Conservation Technician I (Full-time)

Jekyll Island; Saint Simons (GA); On-site; USD 24,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Vision Insurance

Dental Insurance

Life Insurance

AD&D

Job summary

Jekyll Island Authority is seeking a Seasonal Wildlife Technician to support conservation and habitat restoration on Jekyll Island, GA. The role involves leading restoration efforts, sea turtle monitoring, and wildlife surveys under supervision of senior staff.

Responsibilities include data collection, GIS mapping, and community outreach. Must be flexible to work nights, weekends, and holidays, with opportunities for training and professional growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in natural resources or related field.
• 2+ years of post‑grad field experience.
• Valid driver's license; off‑road driving experience preferred.
• Experience with wildlife monitoring and data management.
• Flexible schedule incl. nights/weekends.
• ArcGIS knowledge preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead restoration activities Aug–Apr with staff and partners.
• Coordinate nocturnal sea turtle monitoring and tagging May–Jul.
• Assist with other wildlife projects and population surveys.
• Operate GIS tools for data collection and analysis.
• Engage with the public during field activities and deliver presentations.

Skills

Wildlife management

Field data collection

ArcGIS

Safety protocols

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in natural resources

Tools

ArcGIS Pro

ArcGIS Online

Survey123

UAV operations

Job description

Location: Jekyll Island, GA

Job Id:1793

# of Openings:1

Department:Conservation

Status:Regular, Full-time Employee

Pay:$17.36 – $19.86 (DOQ)

Reports to:Wildlife Biologist II

Benefits: Health Insurance, Vision, Dental, Life Insurance, Spouse/Child Life Insurance, AD&D, Critical Illness, Disability, Flexible Spending Accounts (health, dependent). Paid vacation and sick leave accrual. 12 Paid Holidays. Parking pass. Amenity pass.
Retirement: Employee Retirement System of Georgia (GSEPS) Retirement benefits include a pension plus a matching 401(k)

Closing date: 4:00pm Thursday November 12, 2026.

Job Summary

Under general direction, works under the supervision of the Wildlife Biologist, Natural Resources Manager, and Director of Conservation to carry out wildlife and land management activities to monitor priority species and restore priority habitats. Duties within this position will change seasonally based on program needs and the objectives set forth in the Jekyll Island Conservation Plan.

Description of duties

Seasonal Land Management Operations

Will serve as primary staff lead for restoration activities (Aug-Apr).

• Leads efforts to support restoration activities with staff and partners including invasive plant control, seed collection, native plant propagation, and restoration plantings.
• Participate in prescribed fire operations.
• Contribute to planning and preparing priority habitats for restoration.

Seasonal Nocturnal Sea Turtle Monitoring & Tagging Operations

Will serve as the primary lead for our sea turtle nighttime saturation tagging patrols (May – July).

• Leading nightly tagging patrols to encounter, tag, and collect data on nesting sea turtles.
• Ensures all activities follow established protocols for safety, animal welfare, and data quality.
• Assist with sea turtle dawn patrols from July–September, documenting nesting activity, monitoring nests, and supporting hatchling emergence data collection.
• Assists with training and Coordinates activities with seasonal interns and volunteers.

Wildlife Management, depending on the season, responsible for contributing to other wildlife projects, such as:

• Applies safe capture, handling, and trapping techniques as trained for wildlife response activities.
• Conducts wildlife population surveys (alligators, shorebirds, deer) using methods such as spotlight monitoring, camera trapping, live trapping, and morphometric/biological sampling.
• Acoustic wildlife monitoring for species such as frogs, bats, or avian species.
• Radio-tracking and safe handling of rattlesnakes and box turtles.
• Monitoring the causeway for diamondback terrapins.
• Process, synthesize, and analyze data associated with primary projects to inform management decisions.
• Use ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online (Field Maps, Survey123), and other GIS tools for data collection and project completion.
• Pilot or assist with UAV operations and photogrammetry workflows to produce imagery products to inform management decisions.
• Lead or assist with field-based education programs.
• Engage with the public during field activities to promote awareness of conservation work.
• Develop and deliver professional presentations for internal and external audiences when opportunities arise.

Other Expectations

• Perform additional duties as assigned by the Wildlife Biologist, Natural Resources Manager, or Director of Conservation.
• Work independently and collaboratively with staff, volunteers, and other departments.
• Adapt readily to shifting priorities and dynamic field conditions.
• Maintain a flexible schedule, which will include nights, weekends, holidays, and participation in the conservation department’s on‑call wildlife response rotation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in natural resources (e.g. wildlife management, marine science, ecology, biology, zoology, environmental science) or directly related field.
• Minimum of two (2) years post‑graduation professional experience, including field experience.
• Must have valid driver’s license. Experience driving off road in 4WD vehicles and/or UTV’s preferred.
• Technical experience with monitoring wildlife and/or environmental conditions, data‑management experience, good communication skills, positive demeanor, demonstrated ability to work and solve problems independently, and familiarity with the coastal ecology of the southeast required.
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule, including time outside of normal business hours such as early morning and/or evening and night.
• Ability to use a plant key, but knowledge of coastal plant species preferred.
• Previous experience working with wildlife (e.g., radio‑telemetry, live trapping, camera trapping experience). Sea turtle nest monitoring and/or handling experience preferred. Capture and handling of crocodilians and/or venomous snakes also preferred.
• Previous experience in natural resources management (e.g. restoration activities, invasive species removal, fire management, trail clearing, seed collection, water quality monitoring, etc.).
• A working knowledge of ArcGIS is preferred, including extensions like Survey123.
• Prescribed fire certification or willingness to receive certification within 18 months of hire.
• Experience and/or training working with battery and gas‑powered field equipment (e.g., chainsaw, brush cutters) desired.
• Must have or be willing to obtain rabies vaccination within 1-year of hire.

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions

• Exert up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds constantly to move objects.
• More than 50% of the typical workday will be spent walking.
• Between 25 and 50% of the day will be spent lifting, reaching, standing or sitting.
• Less than 25% of the day will be spent climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pulling, and grasping.
• Sensory abilities required include vision, hearing and touching with more than 50% of the day spent communicating, talking and hearing.
• Must have close visual clarity to perform up close work such as working with a computer as well as visual clarity to operate motor vehicles.
• Work will be performed both inside and outside. Work may be subject to extreme cold and extreme heat and high humidity. Work includes exposure to vibrations, hazards, and infectious diseases.
• Noise level is considered normal to loud, may require shouting.

Jekyll Island is dedicated to maintaining the delicate balance between nature and humankind through conservation, education, and preservation. Surrounded by salt marshes, expansive oceanfront, and ancient maritime forests, it is situated within the chain of the Golden Isles and just a few miles from St. Simons Island, Sea Island, and Brunswick. As a State Park, Jekyll Island is a coastal haven where nature and humans peacefully co‑exist.

Jekyll Island Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Authority supports equal employment opportunities for all persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by law. The Jekyll Island is a Drug‑free Workplace.