The Garry Oak Ecosystem Recovery Team (GOERT) is a non-profit organization based in Victoria, British Columbia, consisting of various government and non-government agency representatives who collaborate to protect and restore Garry Oak and associated ecosystems and the species at risk that inhabit them (see http://www.goert.ca for more information). We currently have an opening for an intern GIS/Technical Assistant for a minimum six month period.
Skills and experience required:
- Proficiency using Microsoft Office, including Outlook Excel and Access.
- Ability to extract data from GPS units to GIS software.
- Demonstrated ability/skill using ArcView or ArcGIS.
- Biology or resource management background or education.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including preparing written reports.
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
- Understanding of Garry oak ecosystems and plant taxonomy preferred.
To be eligible for this position, internship candidates must:
- Be under the age of 30.
- Have graduated from a post-secondary institution (i.e. College, University, Technical School).
- Be Canadian citizen or landed immigrant.
- Be unemployed or underemployed (i.e. work outside their field of study, work under contract, or work part-time).
- Be eligible for full-time employment (i.e. not returning to school) .
*Aboriginal candidates are encouraged to apply.
Tasks and responsibilities:
In general, to support the numerous projects undertaken by GOERT including conservation planning, biological surveys, outreach, and information management activities. Major tasks will include: data collection (field work), compilation, database design/maintenance, analysis and map production for different projects. The GIS/Technical Assistant will work with several of GOERT staff, and will participate in the following projects:
- Retrieve and compile Garry oak habitat and species at risk data currently available from various sources (CRD, CDC, municipal planners, SEI, etc.).
- Accompany GOERT staff and/or contractors on field surveys and attend meetings as needed, for the purpose of taking notes and/or securing GPS data identifying the locations of species at risk in Garry oak habitats. Assist in organizing such surveys/meetings as needed.
- Organize and file all gathered data from field surveys/meetings; Develop and maintain a database to document pertinent Garry oak site and species at risk information from the above sources, in cooperation with GOERT staff and associated Recovery Implementation Groups (RIGs).
- Gather and/or develop necessary GIS-map layers (including necessary base layers) to show Garry oak habitat and SAR locations in target municipalities, based on formats and standards as directed by RIG Coordinator.
- Assist GOERT staff to improve the existing database on species at risk and Garry oak sites within the Canadian distribution of Garry oak distribution. Help collect information from the CDC, CRD, land trusts, conservancies, and others as needed, and produce digital location map layers for SAR and Garry oak sites.
- Assist with development and maintenance of databases for web publication, including a bibliographic database and one for native plant propagation information.
- Assist with program reporting as needed, by gathering required data/information and by writing short reports or report sections for required interim or final reports.
Additional tasks may include:
- Assist with/provide support for the on-going Landowner Contact program for Species at Risk (SAR), including tracking contact information and entering the information into a database.
- Assist in the maintenance and updating of digital database files, digitizing sites, and undertaking ground truth/spot checks to update Garry Oak site information.
- Assist with Outreach initiatives such as updating the Outreach database and the development and distribution of new outreach materials as needed.
- Assist selected working groups such as Conservation Planning; Inventory, Mapping and Plant Communities; and Restoration and Management, etc. in their projects, if and when needed
- Distribute materials to GOERT members, stakeholders and others as directed.
- Perform other miscellaneous duties of a minor nature as directed by the Program Coordinator.
Start date and salary: The anticipated start date for the position is June 12, 2008. Gross salary starts at $17 per hour, with a 37.5 hour workweek.
Individuals who meet the minimum requirements should send a resume and cover letter to Deanna Mathewson via email at deanna.mathewson@goert.ca no later than June 1, 2008.