Preserve Associate - US Virgin Islands (Seasonal)

The Nature Conservancy

3d•Onsite

About The Position

TNC supports the conservation of endangered and threatened sea turtles on the east end of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Since 1994, three pocket beaches on the east end of St. Croix have been monitored for both green and hawksbill sea turtle nesting activity. We are currently seeking two temporary, part-time Preserve Associates to support us in the maintenance and protection of these important sites from August 31, 2026, through November 27, 2026. The Preserve Associates will participate in preserve operations and management by monitoring Jack’s and Isaac’s Bay beaches, and support maintenance of preserve areas and remove exotic species. The Preserve Associate provides administrative research, project management and other general assistance to TNC staff and contractors in furtherance of the protection of sea turtle sites on the preserve.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED
6 months of related experience.
Ability to walk long distances (3-5 mi. per day) over difficult terrain while being comfortable working on their own in these remote areas.
Ability to use radios for communication and hedge clippers for clearing.
Working knowledge of common software applications (e.g. Word, Excel, Web browsers).
Ability to repeatedly lift and carry up to 40 lbs.
Eligibility to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

Field experience.
Previous sea turtle experience, basic data collection, and nest excavation, preferred.
Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
Ability to follow instructions from supervisor, colleagues/coworkers/team members.
Ability to work in a team environment.
Ability to obtain a driver’s license and maintain a good driving record.
Experience living or working in the Virgin Islands preferred.

Responsibilities

Patrol a single beach each day but will occasionally be required to move back and forth between beaches to assist team members.
Collect data on every turtle and turtle activity encountered (while ensuring no direct contact/touching of turtles).
Maintain equipment, including radios, hedge clippers, and traps.
Monitor and maintain preserve areas, removing debris and exotic species.
Completing tasks independently within assigned timeframes.
Managing and prioritizing tasks assigned from multiple sources.
Performing administrative duties, emphasizing detail-oriented and numerical tasks.
Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English.
Resolve routine issues independently.
Develops resolution plans with the supervisor for unusual or complex issues.
Works under close supervision and receives specific and detailed instructions for required tasks and results expected.
Addresses issues with supervisor that affect others’ work or the overall program.
Consults supervisor on unspecified or unusual issues.
Ability to work cooperatively with a number of staff and external parties, sometimes under pressure, in order to complete project work and goals in a timely manner.
Formulate ideas and communicate clearly with others, both orally and in written form.
Provide a variety of information to staff and others, contributing to conservation projects and assisting workflow throughout the organization.