Position Title: Ecological Technician
Reports to: Conservation Director
Location: London, Ontario and various nature reserves
Hours of work: 30 hours per week, typically Monday to Thursday with occasional Friday, evening, and weekend work
Term: Contract position for 8 - 16 weeks (depending on funding)
Compensation: $18.20/hour
Start Date: April 28th, 2025 (negotiable)
About Thames Talbot Land Trust:
Thames Talbot Land Trust (TTLT) protects and restores nature within Elgin, Middlesex, Oxford, and Perth counties and the City of London, in the current and traditional territories of Indigenous Peoples including Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabeg, Lenaapeewak, Chonnonton, and Wendat Peoples. We recognize that these lands have been cared for and remain under the care of Indigenous Peoples from time immemorial. We aim to work in the spirit and practice of reconciliation, and we are honoured to take part in sustaining and nurturing nature in this region.
With a focus on healthy habitats for wildlife, our work also contributes to human well-being and helps address climate change. TTLT safeguards land through purchase, donation or by special agreements, and cares for the land and water through conservation and restoration initiatives. Since 2000, TTLT has protected more than 2300 acres of land across 28 sites and counting, including wetlands, forests, meadows, agricultural lands and the homes of more than 70 species at risk. TTLT also hosts events and programs aimed at nurturing people’s connection to nature to inspire wonder, promote well-being, and increase support for these protected areas. We are committed to equity and diversity and aim to ensure that people from all walks of life are welcome, safe, included, and valued in all aspects of our work and programming.
Working with TTLT means flexible working hours, an office located where you can enjoy nature on your breaks and a close-knit team of passionate people to work with. We are committed to equity and diversity and aim to ensure that people from all walks of life are welcome, safe, included, and valued in all aspects of their volunteering experience.
Position Summary:
The main role of the Ecological Technician will be to assist with conservation and ecosystem restoration at our nature reserves. This is an opportunity to build your skills and experience in topics such as invasive species management and species-at-risk conservation. Ecological Technicians primarily work outside in nature and must be comfortable working off-trail in any weather conditions.
Key Responsibilities:
• Removing non-native plant species from nature reserves (methods include hand pulling, cutting using hand tools and pesticide application under proper supervision);
• Assisting with inventory and surveys of natural features including plants and animals, as well as data entry;
• Assisting with species-at-risk inventory, monitoring, and conservation;
• Creating and maintaining hiking trails;
• Some property maintenance tasks such as installing signage, repairing fences, etc.;
• Assisting with public events including volunteer workdays, high school field trips, guided hikes, and other local events;
• Assisting with the preparation of nature reserve management plans, species at risk action plans, and other similar documents;
• Assisting in the preparation of educational materials such as trail guides, pamphlets, signs, and webpages.
Experience, Abilities & Skills:
Must have:
• A love of nature and the outdoors and a passion for the environment;
• Previous experience and enthusiasm for working outdoors, off trail, in all weather and conditions (e.g. rain, heat, mosquitoes);
• At least a basic understanding of ecology and conservation biology;
• Ability to identify at least some of the following: plants (including invasive plants), birds, reptiles and amphibians present in southwestern Ontario;
• Excellent planning, organization, attention to detail, and time management skills;
• Good communication and teamwork skills to develop and maintain good working relationships with staff and volunteers;
• Imagination, forethought and sense of humour dealing with unexpected situations and complex stewardship requirements.
Assets
• Previous experience working with environmental conservation projects;
• Ontario Exterminator License;
• A valid Ontario driver’s license and access to a vehicle;
• The ability to occasionally use your own laptop for this position;
• First Aid training.
Eligibility:
Participants must:
• be between 15 and 30 years of age at the beginning of the employment period;
• be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the employment; and have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations;
• Or, seeking a co-op placement opportunity as part of post-secondary requirements.
Please note this position, including the start date and duration of employment, is dependent upon funding.
We are committed to a selection process and work environment that is inclusive and barrier-free. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals, including applicants from all cultures and backgrounds, racialized communities, diverse sexual and gender identities, and physical or mental abilities. As well, accommodation will be provided in all parts of the hiring process. We request that applicants please communicate specific needs to facilitate planning.
How to apply:
• Please submit your application through the submission link here by March 9th, 2025: https://airtable.com/appoBqAn6tayFxuDz/pagf7hyxJTJohLWPL/form
• Applications will be assessed according to the experiences, skills, and abilities listed above. Your application can be in any format that you feel best demonstrates how you meet these criteria.
We would like to thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.