Seasonal Maple Sugaring Assistant

Overview

Now in its second century, Audubon is dedicated to protecting birds and other wildlife and the habitat that supports them. Audubon’s mission is engaging people in bird conservation on a hemispheric scale through science, policy, education and on-the-ground conservation action.  By mobilizing and aligning its network of Chapters, Centers, State and Important Bird Area programs in the four major migratory flyways in the Americas, the organization will bring the full power of Audubon to bear on protecting common and threatened bird species and the critical habitat they need to survive.  And as part of BirdLife International, Audubon will join people in over 100 in-country organizations all working to protect a network of Important Bird Areas around the world, leveraging the impact of actions they take at a local level.  What defines Audubon’s unique value is a powerful grassroots network of approximately 450 local chapters, 120 campus chapters, 17 state and regional offices, 34 Audubon Centers, Important Bird Area Programs in 50 states, and 700 staff across the country. 

The National Audubon Society is a federal contractor and an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. We are committed to a policy of nondiscrimination, inclusion and equal opportunity and actively seek a diverse pool of candidates in this search.

The National Audubon Society endeavors to make https://careers-audubon.icims.com/ accessible to any and all users.  If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Accommodations@audubon.org. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

Position Summary

To assist the Sugar Maker in all aspects of the maple sugaring operation and to support the Audubon Center staff in the preparation and implementation of community-wide Sugar on Snow Parties. Specifically, responsible for prepping equipment and preparing the supplies to tap the sugarbush, setting up and cleaning the sugarhouse, gathering sap throughout the season, stocking the sugarhouse with wood as needed and cleaning all sugaring supplies and equipment in the sugarhouse and taking the taps out of the trees at the end of the season.

Essential Functions

• Stack all sugaring firewood. This position is responsible for the stacking of the large sugarhouse woodpile if there is wood to be stacked at the beginning of the season.  The sugarhouse must be fully stocked with wood on a regular basis for the sugar maker throughout the sugaring season.
• Prepare Equipment and Tap Sugarbush. The sugaring assistant is responsible for preparing taps, buckets and other equipment needed to tap the sugarbush. The assistant responsible for tracking how many trees are tapped and for monitoring the condition of the taps and buckets as well as the productivity of the trees.
• Assist with the tapping of the sugarbush. The sugaring assistant is responsible for helping to tap the sugarbush on tapping day. He/she may be responsible for leading a group of volunteers on tapping day and giving clear instructions on how to tap a maple tree.
• Prepare Sugarhouse for Maple Syrup Production.  Includes scrubbing and cleaning the pans, stacking firewood, wiping down counters, setting up the evaporator with the Sugar Maker and maintaining a tidy and presentable appearance inside the sugarhouse.
• Gathering Sap. This work includes gathering sap from all of the trees in the sugarbush each time the sap runs. The Sugar Maker will call the sugaring assistant to let them know when the sap will need to be gathered. We tap close to 600 trees. The work is physical in nature and can take up to a full day if there are not any volunteers to help gather. The sugaring assistant must be willing and able to drive a tractor in order to gather the sap. The gathering may happen on any day of the week, and may need to be gathered several days in a row. The work is weather dependent.
• End of Season Cleaning.  This work includes the pulling of taps and buckets from the trees, washing, drying and neatly stacking the buckets in the sugarhouse and then scrubbing the pans and flipping them up-side down for safe storage for the year.   Smoke stack must also be taken in and opening in roof covered. All sugaring tools must be cleaned and the sugarhouse must be left in a clean, safe and presentable fashion. Much of this work is done with volunteers or a second assistant.
• Work with Volunteers. The sugaring assistant may work with volunteers on a regular basis during the sugaring season.  If the sap runs during a Sugar on Snow Party, the sugaring assistant may be asked to gather with the public throughout the event.
• Tractor Care and Maintenance – This includes regularly checking the diesel, oil and other fluid levels in the tractor.  If there is a problem with the tractor, it must be reported immediately to the Center Director.

Qualifications and Experience

• Maple sugaring experience preferred.
• Holds a valid driver’s license.
• Must have a flexible schedule and be able to work beginning mid-February through late-April.
• Must have experience driving a tractor with a trailer attached.
• Willingness to work outdoors in all types of weather; including rain, sleet, snow etc.
• Must possess the necessary motivational and physical skills to work doing hard labor for several hours at a time.
• Self-motivated, detailed-oriented with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Must be knowledgeable about, and committed to, the Audubon mission and the conservation of birds, other wildlife and their habitats.

EEO Statement

The National Audubon Society is a federal contractor and an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. We are committed to a policy of nondiscrimination, inclusion and equal opportunity and actively seek a diverse pool of candidates in this search.

Accessibility Statement

The National Audubon Society endeavors to keep our careers site accessible to any and all users.  If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Accommodations@audubon.org. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

COVID Policy

All staff must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no later than January 31, 2022, unless they are approved by Human Resources for a qualified exemption. Those unvaccinated after January 31st will be required to follow a weekly testing protocol.

All unvaccinated staff are required to wear masks or other approved facial coverings while working indoors at all times or outdoors when social distancing cannot be maintained. Further, effective December 13th, any unvaccinated staff person entering an Audubon building must submit a negative Covid-19 test that has been taken within 72 hours. 

This policy is effective through February 27th and may be changed due to changes in the law and/or changes to Audubon policies such as the Return to Work/Hybrid Work policy.