Environmental Monitor – Sea Turtle and Shorebird Nesting Surveys
About The Position
Ecological Associates, Inc. (EAI) is an environmental consulting firm headquartered in Jensen Beach, Florida providing a broad range of biological and ecological services. During 2026, EAI will be conducting daily sea turtle nesting surveys and shorebird nesting and migration/mid-winter surveys along approximately 29 miles of coastline in Harrison County and approximately 9 miles of coastline in Hancock County, MS in support of beach nourishment projects. This will involve daily early morning surveys using all-terrain/utility terrain vehicles (ATVs/UTVs) to record all sea turtle and shorebird nesting activities, marking and monitoring of nests sites, and coordinating with local entities and construction crews to barricade nesting locations. Surveys will be conducted 7 days a week starting 30 minutes before sunrise and should be finished by mid-morning. Other related activities may include responding to sea turtle strandings, sending daily reports, and assisting with data management. A standard schedule may involve two to three weeks of work followed by a one-to-two-week break period. EAI is seeking individuals to assist in the surveys described above. We are looking for individuals with previous sea turtle and/or shorebird monitoring experience, or previous field experience following standard operating procedures collecting data under adverse conditions. We are also looking for individuals who are effective communicators and team players that are flexible as things change or come up unexpectedly. Job Summary: Environmental Monitors perform field work and home office work, with an expected ratio of 90% field and 10% home office work during a typical week.
Requirements
- Shorebird nesting behavior identification and/or;
- Sea turtle crawl identification.
- Able to work independently.
- Excellent organizational and record keeping skills with attention to detail.
- Able to follow complex instructions and standard operating procedures.
- Excellent communication, data management, and creative problem-solving skills.
- Must possess a clean driving record.
- Able to work outdoors in extreme conditions (long hours, inclement weather, heat, humidity, cold, biting insects).
- Perform work on unpaved, uneven surfaces (tripping hazards).
- Perform work in, on, and around water (rivers, lakes, oceans, etc.).
- Must be able to stand, bend, sit, lift, and drive.
- Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds.
- Bachelor’s degree preferred.
- One year of related experience required.
Nice To Haves
- Experience operating and driving an ATV/UTV is preferred.
- Practical experience using GPS instrumentation is preferred.
- Microsoft Office experience is preferred.
Responsibilities
- Conduct early morning beach surveys on an ATV/UTV.
- Conduct daily and weekly construction-phase shorebird nesting and migration/mid-winter surveys; identify species and document nesting and courtship behavior.
- Conduct daily sea turtle nesting surveys; identify and record sea turtle crawls by species.
- Locate eggs and mark sea turtle nests.
- Obtain GPS readings of all sea turtle crawls/shorebird nesting sites using Survey123 app.
- Monitor sea turtle nests to determine nest fates and dates of hatchling emergence.
- Respond to and collect data from stranded sea turtles.
- Enter data in Microsoft Excel and Survey123.
- Clean and maintain ATVs/UTVs.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Part-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Number of Employees
11-50 employees
