Wildlife and Outreach Technician

The Town of Kiawah Island is unique compared to other South Carolina municipalities. Kiawah Island is a private, residential community with a resort surrounded by a unique and beautiful natural setting.

This position is responsible for performing a variety of duties to mitigate human-wildlife conflict in a developed mixed-use community. Advocates for awareness and appreciation of native wildlife species and habitats via outreach and education. Assists with all Town wildlife research projects and wildlife population surveys. Must be self-motivated and able to operate efficiently without direct supervision. Must be able to perform wildlife conflict mitigation duties safely and in a manner that is least intrusive to community members. Promotes a friendly and professional atmosphere when interacting with Town staff, other island entities, and diverse user groups. Must be willing to work a flexible schedule including weekends.

Essential Job Functions

• Proactively patrols all parts of the island to promote wildlife awareness and human safety.

• Responds to nuisance alligator complaints and perform behavioral assessments of alligators. Assists with the capture, removal, and euthanasia of nuisance alligators. Maintains records of nuisance alligators.

• Responds to incidents involving wildlife in conjunction with Island Security and Federal or State agency personnel, as appropriate; captures and handles safely and humanely avian, mammalian, and reptilian species using various traps, nets, and other capture technologies.

• Relocates or euthanizes injured, diseased or nuisance wildlife as needed.

• Provides technical guidance to community members via phone, email and in-person visits on mitigating conflict with wildlife.

• Assists with the planning and implementation of human-wildlife conflict management programming.

• Assists with the planning and implementation of wildlife awareness and appreciation programming.

• Enforces wildlife-related Town ordinances as needed.

• Collects and maintains detailed records on wildlife projects and wildlife research animals, including but not limited to deer management, bobcat ecology, loggerhead turtle protection, bird banding projects, and marine mammal strandings.

• Studies animals in their natural habitats, assessing effects of environment and industry on animals, interpreting findings, and recommending alternative operating conditions for habitat.

• Assists with seasonal tracking of animals and birds, traps, and tags various wildlife species.

• Inventories and estimates plant and wildlife populations, including non-native and invasive species.

• Recommends management systems and plans for wildlife populations and habitat, consulting with town officials, residents and the public at large.

• Disseminates information by writing reports and scientific papers or journal articles, and by making presentations and giving talks for schools, clubs, interest groups and park interpretive programs.

• Studies characteristics of animals such as origin, interrelationships, classification, life histories and diseases, development, genetics, and distribution.

• Assists with bobcat GPS telemetry project. Duties include trapping, anesthetizing, measuring, and fitting bobcats with GPS collars.

• Assists with bird banding projects. Duties include trapping, measuring, and fitting birds with bands and other tracking devices.

• Consults with Conservation Manager in making decisions on environmental issues.

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of wildlife principles, practices, and methods applicable to a municipal setting; working knowledge of applicable laws, standards and regulations relating to wildlife programs.

• Proficiency with the use of a firearm.

• Skill in operating ATVs and UTVs.

• Ability to safely and effectively use power tools, chainsaws, and hand tools.

• Ability to prepare, organize and maintain inspection field data, reports, and systems.

• Ability to analyze complex situations, problems and data, and use sound judgment in drawing conclusions and making decisions.

• Ability to comprehend and articulate complex facts and relationships in detail and to summarize and write clearly, concisely and legibly, and to testify in court in an objective, concise, and professional manner.

• Ability to produce or obtain reports, graphs, charts, photographs or exhibits.

• Ability to obtain a federal and state bird banding sub permit.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with citizens, employees, supervisors, and the general public.

• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions.

• Ability to handle stressful situations and effectively deal with difficult or angry people.