The full-time conservation assistant will primarily focus on these main areas: provide support to the conservation coordinator, care for PWC’s wildlife ambassadors, manage the box turtle project, assist in managing volunteers, and special event coordination.
Duties & Responsibilities:
• Participate in the Box Turtle Connection project and manage our citizen science project, Turtle Trekkers
o Promote the project to teachers, students, and the general public
o Organize and analyze citizen science box turtle data
o Use radio telemetry to track box turtles in the park
o Take photographs and morphometric data on box turtles found within the park. Add to a statewide database.
o Collaborate with other box turtle/reptile conservation groups in NC to develop the program.
• Maintain accurate biological inventory of Leigh Farm Park
• Research and apply for conservation and education grants
• Manage daily animal care and raptor care tasks
o Coordinate and train volunteers on all aspects of animal care and raptor care
o Join the raptor team and commit to weekly raptor training class
o Responsible for daily care, maintenance, enrichment, and medical care of all ambassadors.
o Responsible for all maintenance of enclosures.
• Co-coordinate any special events (open houses, festivals) with Director of Development
o Help recruit and manage volunteers
o Advertise for the event
o Assist in volunteer coordination
• Assist in teaching school programs, field trips, and birthday parties
o Teach nature-based programs using live animals (reptiles, mammals, raptors)
o Teach a wide range of ages (pre-k to high school) and group sizes (up to 100+) with interactive PowerPoint
o Manage time efficiently to arrive to schools 15 minutes prior to program start time
o Occasional evening or weekend work
• Assist in training conservation interns
o Track turtles using radio telemetry
o Train interns on animal/raptor care
• Assist in coordinating weekend events (attend as necessary)
o Coordinate with community members to attend events
o Coordinate volunteers to attend outreach events
o Coordinate weekend volunteer groups for maintenance at PWC.
• Assist in general office duties
o Answer phones, upkeep of grounds and facilities, social media
Qualifications
Requirements:
• Bachelor’s degree in the natural sciences, environmental studies, wildlife conservation, education, or equivalent experience
• A minimum of 1 year experience teaching environmental education to a variety of audiences. EE certification a plus.
• A minimum of 1 year experience as a vet tech.
• A minimum of 1 year experience in a management role.
• Passion and demonstrated knowledge of NC native flora and fauna and their habitats.
• Experience handling live animals (snakes, turtles, birds, rabbits). Raptor handling a plus.
• Ability to dissect rat, mice, and chicks for raptor food.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and attentive to detail.
• Excellent organization and computer skills (word, excel, publisher, G Suite) and ability to produce flyers and other program brochures
• Must have or be able to obtain a valid North Carolina driver's license with no record of major or repeated minor traffic offenses
• Must be able to stand for long periods during programs or outreach events, hike in a variety of terrain through the woods, and be able to lift tables and chairs up to 50 lbs.
Preferred:
• Conservation research experience preferred.
• Raptor handling experience preferred.
• Event coordination experience preferred.
• Carpentry/power tool knowledge preferred.
Salary
$23,000-$27,000 DOE plus benefits
Start Date
02/01/2020
Deadline to apply: December 13th, 2019 by 5pm
Contact Person
Noelle Dalhouse
Contact Phone
919-489-0900