Contract Position

Conservation Assistant Job Description

Title: Conservation Assistant
Organization: Georgian Bay Land Trust  
Location: Southeastern Georgian Bay and remote (Port Severn to Pointe au Baril)

Reports To: Conservation Director
Duration: approximately 9 months (35 - 40 hours/week)

Overview:

The Georgian Bay Land Trust (GBLT) Conservation Assistant is additional staff support for the various research projects GBLT engages in as well as additional conservation tasks. GBLT has several ongoing research projects, including research on Eastern Whip-poor-will, Prairie Warbler, and coastal wetlands. This position would assist GBLT staff in pre-field planning of the research projects that will be undertaken during the year, as well as assisting with the actual work completed on the ground. In addition, it would be responsible for preparing standard operating protocols for various conservation work and assist the Conservation Director with additional conservation work. Responsibilities would include:

• Assist in the development of protocols for all research projects, working directly with other staff to ensure protocols effectively cover key priorities
• Liaise with partners to ensure all materials and supplies are acquired prior to field season
• Ensure all permits and permissions are acquired
• Field work supporting the various research projects
• Summarize research for annual research report
• Create SOPs for various conservation work, including research
• Assist Conservation Director as necessary with additional conservation work

These positions will require knowledge of the Georgian Bay environment and will include training regarding the inventory work and survey protocols. It will require technical expertise, attention to detail, and the ability to work in small teams in remote locations.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Research

• Develop animal handling documentation for submission
• Review and update existing protocols
• Create preliminary schedule for research with Conservation Director
• Organize existing data
• Update data collection forms for each research project
• Liaise with collaborators and partners

2. Other Conservation activities

• Write Standard Operating Procedures for conservation activities
• Assist with field monitoring of GBLT properties when time permits, including data collection, breeding bird surveys, reptile monitoring, etc.
• Provide support for other research projects when time permits, including Bog Copper natural history studies, insect biomass studies, etc.
• Visit GBLT properties, including conservation easements, to track and record potential disturbance or impacts
• Assist other conservation staff as necessary, including conservation planning, property documentation, and attending meetings/conferences

Skills & Aptitudes:

• Interest in the conservation of eastern Georgian Bay
• Familiar with environmental science and natural heritage
• Interest in and comfort around wildlife
• Experience, interest and/or abilities in field inventories, vegetation community classification, and field identification of birds and vascular plants
• Interest in outdoor recreation and familiarity with reading maps and working with GPS
• Familiarity with the ecosystem of Georgian Bay, as well as species assemblages
• Able to work well in small groups to accomplish specific goals and tasks quickly and efficiently
• Must be prepared to work flexible hours, including some weekends
• Must be comfortable with daily boat travel, both canoe and motorboat, in a variety of weather
• A boater’s license and boating experience in Georgian Bay is beneficial
• Must be available to be in southern Georgian Bay from late May to early September and willing to stay at a field site for a significant portion of that time
• Be familiar with and share the mission and objectives of the Georgian Bay Land Trust

Anticipated start date: Monday March 16, 2026
Anticipated end date: Friday January 1, 2027

Salary: $25/hr

Boat gas and expenses will be covered.

We thank all applicants, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Please forward your resume and cover letter in confidence by FEBRUARY 8, 2026 to: hiring@gblt.org

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