Watershed Conservation Assistant

The Watershed Conservation Assistant advances the mission of the Tennessee Aquarium by working with conservation scientists to protect and restore stream health. They assist  with the implementation of  the Regional  Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP): Ridges  to Rivers project, a project that provides southeast Tennessee’s farmers and landowners with financial and technical assistance to address resource concerns that impact aquatic animals and their habitats. This position also assists the Watershed Conservation Coordinator in creating a river protection ethic in our region to increase knowledge and awareness of life in southeastern rivers and streams by engaging citizen scientists, school groups, and community groups in experiential freshwater conservation science.

Key Responsibilities

• Effectively communicates with people of various backgrounds within the Ridges to Rivers RCPP Project Area regarding conservation practices that improve stream health for aquatic animals.
• Assists with public outreach and community engagement to increase participation in freshwater habitat conservation and restoration.
• Assists Research and Education Departments with River Teachers, a professional development workshop for local STEM educators.
• Interfaces  with conservation partners to maximize outreach and educational opportunities to farmers and landowners in the six-county RCPP area.
• Assists  Watershed Conservation Coordinator with expanding efforts for a water quality monitoring citizen science program.
• Interact s with other Conservation Institute science staff to support ongoing research projects in  the RCPP Project Area.
• Occasionally assists with the development of online and print media.

Key Requirements

• High  school diploma or GED.
• Undergraduate degree  in environmental science, biology or a related field preferred.
• Background knowledge in terrestrial and/or aquatic conservation is preferred.
• Social media experience is preferred.
• Good working knowledge of computers, frequent use of Excel and Word.
• Good written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work independently with little supervision, and as part of a team.
• Driver’s license required to operate Aquarium vehicles.

Seasonal, hourly ($15.00/hour); June – August, 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week. Includes holidays, weekends, and evenings as needed.