Join the CWF Team

At Conserve Wildlife, it is our duty and our privilege to protect the rare and endangered species of New Jersey. We gather the best science, tried and true conservation techniques, innovative education activities, and an engaged corps of willing volunteers in pursuit of the right combination of activities that will preserve a species before it disappears from our state.

Please browse the accordions below to look at careers, seasonal positions, office and internships. We are currently hiring seasonal field based positions, including: 2025 American Oystercatcher Monitoring Technician, 2025 New Jersey Osprey Project Field Technician, + LBIF Summer Field Technician. Check back for more seasonal positions to be posted in the coming weeks.

CWF Careers, Seasonal Positions + Internships

2025 Seasonal Positions

American Oystercatcher Monitoring Technician (posted 2/27/25)

Location: Cape May and Cumberland Counties, New Jersey
Job Category: Seasonal Position
Salary: ~$16/hour, dependent on experience
Start Date: Around April 1, 2025
End Date: Around August 15, 2025

Description
Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey is seeking one seasonal field technician to assist with CWF’s ecological projects in the Delaware Bay region of New Jersey (primarily Cape May and Cumberland counties). The majority of fieldwork will support the Delaware Bay American Oystercatcher Project. The position may also include occasional wetland monitoring responsibilities to support marsh restoration projects in the area.

American oystercatcher monitoring duties:

• Conduct biological monitoring of approximately 19 breeding American oystercatcher pairs on bayshore beaches of the Delaware Bay
• Assist with bay-wide census survey of 36 sites in May
• Track nest/chick success by determining pair territory, locating nests, and performing regular nest/brood checks from the egg laying stage to fledge
• Band re-sighting and assistance with oystercatcher banding efforts
• Monitor nest predation through the use of trail cameras
• Data collection and management
• Additional tasks: Installation of symbolic fencing, vegetation and habitat assessments, some public outreach

Details: Position is near full-time (28-35 hours/week, dependent on monitoring needs) and runs from mid April through mid August. Start and end dates are somewhat flexible. Some weekend work may be required. Communal housing in Cape May Point may be provided. Applicants must provide their own transportation; travel will be reimbursed at the current standard rate at the time. Data collection requires regular use of personal smartphone devices and binocular optics in the field. Position requires regular use of kayaks in calm creeks and some more open bay waters, so being comfortable on the water is a must.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, wildlife ecology or related field preferred
• Experience working in the field with shorebirds preferred
• Excellent observational skills and attention to detail
• Meticulous data collection skills
• Must be willing to work long hours outside under physically demanding conditions (hot, humid, biting insects, mud)
• Ability to walk extensively on soft substrates (sand beaches and marsh mud)
• Ability to kayak for extended periods (1-3 miles a day)
• Ability to lift and carry heavy equipment of 50 pounds or more
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision. Initial training will be provided.

Please submit a letter of interest, resume/CV, and three references to Emmy Casper no later than March 15, 2025.

Contact:
Emmy Casper, Wildlife Biologist
emmy.casper@conservewildlifenj.org

2025 NJ Osprey Project Summer Field Technician (posted 2/11/25)

The role of this seasonal field technician with the New Jersey Osprey Project will be to assist the project leader. Their day to day tasks will vary depending on the time of the osprey nesting season. In spring, they will help with the repair or replacement of nest platforms. This can be as simple as carrying equipment and tools or as hard as helping to physically lift a 300 lb. wood osprey platform. During the nesting season the field tech. will assist with osprey surveys by boat and help navigate to locations, carry ladders, and record data. They will be trained on how to properly handle and band young ospreys. They will also be assigned to survey nests by land, using their personal vehicle to drive to nest sites and use optics to record sightings at nests. If there are emergency calls for entangled birds or problematic nests, the field tech. may have to help respond to these situations. Lastly, they will help enter data and summarize results for annual reporting.

To apply, send your letter of interest, resume and three references to Ben Wurst by March 14, 2025. For more information: 2025 CWF – NJ Osprey Project – Summer Seasonal Field Tech

LBIF Summer Field Technician (posted 2/25/2025)

Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ (CWF) is partnering with the Long Beach Island Foundation of Arts & Sciences (LBIF) to strengthen science based activities at their property in Loveladies, Ocean County, New Jersey. To help accomplish our shared goals, an intern will work at LBIF to help complete objectives and activities related to our shared goals.

The goal of our partnership with LBIF is to help strengthen and support science based initiatives with emphasis on rare wildlife, including nesting surveys, habitat management, and outreach. Activities to be carried out by the summer field technician include migratory and nesting bird surveys, northern diamondback terrapin monitoring, and wildlife habitat enhancement. In addition, the technician will assist with LBIF summer camp programs to educate youth about local wildlife conservation initiatives, including Discovery Days and Barnegat Bay Day.

Avian surveys will include both migratory songbirds and/or nesting birds, including ospreys, wading birds and songbirds. In mid-May, field observations of breeding congregations of terrapins in bay will be documented. Then in late May-early July, nesting female terrapins that are encountered on upland habitat will be captured by hand, measured, tagged and released where found. If they successfully nested, then their nests will be protected with metal cages. Some nests may be located to a nearby nesting site for protection from predators. Technician will assist with construction of additional cages if needed.

In addition, summer technician will help manage an existing Nature Trail and habitat on site by using hand/power tools to control invasive species. Tech will also help maintain an annual wildflower garden by removing cool season grass, planting wildflowers and supporting their growth through supplemental watering, etc. Lastly, summer tech. will participate in monitoring of osprey nests and banding of young on LBI and surrounding area, when opportunities arise.

This position is paid and will begin in mid-May (date TBD) and end on July 31. Work day will last for a max of 7 hours a day or 35 hours a week. Weekends may be required to work for special events/outreach. Pay: $15/hour. Mileage and expense reimbursement possible.

Qualifications:

• Knowledge of New Jersey wildlife, especially avian species and experience working in the environmental field preferred.
• Ability to work independently and as a team.
• Great organizational, communication and record-keeping skills.
• Environmental education and outreach experience, especially with children preferred.
• Must be highly tolerant of prolonged sun exposure and biting insects.
• Ability to work long hours in hot outdoor conditions.
• All applicants must have a valid driver’s license, a good driving record, and the ability to adjust to varying schedules throughout the field season.
• Requires use of a personal vehicle for work (mileage reimbursable).
• Knowledge of GPS and data entry and use of cloud based programs like: Google Calendar, Google Drive and Google Sheets.

To apply, send your letter of interest, resume and three references to Ben Wurst by March 30, 2025

Great Bay Terrapin Project Student Research Internship (posted 2/27/25)

This is a seasonal volunteer internship located in southern Ocean County. Interns will be reimbursed for mileage or a fixed stipend for the summer. We are seeking 2-3 student interns for the 2025 field season.

Intern(s) will work with CWF biologist and seasonal staff and conduct hourly surveys on Great Bay Blvd. in Little Egg Harbor from mid-May to late July. Intern(s) will use their own vehicle to conduct fieldwork and collect morphometric data on adult terrapins encountered in roadways. They will also work with volunteers to schedule patrols and manage roads that are patrolled. The main goals of the project are to reduce road mortality rates, raise awareness of terrapins, and to educate the public about terrapins. Interns will also help enter and analyze data for annual reporting.

In addition, interns will conduct head count surveys of terrapins and may help monitor a large habitat enhancement area for nesting by terrapins. Nests are marked and covered with cages. Adults will be captured to be measured and marked before being released where captured. Site is located within main project area of GBB WMA in Little Egg Harbor.

To learn more, view this document: 2025 Great Bay Terrapin Internship.

To apply, send your letter of interest, resume and three references to Ben Wurst by March 30, 2025.