Box Turtle Field Technician (Hampden County)
Job Description
Job DescriptionSalary: $20
Essential Job Functions
The seasonal Box Turtle Field Technicianassistswith targeted inventory, research, and management programs to conserve the regionally rare eastern boxturtle (Terrapene c.carolina,Endangeredin NH and Special Concern in MA) andassistswith outreach to landowners and volunteers.Field TechniciansassistZNE Field Biologists and other staff with ZNEs local rare species conservation projects. The Box Turtle Field Technician will specificallyassistwith Eastern box turtle surveys in Hampden County, Massachusetts including visual surveys, radiotracking, and nest surveys. The Box Turtle Field Technician may also be asked toparticipatein surveys for other speciesof conservation concernin the area ofthe box turtle field sites,possibly includingeastern hognose snakes, eastern whip-poor-wills, and Blandings turtles. The technician will also keep careful notes, regularly input field data into online databases, andassistwith data analysis and map generation.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Conducts standardized biological surveys of animals and plants for ZNEs field conservation management and research projects
- Collectsaccurateand complete data andassistsother Field Conservation Department staff withinitialreporting and analysis
- Meets weekly with Field Conservation Department staff to discuss and plan field activities
Hours, Location and Term of Appointment
Hours: Usually 9:00am-5:00pm Monday-Friday, except during June nesting season when hours will shift to 2:00pm-10:00pm, 5 days weekly, including some weekends.
Location: Our Conservation Department office is in Acton, MA, but the technician will primarily work at field sites in Hampden County, Massachusetts
Term:20 weeks, scheduled April 13 - August 31 (start and end dates may be slightly negotiable with supervisor).
Wage: $20.00/hour
Working Conditions
- Frequent exposure and close contact with a variety of animals including reptiles,
amphibians, fish and insects, and other potentially injurious wildlife, as well as exposure to ticks, mosquitos, and other biting arthropods.
- Frequent field work in difficult natural conditions, including long walks off trail in dense brush.
- Frequent exposure to varying and challenging weather conditions (e.g.heat, rain, snow, ice), and
allergens.
- Frequent need to bend, stoop, kneel,reachand lift.
Minimum Job Requirements
- At least twoyearspost-secondary education, pursuing a degree in biology,ecologyor related fields.
- Able to work nights and weekends duringthe month of June.
- Mustpossessa valid driver's license and be able to lawfully drive in Massachusetts and transport field materials and equipment in personalvehicle.
- Must have no criminal history, convictions, in relation to animal-related issues, child welfare.
Preferred Job Requirements
- One season applied field research experience, especially with box turtles or other herpetofauna.
- Prior experience with radiotelemetry.
- Ability toidentifycommon native plants of New England.