Deadline: Mon, 01/29/2024 - 12:00pm Employer: Little St. Simons Island Job Field: Other Job Type: Full Time Location: Georgia Location Detail: Little St. Simons Island Job Description: Little St. Simons Island (LSSI) is seeking a Bird Technician to assist with breeding bird monitoring and management. The ideal candidate will serve a four-month trial and training period as Bird Technician before fully transitioning to Ecological Coordinator, a permanent position with benefits. Bird Technician responsibilities: The applicant will find, document, and track all American Oystercatcher nests and broods. S/He will conduct Wilson’s Plover nesting surveys and track a portion of Wilson’s Plover nests and broods. The Bird Technician will monitor other beach-nesting birds as well, including Least Terns and Black Skimmers. The Bird Technician will also participate in other management projects that will include marsh bird point count surveys, waterbird rookery surveys, shorebird predator management, and sea turtle nest monitoring. Daily monitoring activities include a strenuous bicycle ride (up to 18 miles/day) with field equipment to and along the beach. Field work is often conducted in harsh conditions that may include heat, biting insects, wind, rain, and soft sand. There is also an educational component to the position that includes a weekly shorebird presentation as part of the Little St. Simons Island guest program. The successful applicant will have a flexible schedule, working 40 hours per week with one full day off per week. Ecological Coordinator responsibilities: The Ecological Coordinator position is one of three permanent conservation positions within the Center for Coastal Conservation at Little St. Simons Island. The coordinator’s primary focus is coordinating ecological monitoring and applied conservation research, and assisting with various on island management practices. The Ecological Coordinator typically works 40 hours per week with two full days off per week. The Ecological Coordinator is a live-on position and requires irregular hours at times as you are on-call to cover on Island conservation needs that arise on weekends and after hours and . This job provides exciting opportunities to build new skills and collaborate with other professionals to advance conservation on the island and along the coast. Job duties include: • Coordinate bird and sea turtle nesting monitoring, including hiring, training, and supervising the Bird Technician and the Sea Turtle Utility Worker. • Correspond with research, monitoring, and conservation partners in order to organize fieldwork, data collection, and data sharing. Manage logistics for visiting researchers. Serve as the on-site point of contact for visiting researchers and graduate students conducting fieldwork at Little St. Simons Island. • Conduct all in-house research including weekly monitoring and surveys. • Work with the Ecological Manager to plan special events, coordinate research and management projects, and implement Ecological Management Plan strategies. • Work with the Ecological Manager and the Land Steward to plan and implement prescribed fire. • Work with the LSSI Land Steward to monitor and lethally control predators of rare species, manage invasive plant and animal species, and plan and implement habitat management. • Utilize GIS software to generate maps and geospatial analyses of island natural resources. • Manage ecological monitoring datasets. • Lead volunteer program by engaging local volunteers with on and off island opportunities. • Host Social Hour and Evening Program once per week with island guests. Communicate about LSSI conservation and research. • Use written reports, emails, social media posts, and in-person presentations to communicate with Island staff, guests, and conservation partners about current and upcoming projects and initiatives. • Coordinate seasonal and annual wildlife data collection efforts including International Shorebird Survey, Secretive Marshbird Survey, Mid-winter Shorebird Count, Mid-winter Eagle Survey, and Christmas Bird Count. • Represent the island at meetings or gatherings of partner organizations. • Take on special projects or partnerships. Qualifications: A bachelor’s degree in biology, zoology, ecology, or related field. Previous field experience and the ability to identify shorebird and seabird species is a must. Candidates must be knowledgeable and passionate about applied conservation management and monitoring. The candidate must be in excellent physical condition and able to tolerate biting insects. S/He must be a self-starter and be able to work both independently and as a team. Candidates should be enthusiastic, positive, and be able to communicate effectively. Strong organization skills are a must. Miscellaneous: Little St. Simons Island, Georgia, is an 11,000-acre private barrier island that is preserved in perpetuity through a conservation easement. The island is home to The Lodge, an immersive vacation destination for no more than 32 overnight guests, and the Center for Coastal Conservation, a collaborative effort advancing conservation on the Island and throughout coastal Georgia. The position is live-on, and the island is only accessible by boat (we run a ferry daily). Housing is provided on-site, but we cannot accommodate partners or children. The conservation easement on the property prohibits bringing animals onto the island, so pets are not allowed. For more information on Little St. Simons Island, please visit our website: www.littlestsimonsisland.com Salary: starting $10.00/hr, plus housing and meals (also valued at $10/hour). Increase to $12.00/hr, plus housing and meals (valued at $10/hr; total value of pay and housing and meals is $22/hour after transition to permanent role). Retirement savings plan, medical insurance, and paid holidays/vacation days included with permanent Ecological Coordinator position. How to Apply: Start Date: March 18, 2024 (flexible). End Date: July 15, 2024, with possibility to transition to permanent Ecological Coordinator position. Application Submission: Please email a resume, cover letter, and contact information for 3 references in a single document to Aurora Fowler (aurora@littlessi.com) by January 29. Applications will be reviewed as they are received.
