"Gopher Tortoise Survey - Seasonal Technician"

Job Details

Posting Number: G/R31188P

Working Title: Gopher Tortoise Survey - Seasonal Technician

Department: PSO-Marine Extension Service

About the University of Georgia: Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America and is the state’s flagship university (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 240 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly established School of Medicine.

About the College/Unit/Department: Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant provides integrated research, education and extension programs that foster the responsible use of Georgia’s coastal resources by individuals, decision-makers and management agencies. Our program is managed through a federal-state partnership between the University of Georgia (UGA) and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Sea Grant College Program, a national network of 34 Sea Grant programs located in coastal and Great Lakes states and territories.

College/Unit/Department website: https://gacoast.uga.edu/

Employment Type: Employee

Additional Schedule Information: This seasonal technician position is anticipated to last 5 months (November 2025– March 2026) but may be extended based on funding availability and job performance. The weekly schedule will typically be 40 hours/week, Monday – Friday (5 8-hour shifts), with the occasional possibility of weekend survey shifts and/or 4 10-hour shifts. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s holidays will be granted, but as unpaid leave. Since this position is temporary and cannot exceed the federal restriction of a maximum of 1300 hours in one year, health, retirement, and paid leave benefits are not provided by the University of Georgia. Please note that this position does not include housing or housing allowance. Employees are responsible for arranging and covering their own accommodations and cell phone expenses independently. However, lodging and per diem will be compensated fully for overnight field deployments. Headquarters will be at the Coastal Ecology Lab offices at the UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant facility in Brunswick, GA. The employee can choose to be based elsewhere, but will be responsible for either driving to pick up the field truck in Brunswick or for their own commute directly to the field site.

Advertised Salary: $16-19/hr, based on experience

Anticipated Start Date: 10/20/2025

Posting Date: 09/17/2025

Open Until Filled: Yes

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Responsibilities and Duties

• Industry site surveys for gopher tortoises and other priority species: Line transects to document the location and activity status of gopher tortoise burrows; Camera scoping of gopher tortoise and mammal burrows, along with suitable underground refugia for small vertebrate species, with particular interest in state and federal priority species; Visual encounter surveys for priority plant and wildlife species; Basic data management and processing in Excel, Terraflex, and ArcGIS Pro; If the position is extended beyond March, duties may involve assistance with gopher tortoise and burrow commensal relocations and the collection of morphometrics and marking of animals; Clearly communicating with supervisor and other research staff about all field project updates on a daily basis while deployed; All employees will be expected to respect and uphold client confidentiality on all sites; *We still encourage you to apply if you possess some but not all of these skills listed under knowledge, skills, and abilities*

Location of Vacancy: Outside Athens

EOO Statement: The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).

USG Core Values Statement: The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct. Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Duties/Responsibilities: Industry site surveys for gopher tortoises and other priority species; Percentage of time: 90; Desk work, including the data entry, management, map creation, photo processing and literature research for both scientific/reporting and non-scientific purposes; Percentage of time: 10

Classification Title: Temporary Technical Paraprofessional

FLSA: Non-Exempt

FTE: 1.00

Position Summary: This position will be entirely field-based to assist with pre-development, planning surveys for gopher tortoises and indigo snakes at industry sites in Georgia (e.g., utility-scale solar, heavy mineral surface mining). Surveys will require weekly deployment to various sites in the coastal plain of Georgia, often involving overnight stays at a hotel while deployed or daily commutes to closer (~1 hour each way) field sites. Additionally, this position may involve computer work while deployed, such as transferring and managing datasets or visualizing field data and generating output in ArcGIS Pro, as examples. This position will work alongside a group of researchers, usually deploying as part of 2-person survey crews. As part of onboarding, the technician will undergo specific task training with current project researchers regarding field tasks as well as compliance with UGA and partner protocols, which includes but is not limited to vehicle safety, cybersecurity, animal use/IACUC certification, and working with minors. Assistance with other grant-funded projects may be engaged as needed, but is not guaranteed as part of this position.

Relevant/Preferred Education, Experience, Licensure, Certification in Position: Undergraduate degree in Biology, Ecology, Wildlife Management, or related field OR 3 years relevant experience in field research and wildlife.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies: A dedicated interest in the conservation and management of wildlife and the mitigation of impacts from development; Field experience with surveying for Gopherus spp., including experience with burrow cameras and scoping burrows; Experience driving 4WD trucks on muddy, sandy, and challenging unpaved roads; Knowledge of southeastern habitats and upland sandhills plant and animal communities; Field experience in the collection and management of field data; Basic knowledge of GIS, statistical analysis, and data management software

Physical Demands: Good physical condition and a patient temperament are absolutely needed, whether by yourself or with co-workers in the field. Physical exertion may involve walking approximately 10 mi/day for surveys (e.g., transecting for ~8 hours/day), sometimes carrying a backpack with up to 10lbs. of equipment and bulky burrow scopes. Scoping burrows entails continuous bending over and squatting. Habitat conditions will be variable, ranging from dense forests or mid-story vegetation to open, agricultural fields, or typical sandhills vegetation structure. Some long days in the field in buggy conditions, and surveys in thick, thorny vegetation; mornings will be cool but can become hot/humid in the afternoon in Georgia winters. Driving multiple hours round-trip to field sites. Staying overnight in hotels during field deployments on most weeks. Wild and captive animals, including venomous snakes, can be challenging to capture and handle, and safety precautions and protocols must be adhered to for the well-being of the animals and employees.

Is this a Position of Trust?: Yes

Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources?: No

Does this position require a P-Card?: No

Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position?: No

Is driving a requirement of this position?: Yes

Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care?: Yes

Does this position have Security Access: No

Background Investigation Policy: Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website.

Contact Details: For questions concerning this position or recruitment progression, please refer to the Recruitment Contact listed below. Recruitment Contact Name: Kimberly Andrews Recruitment Contact Email: kma77@uga.edu