Field Technician - Sea Turtles

Mass Audubon; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 26,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Phone stipend

Shared housing option

Job summary

Mass Audubon is seeking a Field Technician for Sea Turtles to assist with a long-term cold-stunned sea turtle rescue project on Cape Cod Bay beaches. Primary duties include recovering turtles, recording morphometrics, and preparing them for transport to rehab facilities.

The role requires lifting heavy loads, night work during peak periods, and cooperative communication with the team and external partners. Seasonal employment with 40 hours/week, October through January.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in wildlife biology or related field or equivalent experience.
• 3–6 months of prior experience with herpetological or marine animal field monitoring and data collection.
• Experience in field-based wildlife research and data management; ability to use data judiciously.

Responsibilities

• Respond to and recover cold-stunned turtles on beaches, day and night, per schedule.
• Walk beaches to locate sea turtles during day and night tides.
• Assist with equipment organization, restocking, and lab spaces.
• Enter and summarize data; maintain databases and photo libraries.
• Coordinate with Turtle Research Coordinator and partners; support education staff as needed.
• Work nights during peak stranding times and communicate findings to team.

Skills

Wildlife field monitoring

Data collection & management

Spatial data handling

Turtle handling & measurement

Team communication

Lift 50lbs & move 100+lbs

Valid driver's license

Microsoft Excel

Education

Bachelor's Degree in wildlife biology or related field

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Field Technician - Sea Turtles

SEASONAL Wellfleet Bay, South Wellfleet, MA, US

4 days ago Requisition ID: 1918

Salary Range: $19.00 To $21.00 Hourly

About Mass Audubon
Mass Audubon is the largest nature-based conservation organization in New England. Founded in 1896 by two women who fought for the protection of birds, Mass Audubon carries on their legacy by focusing on the greatest challenges facing the environment today: the loss of biodiversity, inequitable access to nature, and climate change. With the help of our 160,000 members and supporters, we protect wildlife, conserve and restore resilient land, advocate for impactful environmental policies, offer nationally recognized education programs for adults and children, and provide endless opportunities to experience the outdoors at our wildlife sanctuaries. Explore, find inspiration, and take action at massaudubon.org .

About This Position
The position involves working with the Turtle Research Coordinator and other team members to assist with all aspects of a long-term cold-stunned sea turtle rescue and recovery project on Cape Cod Bay beaches between late October and mid-January. Primary duties are recovering cold-stunned sea turtles from beaches, either by driving to pick up turtles found by volunteers or searching for turtles on their own; entering morphometric and condition data on all turtles; and preparing turtles for transport to rehab facilities. Effective communication with all team members and cooperators is of the utmost importance. Overnight work is often required during peak stranding times. Other duties include meeting members of the press, picking up cold-shocked diamondback terrapins, and forwarding reports of other stranded/beached marine wildlife to the appropriate local organizations and partners.

Responsibilities

• Respond to and recover cold-stunned turtles found by trained volunteers, other staff, or the beach walking public, both day and night, according to scheduled shifts
• Receive forwarded hotline calls on personal phone periodically
• Walk assigned beaches looking for sea turtles during both daytime and on certain night high tides, often under very cold and windy conditions
• Respond in pairs to large loggerhead turtles weighing 100lbs or more, using special carts and other gear to get them off the beach and into a vehicle
• Help organize, restock, and maintain all equipment and lab/turtle processing spaces
• Enter and summarize data and maintain databases, including spatial data and photo libraries
• Maintain effective communication about all job activities with Turtle Research Coordinator, Science Coordinator, and all other team members and support staff, and key external partners
• On occasion, work with education staff to assist with or conduct education programs for adults and children
• Sea turtle work often requires working at night, alone or with other team members, to monitor the hotline and retrieve, receive, and check in turtles found by volunteers or other staff assigned to overnight high tides
• Utilize data analysis skills and Microsoft Excel to compile end of season report and distribute to 250+ partners and volunteers

Qualifications

At Mass Audubon, our highest priority is finding the best candidate for the job. Research has shown that people of color and women are less likely to apply for jobs if they don’t believe they meet every one of the qualifications described in a job description. We encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of our described qualifications or have a less traditional background. We are looking for applicants with the following qualifications:

Must Haves

• Bachelor's Degree in wildlife biology or management, ecology, zoology, environmental science or related field, or equivalent experience
• Three to six months of prior experience with herpetological or marine animal field monitoring, data collection and management desired
• Demonstrated experience utilizing judgment in field-based wildlife research and management projects
• Experience capturing, handling, measuring, and marking turtles, and working with spatial data preferred
• Be able to lift 50lbs and drag 100+lbs turtles on beach carts for up to a few miles
• Valid driver's license and a reliable vehicle
• Willing to work weekends and holidays

Nice to Haves

• Experience capturing, handling, measuring, and marking turtles and working with spatial data preferred

Compensation, Benefits and Perks
This position’s pay range is $19.00-$21.00 per hour; actual rate of pay will reflect level of experience and qualifications relative to position requirements. This is not a benefits eligible position.A $30 stipend is provided in compensation for personal phone use. Shared housing can be available at $30-35 per week.

Work Schedule
This position starts on October 15, 2026 and ends on January 16, 2027. 40 hours per week over five days, flexible based on tides and weather. The schedule often includes evening shifts.

Other Requirements
Employees must successfully complete a CORI and SORI Background Check and a Motor Vehicle Record (if applicable) is required.

Mass Audubon’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Justice
Mass Audubon embraces diversity and equal opportunity in a serious way. We are dedicated to forming a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. People of color are strongly encouraged to apply

Mass Audubon’s mission is to “protect the nature of Massachusetts for people and for wildlife” by building a strong coalition of employees, volunteers, and community members. We recognize that the environmental movement and field of conservation have been affected by societal systems that have limited opportunity and access for many people. As a result, Mass Audubon is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. We are engaged in an ongoing process of organizational assessment and change, designed to remove barriers and create a workplace where all forms of diversity are recognized and valued.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Mass Audubon is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. Mass Audubon prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.