains on average a stock of 0.5M plants, consisting of 400 or more
species native to New York City and the immediate region.  Its mission is
to provide plant material for land management and restoration that is
sourced from local plant populations in support of their conservation and
contributing to the long-term sustainability and biodiversity of the City’s
natural resources.

Main Functions:  The Seed Collector for Gateway National Park will function
as a field botanist responsible for the collection and seed banking of
native species in the coastal habitats throughout the combined National
Park Service (NPS) and NYC Parks (DPR) properties that constitute Jamaica
Bay (may be expanded to include the other units of Gateway in Staten
Island, NY and Sandy Hook, NJ).  All collections to be made using standard
protocols for conservation quality seed collections.  Conduct all
collection-related activities, supervise interns and volunteers on
collection trips, and process and accession all collections made during the
year at the Parks Department’s Greenbelt Native Plant Center (GNPC) seed
bank on Staten Island.

Duties:

   - Identify natural habitats within the property boundaries and complete
   a floristic survey of native plants to be collected throughout the year;
   priorities will be steered by NPS needs and projects
   - Gather any information about restored areas to inform collection
      activities.
      - Make seed collections throughout all seasons complete with data
      forms and herbarium specimens
      - Oversee and assist any interns or volunteers
   - Report directly to and maintain good communications with the
   Supervising Seed Collector at the Greenbelt Native Plant Center to ensure
   accepted national collection protocols to insure good genetic integrity are
   followed and priorities are on schedule
   - Keep detailed records to provide collection reports to both the NPS
   and NYC Parks


Working Conditions:

   - Flexible 40 hour work week
   - Field work will include exposure to elements, insects, and poisonous
   plants
   - Ability to work alone or supervise additional staff when available
   - Seed bank and processing center provided at the Greenbelt Native Plant
   Center in Staten Island, NY; work will shift seasonally between Jamaica Bay
   and the GNPC.

Employment Requirements:

   - BS in Botany, Ecology, Environmental Studies, or related field
   - Valid NYS driver’s license
   - Familiarity with the Mid-Atlantic flora or the ability to work with
   dichotomous keys
   - Field work experience including GPS use, habitat or plant community
   knowledge
   - Seed collection experience and working knowledge of national Seeds of
   Success collection protocols a plus
   - Organizational skills including recordkeeping and computer database use
   - Familiarity with mapping programs i.e. Google Earth, ArcGIS, etc.


Start Date:  Immediate
Employment Duration: 16 months
Salary $36,202- 42,092 annually

Interested applicants should email resumes and letters of interest to:
gnpcinfo at parks.nyc.gov or fax to: 718-370-0932; Attention: Edward Toth.
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