Jed Wright Fellow

The Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF) is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization, that works to restore and protect wild Atlantic salmon and their ecosystems. ASF is headquartered in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada, where most accounting, corporate administration, and membership activities take place. The U.S. office is in Brunswick, Maine and has a staff of 6 in office.
Visit www.asf.ca for more about the organization.

JED WRIGHT FELLOWSHIP FOR RIVER HEALTH
Jed Wright worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Maine as the project leader for the Gulf of Maine Coastal Program. Jed cared deeply about rivers, fisheries, and partnerships and finding solutions that made the world a better place. Through the Jed Wright Fellowship for River Health, we can instill Jed’s conservation ethic in future generations while providing a pathway for a cohort of future graduates from underrepresented backgrounds to learn firsthand about conservation work help Maine’s rivers and communities.

2026 Fellowship Position Overview:

The Jed Wright 2026 Fellow will work closely with Atlantic Salmon Federation staff and other conservation partners including The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to gain on-the-job experience and expand skills directly applicable to river and aquatic restoration in Maine through direct participation in fish passage projects.

Job tasks will include construction oversight and reporting; conducting site surveys and monitoring; site data entry and quality control, photo file management, operating total station survey equipment; attending meetings with partners; restoration site visits; fish surveys; outreach and education to the public, etc. This position will require travel, which may include overnights, and possible work in remote locations.

This is preferably a 15-week full-time seasonal position beginning mid-May; however, we have some flexibility on start and end dates. The position will be approximately 40 hours per week, paid position plus mileage and communication technology reimbursement.

Essential Functions:

• Represents the Atlantic Salmon Federation at on-the-ground restoration projects including technical fishways, culvert replacements, large wood additions, and dam removals working with towns, engineers, construction contractors, and other natural resource agencies and conservation organizations.
• Assists with construction oversight including progress documentation, meetings, and observing the progress and quality of the construction.
• Assists with in-stream habitat surveys and electrofishing efforts.
• Assists with field data collection at road crossing sites or other fish passage restoration sites using standard field survey techniques including the use of a total station.
• Assists with project design reviews.
• Assists with drafting and writing project status reports.
• Compiles and writes articles and information for internal and external media coverage on projects and other relevant topics.
• Community event assistance and outreach; potentially World Fish Migration Day (May 25, 2024) depending on start date.
• Navigates around Maine watersheds.
• Acts as a positive ambassador for Atlantic Salmon Federation, and other partners working with towns, rural communities, large private landowners and other natural resource agencies and conservation organizations.
• Delivers a written summary and oral presentation reflecting on individual Fellowship experience at the end of the season.

Desired Qualifications:

• Keen desire to expand skills and experience in the engineering and/or environmental field.
• Current student enrolled in a vocational, college, or graduate program, in a science or engineering field.
• Experience and/or course work in habitat restoration, structural engineering, fluvial geomorphology.
• Experience using technology (i.e. tablets, GPS) to record data.
• Ability to read, interpret, and navigate in remote locations using road and topographic maps, aerial photos, and other sources of mapped information.
• Ability to perform demanding physical work outdoors, sometimes under adverse conditions.
• Must hold a valid U.S. driver’s license with clean driving record. Passport recommended.
• Demonstrated attention to detail and thoroughness.
• Experience working independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent communication skills (in-person, phone, email). Actively listens to others, fosters open exchange of issues, and is timely with information.
• Experience using common software applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Adobe software.