Editor’s note: We are no longer accepting applications for these positions. Thank you for your interest.

We are currently reviewing applications for six seasonal paid positions in three locations for the 2020 sea turtle nesting season in South Carolina. Applications are reviewed as received and positions will remain open until filled.

The right candidates for these positions don’t mind early mornings, long days, and physically demanding work in hot, humid, and buggy conditions. The hours can be odd, the environment challenging, and the location remote, but technicians are rewarded with a summer of sunrises and independent, hands-on fieldwork documenting the nests of threatened and endangered sea turtles.

Sea Turtle Project Technician (2 Positions, Edisto Island)

Work Dates: May 1 – September 30, 2020

Location: Botany Bay Plantation, Edisto Island, SC 29438

Description: The SCDNR Marine Turtle Conservation Program is seeking a motivated individual for a seasonal field technician for the 2019 sea turtle nesting season at the Botany Bay Plantation Wildlife Management Area located on Edisto Island. Botany Bay Plantation is a 4,600-acre barrier island property approximately 50 miles southeast of Charleston, SC. A sea turtle nest protection project currently exists on the property and the beach can have over 400 nests per season. Position is from 1 May through 30 September 2020. Work is predominantly conducted outside, seven (7) days per week beginning in the early morning (daily schedule may change with tidal/weather conditions, etc.). All applicants must be accustomed to physically demanding outside work conditions including extreme heat, humidity, rain, direct sunlight, uneven terrain (sand) and insects.

Duties:

Conduct daily beach surveys at sunrise (~6 am) to monitor new turtle nesting activity and hatching emergences
Locate egg chamber and mark nests for evaluation
Determine if required and conduct nest relocation
Enact nest protective measures against predation
Document hatchling disorientations and conduct post-emergence nest inventories
Record all data accurately and completely on field forms and via electronic nest database
Document and assist with sea turtle strandings
Responsible for basic ATV care (to include cleaning and fueling) and maintenance of field supplies
Schedule and work with volunteers and members of the public

Requirements:

Educational background in biology, marine sciences or ecology is preferred
Sea turtle nesting monitoring or surveying experience
Applicant must be willing to take responsibilities seriously and demonstrate desire to learn
Enjoy working independently without direct supervision
Ability to lead others in a team situation with experience in field supervision preferred
Strong Communication skills, including experience interacting with the public
Competence with data entry, detail-oriented, problem-solving skills
Able to work a flexible schedule, including weekends and holidays
ATV operation experience
Possess a valid driver’s license and clean driving record
Must be a citizen of the United States

Hours/Salary: Schedule will not exceed 40 hours per week. Seasonal technicians are paid $10.00 an hour. A private room within a shared house is provided at on site. Applicant must provide own transportation.

Contact: Applicants should submit a cover letter (including dates of availability), resume, unofficial college transcript and references (3) to seaturtles@dnr.sc.gov with “Botany Bay Technician Position” in the subject line. Open until filled. Applications will be reviewed as received.

Sea Turtle Project Technician (2 Positions, Charleston)

Work Dates: May 1 – September 30, 2020

Location: SCDNR Marine Resources Center, Charleston, SC

Description: The SCDNR Marine Turtle Conservation Program is seeking a motivated individual for a seasonal technician position for the 2020 sea turtle nesting season. This technician will support nest-monitoring efforts that include a region-wide genetic research study on SCDNR-managed lands, as well as, statewide on-call stranding response efforts. This position will be based out of the Charleston, SC office located at the Fort Johnson campus. The seasonal technician will be paid $10.00 an hour. No housing is provided. Position is generally from May through September 30, 2020. The number of hours worked will not exceed 40 hours per week and will include weekend and holiday on-call duties.

Duties:

Operating boat to remote islands
Conducting field surveys to monitor new turtle nesting activity and hatching emergences
Locating egg chambers and marking nests for evaluation
Enacting nest protective measures against predation
Recording all data accurately and completely in field books and into electronic databases
Maintenance of equipment
Working with volunteers involving correspondence, site visits, and training
Participating in post-mortem examinations in the lab and field, data collection and disposal
Participating in statewide on-call stranding response, including travel to pick up fresh dead animals and delivery of live animals to rehab facilities in state
Participating in public outreach and education events

Requirements:

Small boat operation (required and must show proof of proficiency)
Educational background in biology, marine sciences or ecology preferred
Sea turtle nesting monitoring or surveying experience
Applicant must be willing to take responsibilities seriously and possess desire to learn
Strong communication skills, including ability to interact with the public
Competence with data entry, computer software
Applicant is detail-oriented and possesses problem-solving skills
Able to work a flexible schedule, including weekends and holidays
Possess a valid driver’s license and clean driving record
Must be a citizen of the United States
Be in good physical condition and able to lift 40 lbs
All applicants must be accustomed to physically demanding conditions including riding on boats, extreme heat, humidity, rain, direct sunlight, uneven terrain (sand) and insects

Hours/Salary: The number of hours will not exceed 40 hours per week. The seasonal technician will be paid $10.00 an hour. Housing is not provided. Applicant should be mindful of high cost of living in Charleston.

Contact: Applicants should submit a cover letter (including dates of availability), resume, unofficial college transcript and references (3) to seaturtles@dnr.sc.gov with “Charleston Technician Position” in the subject line. Open until filled. Applications will be reviewed as received.

Sea Turtle Project Technician (2 Positions, Georgetown)

Work Dates: Intern June – August, 2020 (dates flexible)

Technician May – September, 2020

Location: Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center, Georgetown County, South Carolina

Description: The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) seeks an independent, self-motivated individual able to work with technicians to manage nests for threatened loggerhead sea turtles on South and Sand Islands, barrier islands on the coast of South Carolina. The beautiful 24,000 acre Tom Yawkey Center is secluded (15 miles from nearest town) and accessible only by boat. There is a rustic communal house with a living area and small kitchen provided. Limited cell phone reception and internet access available. Several other SCDNR staff and their families also live on the island.

Duties:

Patrol the four-mile undeveloped beach on South Island at dawn seven days a week for signs of sea turtle nesting activity from the previous night

Kayak to adjacent Sand Island and patrol the three-mile beach for nesting activity
Verify all nesting crawls
Relocate nests if necessary
Monitor nests throughout their incubation and maintain identification flags
Screen all nests to prevent predation
Work as part of a team to patrol the beach to discourage predation of sea turtle nests
Operate a four-wheel drive truck and an ATV for transportation on the island
Paddle a kayak across approximately 550 yards from one island to the other
Conduct inventories after hatchlings emerge to determine hatching results
Collect an eggshell from each nest and properly store for DNA research
Collect basic data from stranded sea turtle carcasses
Maintain equipment (ATV, truck) and house
Assist with data entry

Requirements:

Possess a valid driver’s license and clean driving record
Must be a citizen of the United States
Be in good physical condition and able to lift 50 lbs.
Must be comfortable in small boats, can operate a kayak and swim
All applicants must be accustomed to physically demanding outside work conditions include extreme heat, humidity, rain, direct sunlight, uneven terrain (sand) and biting insects
Daily computer data entry required
Intern: Student pursuing a degree in wildlife biology or a related discipline highly preferred
Technician: Holds a degree in wildlife biology or a related discipline highly preferred

Intern position: This unpaid position works up to 40 hours per week. Lodging is in a rustic communal house; private bedroom with a living area and small kitchen provided. Skills you will learn:

Sea turtle nesting/ monitoring beach surveys and stranding response
Computer experience using Sea Turtle Nest Monitoring Database hosted on sea turtle.org
ATV operation and working with volunteer team members
Field research techniques in conservation and coastal environment

Technician position: This position works up to 40 hours per week at $10.00/hour. There is rustic communal housing; private bedroom with a living area and small kitchen provided.

Contact: Applicants should submit a cover letter (including dates of availability), resume, unofficial college transcript and references (3) to seaturtles@dnr.sc.gov with “Yawkey Intern (or Technician) Position” in the subject line. Open until filled. Applications will be reviewed as received.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on South Carolina Wild are solely those of the authors, and do not reflect official policies, positions, or endorsements of activity or products by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.