Temporary Sea Turtle Worker

Primary Purpose

To perform monitoring of sea turtle nesting behavior on Broward County beaches in compliance with Marine Turtle Permit and Guidelines as set forth by FWC under the supervision of an FWC-permitted Broward County Sea Turtle Conservation program administrator, Principal Investigator, or Project Manager.

Essential Job Functions

• Locate, identify and mark all marine turtle nest sites laid each night in compliance with the FWC Marine Turtle Guidelines and Marine Turtle Permit under the supervision of an FWC permitted program administrator, Principal Investigator, or Project Manager
• Complete nightly checks of marine turtle nest cages
• Locate, identify and document all false crawls from previous night nesting activity
• Relocate imperiled nests
• Excavate nests and assess hatching success
• Construct and maintain restraining cages as designated by active Marine Turtle Permit
• Monitor for sea turtle nesting activity in relation to beach re-nourishment projects on Broward County beaches
• Assess disorientation events of hatchling marine turtles
• Collect and enter data related to all aspects of the nesting beach activities and monitoring with an emphasis on accuracy, quality, and efficiency
• Work on and contribute to collaborative research teams
• Perform the following major duties that include but are not limited to: Conducting data analysis and computations, Collecting/cataloging of field and/or laboratory samples, Creating various reports based upon data results, Presenting data at conferences, scientific symposium, and professional society meetings, Help in training/supervising new beach staff

Job Requirements

• Ability to lift heavy objects up to 100 pounds or more
• Ability to work in difficult field conditions along Broward County beaches
• Ability to ride on an ATV for extended periods of time
• Safely operate an all-terrain vehicle to patrol Broward County beach sites
• Ability to work evenings, nights, and weekends
• Be able to work independently and as part of a team
• Be able to communicate and maintain working relationships with all contracted staff, volunteers, County and Federal employees, and the general public at all times

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of MS Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook; database and data entry skills
• Ability to utilize or learn to utilize software relevant to the research program, new research methods, and work routines quickly

Required Certifications/Licenses

• Must be able to complete all required training modules for each component of beach monitoring activities

Required Education

• High School Diploma or Equivalent
• Major (if required): Biology or related science

Required Experience

• Preference will be given to applications that have prior field experience and/or experience working with endangered species

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Marine Biology or related area of study

Pay Rate

Pay rate is set according to experience in marine turtle beach monitoring activities with the Broward County Sea Turtle Conservation Program

Pre-Employment Conditions

Sensitivity Disclaimer: Nova Southeastern University is in full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and does not discriminate with regard to applicants or employees with disabilities and will make reasonable accommodation when necessary. NSU considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status or any other legally protected status.