On campus summer job opportunity with ENV!

What the work involves:

Primary responsibilities will be conducting field work. All training will be provided, but technicians must be comfortable working outside in all conditions (including heat and bugs).

Overview of responsibilities:

• mechanically removing invasive plants
• identifying and tagging trees
• care for nursery plants in the native plant nursery
• monitoring for Spotted Lanternfly and conduct control strategies
• Secondary responsibilities involve data entry, map making, and public outreach and engagement (leading tours, organizing community volunteer days).

Skills required:

Some level of plant identification skills (or willingness to learn), attention to detail in data collection and management, ability to work independently and in a team, top communication skills, willingness to work outside.

Who should apply:

Preference will be given to students who have taken ENV classes but all majors are welcome to apply. If you plan on graduating in May, you are still eligible for this job, but please include that information in your cover letter.

Salary:

$20 per hour, for a total of 400 hours (total of $8000 stipend before taxes). Please be advised that the first paycheck will likely take 4 weeks after the start of work to arrive.

Days off:

The crew will not work on the following holidays: Memorial Day (Monday May 25). Days off due to illness or personal needs/vacations can definitely be scheduled but will not be paid. Please include any planned vacations or time you cannot work in the summer in your cover letter.

Work hours:

Work hours will generally be between 8am and 4pm Monday – Friday, but some weekend times might be necessary, depending on community outreach events and watering schedules. In a heat wave, we will move these hours earlier to be out of the field by the heat of the afternoon (starting at 6 or 7am on those days).

Time period:

Work will take place between Monday May 18 and Friday July 31, 2026. We might have to cancel work on bad weather days (thunderstorms or extreme heat) but will make up the hours other times so that you get your full stipend by the end of the summer.

Housing:

Housing will be available on campus as part of a four person apartment in Alumni Village.

Possibility for extension:

Housing ends in early August, but we will still have plants that we need to care for. If you live locally and would be able to help on a part-time basis in August, please include that information in your cover letter.

Cover letter due Sunday April 5, 2026:

Please write a cover letter, sent via email to Allyson.jackson@purchase.edu that addresses the following:

• Major and graduation date
• The reason why you are interested in this work
• What skills you have that make you qualified for this job.
• Information about whether you have completed General Ecology, GIS, and Biostatistics at Purchase College and what grades you received in those classes. (these are not required for the position but can be really helpful)
• Whether you would need housing in Alumni Village.
• If you will be a returning student in the fall semester (does not impact eligibility, just needed to know for accounting purposes).
• Any other information you think is important, including if you could extend into August part-time and if you have any vacations or dates you cannot work in the summer.

Interviews:

Interviews will take place during the week of April 6 on campus. If selected for an interview, you will get an email to set up your interview time after you submit your cover letter.