Position: Conservation Technician (11 month with possible option to renew)

Location: Sandhills Wildlife Depot, Richmond County, North Carolina   

Position Duration: Temporary, 11 months

Compensation: $16.00+/per hour/depending on experience

Description

Sandhills Conservation Technician- this position will be a member of a 6-person team responsible for the management and care of nearly 70,000 public acres of the Sandhills, Rockfish Creek, and Nicholson Creek Game Lands. These positions provide excellent opportunities to experience a wide range of wildlife management practices. Housing with utilities may be provided at no cost to the successful candidate, depending on hire/start date. (Housing is currently available!)

Primary work responsibility involves assisting with habitat development on game lands, general maintenance of Public Access Areas, Aids to Navigation and Fishing Areas, and assistance to agency programs conducting various wildlife and fishery surveys as designated by the Wildlife Resources Commission.  A considerable amount of work will consist of operating farm tractors, crawler tractors, mowers and other heavy equipment and trucks.  Applicants must be willing to operate this type of equipment.  This employee participates in work to enhance wildlife populations through cultural practices to restore or improve native habitat. A considerable amount of time will be involved with prescribed burning, managing wildlife openings, creating early successional habitat, restoring altered ecosystems and waterfowl habitat management.  Infrastructural duties will include but are not limited to maintenance of roads, dikes, trails, game land boundaries, docks, piers, navigation aids and parking areas.   Duties also include participation in the development of work plans, maintenance of records, assisting with wildlife surveys, and general maintenance of equipment and facilities while under the direction of the Sandhills Team Leader. 

Most of the work is done outdoors, often in unpleasant conditions such as inclement weather, biting insects, extreme temperatures, and includes exposure to biological hazards, agricultural chemicals, hazardous chemicals, moving equipment and the hazards of traveling through forested areas or on open water. Employees participating in prescribed burns face hazards of controlling or fighting outdoor fires. PPE and training will be provided, however, there is inherent accepted risk with all aspects of wildlife and habitat management work.

Examples of Duties Performed

• Operate heavy equipment in land preparation activities
• Maintain vehicles and equipment
• Apply a variety of habitat management techniques
• Assist in wildlife and fish surveys through data collection
• Assist with prescribed burns
• Perform routine maintenance of access sites such as trash clean-up, mowing, and sign renovation
• Plant and cultivate plants for habitat development
• Perform marine construction using a variety of skilled trades
• Trailer towing/backing, off-road vehicle operation
• Maintain property boundaries

Recruitment Standards

• Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing, must have valid driver’s license and cell phone
• Ability to operate and maintain power hand tools, small gasoline engines, and chainsaws.
• Ability to read maps, plans, navigate both roads and wilderness.
• Truck and trailer towing/backing experience, off road vehicle experience. General knowledge of construction tools and uses.
• Knowledge of the types, habitats and habits of a variety of inland fish and wildlife species and their management.
• Working knowledge of dendrology and the equipment and techniques used in prescribed burns/habitat management.
• Preferred Minimum Associate Degree in wildlife or fisheries management from an appropriately accredited institution

*This is an 11-month position with opportunity to be rehired or considered for a permanent Conservation Technician 1 position.