Coastal Research Technician

Job title: Coastal Research Technician

Reports to: Leah Rudderham – Research Operations Manager, TransCoastal Adaptations Centre for Nature Based Solutions, Saint Mary’s University

Job location: Saint Mary’s University, 923 Robie St, Halifax, NS

Wage: $18.50 / hour

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

Start Date: Expected May 11, 2026

Number of Positions: 1

Employment Hiring 

Clean is committed to Employment Equity and our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative at all job levels. The Clean Leadership Program welcomes applications from qualified self-identifying First Nations, Métis and Inuit people, Racialized Youth, Persons with Disabilities, Newcomers, and 2SLGBTQIA+ applicants. If you are a member of one of the equity groups, you are encouraged 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 

TransCoastal Adaptations Centre for Nature-Based Solutions (TCA) is located at Saint Mary’s University, in Halifax Nova Scotia. Our mission is to help build climate resilient coastal communities and ecosystems by protecting, enhancing, and restoring natural processes through innovative research and collaboration; implementing nature-based adaptation and natural infrastructure solutions.  We are a transdisciplinary team and work to understand the ecological, political, and social elements of coastlines and how to successfully restore these unique landscapes.

Summary of position  

The host employer for this Summer Internship position through the Clean Leadership program will be Saint Mary’s University. In this position, you will be mainly responsible for assisting with various field work and laboratory work such as sediment sample processing within TCA’s In_CoaST lab. This includes following sampling and monitoring protocols, aiding with the installation of scientific equipment in tidal systems, and supporting various data collections in coastal environments. A typical day may involve traveling to Mahone Bay to assist with the installation of wave loggers along a shoreline, hiking through muddy tidal flats or wetlands to collect sediment or vegetation samples, writing field reports, testing new lab and field methods, organizing sediment samples, and using lab equipment to measure concentrations of suspended sediment. The successful candidate needs to have an appreciation for ecosystem restoration, an eagerness to work outside in a variety of conditions, good organizational skills and be detailed-oriented.

Duties and Responsibilities  

• Following protocols to conduct a variety of coastal fieldwork (collection of samples, vegetation surveys, using GNSS survey equipment, planting marsh vegetation);
• Acting as a research assistant for staff and student researchers who need support with data collection, organization and analysis;
• Assisting with the Nature-Based Solutions for Coastal Resilience Conference at SMU from June 21st- 25th;
• Aiding with deployments of hydrodynamic equipment;
• Writing field reports, uploading and organizing field and lab data;
• Assisting with lab operation, including processing of sediment and water samples;
• Help maintain a safe and organized working space;
• Attending and participating in weekly team meetings and presentations;
• Contribute to communication efforts (e.g. developing a social media post, presenting to staff and students at a monthly lab meeting, writing a newsletter piece)
• Other duties as needed.

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 providing/responding to feedback;
• Demonstrated interest in future employment in the environmental or clean work sector is considered an asset;
• Student in Geography, Environmental Science/Studies/Management, Marine Management, or other related field;
• Occasional flexibility to work outside normal office hours, including evenings and weekends, this will include occasional overnight stays and a week-long field trip.
• Proven ability to problem solve and to take initiative to complete tasks;
• Ability to troubleshoot unexpected problems and develop innovative solutions;
• Capable of thinking analytically;
• Knowledge of terrestrial/marine environment, vegetation and wildlife characteristics of Nova Scotia’s coastal habitats is considered an asset;
• Experience using a variety of computer applications such as Microsoft Office and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is considered an asset.

Working Conditions 

Work will occur in a laboratory environment and outdoors in a variety of conditions, which could include cold or hot temperatures, rain, wind, and other inclement weather, very muddy environments, and intertidal zones. In the laboratory the intern must adhere to dress code of close toed shoes, long pants, and will occasionally be required to wear a lab coat and other PPE. Safety training will be provided for field work in muddy environments.

Physical Requirements 

Must be able to undertake strenuous activities, work long hours in the field, navigate difficult terrain, must be comfortable working in/near mud and water, and must be able to carry ~50lbs.