Seasonal Biological Technician

The National Audubon Society is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. We work throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. Audubon’s state, regional, national, and international programs, nature centers, and chapters have an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire, and unite diverse communities in conservation action. As a sentinel species, we recognize that the fate of birds is inextricably tied to the fate of us all.

Audubon has more than 700 staff working across the United States and seven countries in 17 state and regional offices, 41 nature centers, and 23 wildlife sanctuaries. Together as one Audubon, we aspire to alter the course of climate change and habitat loss, leading to healthier bird populations and reversing current trends in biodiversity loss.

Audubon is committed to a culture of workplace excellence, where our talented and diverse staff are deeply engaged, with a strong sense of belonging. The birds Audubon pledges to protect differ in color, size, behavior, geographical preference, and countless other ways. By honoring and celebrating the equally remarkable diversity of the human species, Audubon will bring new creativity, effectiveness, and leadership to our work throughout the hemisphere.

The seasonal biological technician will assist the coastal biologist in monitoring and managing Audubon North Carolina’s sanctuary system for the purpose of providing habitat for nesting shorebirds, including American Oystercatchers. The technician will be responsible for monitoring oystercatcher, plover, and tern productivity on assigned island(s), collecting accurate data, maintaining, and enforcing signage, educating the public, interacting with volunteers, and assisting with other related activities as needed. The technician will work long hours independently in adverse outdoor conditions and access most work sites by outboard motorboat.

The ideal candidate will enjoy working outdoors, have his/her own transportation, and be available March through August. This is a seasonal (i.e., temporary) job with no benefits and no housing provided. Hourly wage is $16.00.

Compensation:

$16.00 / hour

• Monitor American Oystercatcher, Least Tern, and Piping and Wilson’s Plover productivity on barrier islands and other coastal sites: locate, mark, and track nests to success or failure, recording accurate data.
• Post nesting areas and maintain postings throughout the summer: use post-hole diggers and carry up to 40 lbs.
• Monitor sea turtle nesting activity: locate crawls and distinguish nests from false crawls.
• Carry out protocols for specific grants or other projects and provide logistical support for the same: remain alert and observant for long periods of time, communicate effectively with partners and co-workers.
• Maintain accurate, detailed data: keep a regular field journal, maintain data sheets and spreadsheets, produce a written report and/or summary spreadsheets at the end of the season.
• Conduct shorebird surveys: identify shorebirds and gulls and terns, use binoculars and a spotting scope, counting them rapidly and accurately.
• Assist with other activities as needed, including volunteer events, educational activities, and waterbird surveys: engage positively with the public and volunteers.

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, wildlife management or related field preferred, or multiple years of experience carrying out similar field work.
• Previous experience monitoring nesting shorebirds and colonial waterbirds strongly preferred; previous experience monitoring nesting sea turtles preferred.
• Ability to identify shorebirds and waterbirds (terns, sandpipers, plovers, etc.).
• Ability to operate outboard motorboats up to 23 feet in inshore waters and ability to tow, launch, and recover outboard motorboats up to 23 feet. Previous boating experience strongly preferred. Previous towing experience preferred.
• Good written and oral communication skills, as well as strong organizational; ability to interact positively with the public and volunteers.
• Proficient in MS Office suite.
• Must possess valid driver's license and have the ability to pass NC boater’s license test.
• Must be physically able to walk up to 25 miles per week and up to 8 miles in a day on a barrier island and be able to work outdoors in adverse conditions (cold, extreme heat, humidity, biting insects, etc.).
• Comfortable working alone, unsupervised, on the water and on uninhabited islands.
• A flexible approach to work, with the willingness to start early (sometimes before sunrise), work long hours, and on weekends and holidays as needed (Memorial Day Weekend and Fourth of
  July).

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.

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All new hires must be fully vaccinated prior to their start of employment unless they are pre-qualified by HR for exemption.