Biological Support and Invasive Species Member, National Key Deer Refuge

EPIC•Big Pine Key, FL

4d•$700 - $700•Onsite

About The Position

American Conservation Experience (ACE), in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), is seeking a member to contribute to biological and invasive species projects under the mentorship of National Key Deer Refuge Staff. This position is located at the National Key Deer Refuge in Big Pine Key, FL, which was established to protect and preserve Key deer and other wildlife resources in the Florida Keys. The refuge encompasses diverse habitats including pine rockland forests, tropical hardwood hammocks, freshwater wetlands, salt marsh wetlands, and mangrove forests, and is home to over 20 endangered and threatened species. The mission of the FWS is to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats. This role will directly support that mission at the National Key Deer Refuge. The position requires strenuous physical activity such as exotic plant eradication, capturing invasive wildlife, small mammal trapping, planting native plants, and conducting fieldwork. A portion of the time may also be dedicated to data entry using tools like Excel, ArcGIS, and Field Maps. The member will assist FWS staff with planning and coordinating field data collection, generating and archiving wildlife and habitat survey data, conducting surveys for various species, monitoring threatened and endangered reptiles, assisting with Key deer response, hydrological sampling, remote camera monitoring, native plant restoration, invasive wildlife and plant monitoring and control, habitat restoration, and invasive invertebrate monitoring. Maintenance of field equipment and supplies, public outreach, and data management are also key components. This individual placement aims to facilitate professional development, expose the member to land management agencies, and encourage networking within the USFWS and National Wildlife Refuge System, potentially including shadowing different work groups.

Requirements

Members must be authorized to work in the United States. ACE does not provide sponsorship for employment visas.
Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request).
Members must be 21+ to drive due to ACE's insurance and liability requirements.
Willing to undergo and must pass the required criminal history checks
Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning of term feedback forms, end of term evaluations and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation.
Member may not participate in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Time and workload management skills, including the ability to assess and implement task priorities given program priorities and time-frames.
Ability to communicate well with visitors and staff both orally and in writing
Time management and problem solving skills
Ability to walk in extreme temperatures for long distances, carry equipment (30 lbs), tolerant of biting insects and aware of nearby poisonous plants
Skills in using Microsoft Word, Excel, R, and Access
Schedule flexibility (8 to 12 hours daily) including occasional evening shifts
Organizational and information management skills, particularly in regard to information and data management for accurate and efficient accomplishment of data entry, QA/QC, basic visualizations, summary and reporting.

Nice To Haves

Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a degree in natural resources, biology, ecology, entomology, or a related subject and/or have relevant experience in similar subject areas.
Experience in scientific literature reviews and information synthesis.
Experience following written instructions to conduct duties (e.g. sampling Standard Operating Procedures).
Experience with ground telemetry equipment
Experience capturing reptiles, particularly snakes and lizards
Experience monitoring rabbits
Experience measuring water quality, preferred experience with YSI ProDSS multiparameter and HOBO water level and salinity data loggers and related software
Experience accurately documenting, entering and managing data and documents, using programs including Microsoft and ArcGIS.
Research and/or monitoring experience specific to southeastern habitats or species.
Experience with field data collection electronically (e.g., using iPads) and taking appropriate notes/data on paper and with data curation and archiving
Experience in wetland and/or forest plant identification.
Experience in bird identification.
Interest in/affinity for avian and terrestrial wildlife and their habitats
Experience and/or knowledge of the mission of the USFWS, National Wildlife Refuge System and other federal land management agencies

Responsibilities

Plan and coordinate field data collection (e.g. coordinate dates and local support, care for and prepare equipment, arrange and complete travel to sites as necessary)
Generate, archive and synthesize raw wildlife and habitat survey data
Conduct surveys for avian, terrestrial and aquatic species
Monitoring of threatened and endangered reptiles
Assist with key deer response of injuries, entanglements, and roadkills
Hydrological sampling (surface water and wells)
Remote camera monitoring
Native plant restoration planting and monitoring success
Invasive wildlife monitoring and control
Invasive plant species mapping and control
Habitat restoration and chemical treatment of trees and shrubs
Invasive invertebrate monitoring
Maintenance of field equipment and supplies
Public outreach activities, including participating in special Refuge educational events and volunteer work days
Data entry, management and build data visualization and summary skills
Document survey procedures and outcomes in scientific writing formats
Work with data managers to ensure data quality, management, and archiving
Assist on wildlife and habitat management and research on refuges
Interact with a variety of FWS programs and explore career opportunities within the USFWS and National Wildlife Refuge System.