ATO AZ Mud Turtle Technician

OPENING DATE: 01/02/2017

CLOSING DATE: 09/15/2017

DEPARTMENT: American Turtle Observatory

JOB TYPE: Full-time / Temporary

SALARY: $1000 / Per Month

POSITION OVERVIEW:

American Turtle Observatory (ATO; http://americanturtles.org) and Antioch University New England are seeking a Field Technician to study the ecology and seasonal behavior of the Arizona Mud Turtles (Kinosternon arizonense), a monsoon-adapted species, in southern Arizona during the summer of 2017. This position will involve both field and office responsibilities and will run from May 15 – September 15, 2017 (start and end dates are negotiable).

Field responsibilities will involve trapping, seining, and hand-capturing mud turtles in remote environments near the border with Sonora, Mexico; daily radiotelemetry of ten adult Arizona Mud Turtles; entering and proofing all field data on a weekly basis; managing photographs; and following standard decontamination procedures to protect mud turtles as well as Chiricahua Leopard Frogs.

Office responsibilities will require careful data management in Microsoft Excel, ArcGIS, and/or GoogleEarth; coordinating monthly conference calls with project partners; helping to prepare a technical report; preparing a technical assistance handout to improve habitat management for Arizona Mud Turtles.

The standard work schedule will be five days on/two days off or 10 days on/four days off. The exact days of the week are flexible. The technician will be expected to attend a four-day training session with other biologists in Arizona in May 2017. Because of the unpredictability of monsoon rains and the possibility of infrequent movements by the radioed mud turtles, it may be necessary for the technician to develop a complementary study of other native turtle species in coordination with Arizona Game and Fish Department and ATO. Primitive camping in poor weather conditions without phone or internet may be required. All data collected and shared under this position will be protected by data-sharing agreements with ATO and Arizona Game and Fish Department. The technician must adhere to all state and federal environmental laws in the course of their employment.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Applicants should be enthusiastic and sociable, enjoy travel, and expect to work long hours in the field in difficult conditions (heat, cold, rain, insects). Applicants should enjoy working independently with multiple days of relative solitude, and be ready to independently prioritize research-related decisions based upon a strong grasp of project objectives. Applicants should also be able to interact in a professional manner by email and phone. Applicants must have a valid driver’s license; access to a personal vehicle in Arizona is preferred. Ideal candidates will be proficient in GPS and compass navigation and be able to interpret topographic maps and aerial photographs. Desired qualifications also include field experience with freshwater turtles in the wild, experience with radio-telemetry, ArcGIS, GoogleEarth, habitat modeling and conservation area planning. Ideal applicants will be able to start work in Arizona by May 15, 2017.

To apply, email a brief (<1 page) cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references as a single Word or PDF document to: Liz Willey, [email protected] and Mike Jones, [email protected] by January 27, 2016. Please don’t hesitate to email with questions.

Contact: Liz Willey ([email protected])