Conservation Technician I (Full-time)

Jekyll Island, Georgia Vacation, Conservation, and Education Destination; United States; On-site; USD 24,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Vision

Dental

Life Insurance

AD&D

Paid vacation and sick leave

Job summary

Jekyll Island Authority is seeking a Conservation Technician I to support wildlife and land management activities across seasonal programs, focusing on restoration, monitoring, and data-driven conservation.

The role will require fieldwork under supervision and collaboration with interns and volunteers, with a flexible schedule that includes nights, weekends, and holidays. Strong GIS and wildlife monitoring skills are essential for success.

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; off-road 4WD/UTV experience preferred.
• Technical experience with monitoring wildlife and/or environmental conditions, data-management experience, good communication skills, and familiarity with coastal southeast ecology.
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule including nights, weekends, holidays.
• Proficiency with ArcGIS is preferred, including Survey123.
• Prescribed fire certification or willingness to obtain within 18 months of hire.
• Experience with field equipment (battery and gas-powered) desired; rabies vaccination within 1 year.

Responsibilities

• Leads restoration activities: 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.
• Lead nocturnal sea turtle monitoring and tagging patrols; coordinate interns and volunteers.
• Conduct wildlife population surveys using spotlighting, camera trapping, and sampling methods.
• Use ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, and UAV workflows to collect data and inform management decisions.
• Engage with the public during field activities and lead outreach/education, as opportunities arise.

Skills

Field experience

Wildlife monitoring

Data management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in natural resources

Tools

ArcGIS Pro

Survey123

UAV operations

Job description

Job Title:Conservation Technician I

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. Note: This position is subject to close at any time once a satisfactory applicant pool has been identified.

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.

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.

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.

Technology & Data Management

• 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.

Outreach & Education

• 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.

This description of job responsibilities is intended to reflect the major responsibilities and duties of the job, but is not intended to describe minor duties or other responsibilities as may be assigned from time to time.

This position is subject to close at any time once a satisfactory applicant pool has been identified.

All qualified applicants will be considered but may not necessarily receive an interview. Incomplete applications or applications without accompanying documents when required will not be considered. Selected applicants will be contacted for the next steps in the selection process. Successful completion of background check is required including credit when applicable to the position. Relocation expenses are not authorized, applicants should consider this when applying.

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.