Deadline: Fri, 11/17/2023 - 12:00pm Employer: The Orianne Society Job Field: Wildlife Job Type: Seasonal, Temporary, Internship Location: Georgia Location Detail: Lumber City, Georgia Job Description: POSITION TITLE: Gopher Tortoise Management Technician SUPERVISOR: Director of Fire Ecology and Management LOCATION: Telfair County, GA SALARY: $2,500/month plus housing & training APPOINTMENT: Seasonal, Jan 3, 2024 – July 3, 2024 This position will fill the role of Gopher Tortoise management technician at the Longleaf Stewardship Center in Lumber City, Georgia. The Gopher Tortoise management technician will aid our mission to improve habitat across southeastern Georgia for rare and endangered reptiles, such as the Gopher Tortoise and Eastern Indigo Snake in the longleaf ecosystems. This role will primarily work as a crew member on our prescribed fire team but may also include work in other aspects of management such as wildlife monitoring/surveying, invasive species control, and general trail maintenance. This position will provide the opportunity to work with many of our interagency burn team partners (The Nature Conservancy, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Georgia Forestry Commission, and Private Landowners) and gain training in fire management to become firefighter type 2 certified (FFT2). Housing with basic utilities/internet will be provided at no cost to the employee upon signing and agreeing to lease terms, and the employee must live in provided housing in Lumber City, Georgia. JOB DUTIES • Perform various prescribed fire and wildfire duties including firing, holding, mop-up, and gathering fire weather data • Prepare and maintain firelines • Operate fire equipment including ignition devices, 4WD trucks, ATV’s, UTV’s, portable pumps, small engines, tractors, chainsaws, hand tools, and GPS units • Maintain equipment and fire cache in fire-ready status; maintain clean and organized trucks and work areas • Assist on wildlife surveys across the southeast for Eastern Indigo Snakes, Diamond-backed Rattlesnakes, and Gopher Tortoises • Will participate in various preserve maintenance activities (e.g. facility upkeep, fence construction/repair, trail maintenance, and invasive plant control using herbicides) • Maintain personal appearance in professional, presentable fashion, suitable to represent The Orianne Society to partners and the public • Good interpersonal skills • Ability to maintain positive morale under adverse working conditions • Ability to get along in a group setting and make quick decisions under pressure • Willingness to work long hours, weekends, and live and work in close contact with coworkers of varying backgrounds and dispositions WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL EFFORT: The Gopher Tortoise management technician will work in variable and extreme weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances. These conditions: • Require considerable physical exertion and/or muscular strain. • Present frequent possibility of injury. • Require long hours in isolated settings. Qualifications: PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: • Associate’s/Bachelor’s degree in forestry, natural resources, ecology or related field • 1-3 years’ experience in wildland fire management including prescribed fire; FFT2 certification • Any sawyer certification • Experience with heavy equipment (i.e. tractors, skid steers, bulldozers) • Experience recognizing plant and animal species and working knowledge of the ecology of the southeastern coastal plain or fire ecology in general REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: • High school diploma • Experience operating and maintaining various types of off-road vehicles and equipment • Acceptable motor vehicle record • Experience and ability performing physical work • Must meet minimum Orianne Society training and health requirements for wildland fires at the moderate level: 2 mile walk with a 25 pound pack vest with a time of 30 minutes or less • Willingness to work outdoors in HOT weather Salary: $2,500 plus housing How to Apply: TO APPLY All candidates must submit a cover letter and résumé/CV with 2-3 references electronically to cgoldsmith@oriannesociety.org with subject line of “Gopher Tortoise Management Technician Application” by November 17th, 2023
