Coastal & Marine Junior Field Technician   

Job title: Coastal & Marine Junior Field Technician   

Reports to: Zora McGinnis Coastal & Marine Project Coordinator and/or August MacLean Litter Programs Coordinator Coastal Action  

Job location: Office Work – 45 School Street Mahone Bay, NS and Field work varying between Sambro and Yarmouth.

Wage: $18.00 / hour

Hours: 35 hours per week (15-week internship)

Start Date: Expected May 20, 2025 

Number of Positions: 1

Equity Hiring:   

Clean is committed to Employment Equity. Our goal is to be inclusive of a diverse workforce that is reflected at all job levels. The Clean Leadership Program welcomes candidates from diverse equity groups to apply and encourage you to self-identify on our registration form.  

About the Clean Leadership Summer Internship Program 

The Clean Leadership Summer Internship program helps grow the clean economy by matching interns (age 15-30) with employers for 9- and 15-week summer work placements. Participating interns will receive paid hands-on experience, mentorship opportunities, take part in a professional development conference and training, while supporting local environmental projects. 

Program Requirements 

• Must be a Canadian citizen, Permanent Resident, person who has been granted refugee status in Canada or legally entitled to work in Canada;  

• Must be between the ages of 15 and 30 years old (inclusive) at the start of internship; 

• From and/or will be residing in Nova Scotia for the duration of the internship; 

• Must not be an immediate family member of host employer; 

About the host employer 

Coastal Action is a charitable environmental organization based in Mahone Bay, NS. Since its inception in 1993, Coastal Action’s mandate has been to promote the restoration, enhancement, and conservation of our environment through research, education, action, and community engagement. Coastal Action’s work includes five main program areas: Coastal & Marine, Watersheds & Water Quality, Climate Change, Environmental Education, and Species at Risk & Biodiversity.

Over the past 30 years, Coastal Action has successfully managed a wide variety of environmental projects including river restoration and habitat surveys on the Mushamush, Gold, LaHave, and Petite River systems; water quality monitoring in multiple watersheds; species at risk research projects addressing the Roseate tern, Atlantic whitefish, Atlantic salmon, and American eel; invasive species research, coastal wetland monitoring, climate change adaptation through living shorelines, pollution prevention, ghost gear retrieval, microplastics research, clean boating, and stormwater management initiatives as well as environmental education programs.

Coastal Action is comprised of around 30 professional and dedicated staff and highly qualified personnel. Our team is diverse and includes expertise in natural resources, environmental assessment, biology, chemistry, watershed management, fish and wildlife management, habitat restoration, environmental education and project management.

Summary of position  

The host employer for this Summer Internship position through the Clean Leadership program will be Coastal Action. In this position, you will be working closely with the Coastal & Marine Team and the Litter Programs Coordinator and mainly responsible for supporting cleanups on island shorelines and occasionally highways, assisting with data collection and database entry, materials sorting, and recycling initiatives to divert end-of-life waste. You will also assist with litter programming through promotional events, social media campaigns, learning sessions, and strategic planning.

In addition, your responsibilities may also include aquatic invasive species monitoring at marinas and participating in relevant outreach and engagement activities.

The teams at Coastal Action work collaboratively and opportunities may be available to support additional projects within the organizations.

The successful candidate needs to have strong organizational and time management skills, be self-motivated, able to problem solve, and capable of working both independently and collaboratively. They must demonstrate attention to detail, particularly in data collection and entry, and have a commitment to safe work practices. Flexibility is essential, including the ability to adapt to a changing schedule, flexible to be away for field work throughout the summer, and travel throughout Southwestern Nova Scotia. The candidate must be able to perform tasks in various weather conditions and environments including on boats. We highly value a positive attitude and eagerness to learn.

Duties and Responsibilities  

Supporting cleanups (Ghost Gear and highway), sorting and disposal 

• Participate in island shoreline ghost gear retrieval operations, including lifting/dragging lobster traps, entangled rope snarls, marine buoys and other marine related waste.

• Assist with highway cleanups, including retrieving general waste and reporting illegal dumping.

• Organize and prepare gear and filed plans for remote cleanup operations.

• Assist with material sorting and categorization for recycling or disposal, emphasizing waste diversion.

Fieldwork Safety 

• Follow and uphold marine safety protocols during all fieldwork

• Attend safety briefings and training as required.

• Perform physical tasks safely, such as lifting heavy gear and navigating rugged terrain.

• Work outdoors in diverse weather conditions

• Travel to multiple field locations throughout Southwestern Nova Scotia.

Data Collection and Administrative support 

• Record detailed field observations, including cleanup locations, material types, and conditions.

• Enter data into official and internal reporting systems, adhering to established protocols.

• Assist with project file organization, data collection/analysis and visualization.

• Support administrative tasks such as vehicle and accommodation bookings

Community Engagement, and Outreach  

• Represent Coastal Action at outreach events or educational activities as required.

• Support public engagement initiatives and promote environmental stewardship, including preparation for events or workshops related to cleanups and marine/environmental conservation.

• Engage with litter programs strategic planning in collaboration with Solid Waste Regions, NS Public Works, NS Environment & Climate Change, and key community stakeholders.

• Assist in volunteer appreciation initiatives including competitions

• Prepare social media content to raise awareness about project work and environmental stewardship.

Team Collaboration 

• Work closely with the Coastal & Marine and Environmental Education team to achieve project goals.

• Provide support for other Coastal Action projects.

• Adapt to shifting priorities and contribute to team success.

 Requirements/Qualifications 

• Have an aptitude for safe work practices and the ability to multi-task in a busy work environment;

• Be able to work productively as part of a team while responding to feedback;

• Demonstrated interest in future employment in the environmental or clean sector is considered an asset;

• Prior experience in fieldwork or a demonstrated ability to work effectively in outdoor environments is preferred.

• Ability to lift and carry equipment or materials up to 25kg alone or heavier with help repeatedly throughout the day.

• Flexibility to work irregular hours and weekends when required for the position.

• Proficiency with data entry, and use of Microsoft office programs.

• A valid driver’s license, access to a vehicle

• Standard First Aid + CPR Level A certification are required prior to fieldwork commencement.

• Experience driving and towing a trailer is preferred.

Working Conditions
If the job requires a person to work under any special working conditions this should be stated here (e.g. working with the public or working outdoors in a variety of weather conditions)

• Working outdoors in varying weather conditions and on varying terrain types, sand/boulders/gravel

• Working in remote locations usually without running water and sometimes with limited reception

• Working away from home for a day up to a week, in shared accommodation with other staff

• Ability to be on a boat for transportation to islands for clean-ups (up to 1.5hr duration)

• Engaging with the public at marinas during surveys, outreach events and workshops

Physical Requirements
If the job is physically demanding, this should be stated here

The fieldwork component of the job is physically demanding, and interns need to have the ability to;

• Repeatedly lift/carry/drag heavy (25 kg) objects.

• Ability to traverse varying terrain types

• Ability to be on a boat for transportation to island locations