Ecology Field Technicians

Start and End Dates : May 26th, 2026 to October 30th, 2026

Reports to: Science Engagement Coordinator, with additional supervision from Schoodic Institute science staff

Compensation: These temporary positions offer an hourly rate of $18.50, based on a 40-hour work week.  In addition to the hourly wages, housing is provided on the Schoodic Institute campus in the Schoodic District of Acadia National Park. Partial benefits include Paid Time Off (PTO) and access to professional development opportunities.

Application Deadline: January 23rd, 2026

Job description: This opportunity is designed for early-career professionals entering the workforce who wish to work across multiple ecosystems, interact with volunteers, and apply diverse field skills to data collection and management. Through these roles, technicians will develop group management skills, learn safety practices, and gain experience in science communication.

Ecology Field Technicians will engage in various projects focused on intertidal research, biodiversity monitoring, and citizen-science research and monitoring (and the overlap of them). Technicians will be responsible for recording field data, collecting and processing samples, and doing so both together and while safely leading volunteer groups in the field. Technicians will primarily work together with opportunities to collaborate with other early-career staff, as well as with Schoodic Institute and National Park Service staff.

The technicians can expect to work a highly flexible schedule that varies with weather, projects, and roles. See the breakdown below to understand how technicians’ time is spent. Note that the list is not exhaustive, and additional projects or tasks may be added as needed, depending on the funding we receive.

• 40% of the time is spent facilitating week-long Earthwatch groups of teen and adult citizen science volunteers. This includes the five weeks of on-site volunteer groups and additional time spent on maintenance and development of the field projects they participate in. Technicians will spend time leading volunteer groups in data collection efforts on mountain summits, coastal forests, the rocky intertidal, and around campus.
• 30% of the time is spent on intertidal-based research projects, during which technicians are expected to work around low tides to collect data in the soft-sediment and rocky intertidal zones. This can involve traveling along the coast of Maine to various sites for day trips and overnight stays.
• 30% of the time is dedicated to a variety of other tasks, including general training, professional development, creating science communication content, preparing an Acadia Science Symposium poster, attending events as representatives of Schoodic Institute, and assisting peers with other projects as needed.

Daily and weekly schedules will vary based on project needs. Workdays could last up to 16 hours, you might start at dawn or work split shifts during low tides for intertidal work.  Longer days will be balanced by shorter workdays within the same week. Some weekend work is expected.  

Responsibilities:

• Field assignments to include:
• Following established, standardized field procedures
• Collecting data about plant and intertidal organism diversity, abundance, and behavior
• Use citizen science data-collection mobile applications (iNaturalist, eBird, etc.).
• Establish plots by siting locations with a GPS navigation system
• Train and lead groups of all ages in safe and scientifically rigorous field data collection,
• Communicate Schoodic Institute’s science through online content and public presentations,
• Follow safety and field operations policy and procedures,
• Work alongside peers with minimal supervision in the field,
• Operate and maintain field equipment,
• Work in a variety of conditions (e.g., weather, terrain, diverse–potentially buggy–habitats),
• Carry, move, and lift supplies (pack weighing up to 40 lbs.) to field sites (through, over, and in slippery, rocky, muddy, and uneven terrain),
• Applicants must possess a valid driver’s license and be willing to operate Schoodic Institute field vehicles (including a 15-passenger van) to complete work assignments,
• Other duties for Schoodic Institute may be assigned.

Preferred Education, Experience, Knowledge, and Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in an applicable field of science with a graduation date within the past 3 years,
• Experience conducting ecology-related lab or field work, especially with those who have worked in rocky and mudflat intertidal zones at low tide,
• Experience hiking and navigating (with maps, compass, and/or GPS),
• Experience with field sampling or monitoring activities,
• Experience working with volunteers on field sampling, monitoring activities, or observation hikes,
• Comfort or a willingness to participate in camping overnight for work travel,
• Ability to communicate effectively with the general public in formal and informal settings.

Qualified applicants should be enthusiastic about working in challenging outdoor conditions, be eager to learn on the go, thrive in small teams, and be able to collect and record data rigorously and efficiently. Applicants should come prepared to take the initiative in organizing and preparing for field projects, as well as effectively planning their time each week.

Location:

The Field Technician’s primary work location is in Winter Harbor, Maine on the Schoodic Peninsula. Field work will occur throughout Acadia National Park and surrounding locations within a 1-3 hour drive. At times camping may be required to complete field work off the Schoodic Peninsula.

Residence is required and provided on the Schoodic Institute campus. Our standard arrangement is to place all staff in single-occupancy bedrooms within shared apartments. Our preference and intention are to maintain single occupancy. In extremely rare, unforeseen circumstances or emergencies, a temporary, short-term need for double-occupancy (in two-bed bedrooms) may be required.

About Schoodic Institute: 

Established in 2004, Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and Acadia National Park’s primary partner in science and education. Based at the largest of 17 National Park Service Research Learning Centers in Winter Harbor, Maine, in Wabanaki homeland, Schoodic Institute’s focus is understanding environmental change taking place in Acadia and beyond, and helping managers of parks, other protected areas, and natural resources respond and adapt to change while engaging people of all ages in science.  Schoodic Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.