Job Posting Title:

Turtle Nesting Specialist and Rehabilitation Technician

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Hiring Department:

Marine Science Institute

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Non-Exempt

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Earliest Start Date:

Mar 03, 2025

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue Until Aug 30, 2025

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Location:

PORT ARANSAS, TX

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Job Details:

General Notes

POSITION IS LOCATED AT THE UT MARINE SCIENCE INSTITUTE IN PORT ARANSAS, TEXAS.

Purpose of position

To lead the sea turtle nesting program on Mustang and San Jose Islands.  To assist in caring for sea turtles, marine birds, and birds of prey at the Amos Rehabilitation Keep (ARK) at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute (MSI). Responsibilities include patrolling nesting beaches, documenting nest sites and nesting adult turtles, coordinating volunteers, feeding the animals, cleaning their enclosures and tanks, record keeping, and rescuing or receiving animals when necessary. This position will work directly with the ARK’s Coordinator and other ARK staff to provide support for the nesting program, as well as daily care and rehabilitation for a variety of injured or orphaned species, following established protocols and treatment plans under the supervision of the ARK Coordinator or veterinarians.

Responsibilities

Conduct patrols of Mustang and San Jose Islands for sea turtle nesting activity, documenting tracks and nest sites.Documenting nesting adult female sea turtles and their eggs effectively on standardized forms, while collecting all required data and samples.Coordinating volunteer nesting patrols and documenting all patrol effort and forms into a standardized spreadsheet and database.Transporting eggs, supplies, and materials to Padre Island National Seashore incubation facility and headquarters.Attend to daily care and rehabilitation needs for resident animals and animals brought to the ARK for rehabilitation, including taking measurements and weights as required. Maintain records for all animals handled at the ARK into logs, including admittance data, general observational data, transfers, release data, and outcome. Maintain treatment files for all animals receiving care at the ARK. Label samples and assist prepare samples for shipment or transfer when needed. Input turtles to the STSSN database within 24 hours of admission. Follow established protocols and treatment plans under the supervision of the ARK coordinator or veterinarians. Administer medications and treatments as prescribed. Prepare diets and ensure proper nutrition and enrichment, adhering to specific dietary requirements Perform thorough and accurate initial physical examinations and diagnostics to determine and evaluate health condition of wildlife at the time of admission. Communicate this effectively and in a timely manner with veterinarians.Assist with medical procedures and surgeries as needed.Maintain clean and sanitary conditions in animal enclosures and rehabilitation facilities. Clean and maintain ARK equipment and facilities such as vehicles, pumps, filters, tanks, enclosures, scales, tools, work surfaces, etc. Communicate effectively and professionally with co-workers, veterinarians, management, volunteers, and the public at all times. Answer and document telephone inquiries and emails on the general ARK email account about rescues or general inquiries; refer calls to supervisor as needed. Participate in educational and outreach events and programming, and public releases as needed. Assist develop outreach and social media content on ARK patients and happenings at the ARK and provide material to supervisor for review and posting. Other related functions as needed. 

Required Qualifications

High school graduation or GED.At least one season of work with nesting sea turtles, preferably Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles, but other species can be substituted for the kind of experience.At least six months of experience working with animals in a rehabilitation or veterinary setting.Ability to handle and restrain wildlife safely and effectively.Strong observational skills and attention to detail.Ability to work independently and as part of a team.Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience capturing and caring for wild animals that are injured or abandoned, especially birds and sea turtles.Knowledge of wildlife species native to the region and their habitats.Experience with animal behavior observation and enrichment techniques.Familiarity with Texas sea turtle nesting procedures.Knowledge of local and federal wildlife regulations and permits in terms of both nesting and rehabilitation.

Licenses:

This job requires a class “C” operator’s driver’s license. The applicant selected must provide a current three year driving record from the current state of residence.  If not currently a Texas resident, a Texas driver’s license must be obtained within 30 days of becoming a Texas resident. Employees who are required to have a CDL are subject to drug and alcohol testing (pre-employment, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, random, return-to-duty, and follow-up drug and alcohol testing).

Salary

$31,200 annually

Working conditions

May work in all weather conditions. May work in extreme temperatures. May work around chemical fumes. May work around standard office conditions. May work around biohazards. May work around chemicals. May work around electrical and mechanical hazards. Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation. Use of manual dexterity. Climbing of stairs. Climbing of ladders. Lifting and moving. Work with injured animals and birds. Radiology and laser training will be provided to work with appropriate equipment.

Work Shift

This is a part-time position working up to 19 hours/week.  This may include work during the standard work week as well as holidays and will require some weekend availability.

Required Materials

•   Resume/CV

•   Letter of interest

•   3 work references with their contact information including email address; at least one reference should be from a supervisor.

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left-hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

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Employment Eligibility:

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

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Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

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Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

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Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

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Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

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Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form.  You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States.  Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment.  Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

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E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

E-Verify Poster (English) [PDF]E-Verify Poster (Spanish) [PDF]Right To Work Poster (English) [PDF]Right To Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

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Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.