TITLE: Gulf Coast Field Technician
REPORTS TO: Gulf Coast Project Manager, Kelly Coles
LOCATION: Field work will leave from Tallahassee Florida; desk work may be completed remotely or at the Gulf Coast Field Office - Crestview, Florida
FLSA STATUS: Temporary
PAY RATE: $18 hr for up to 1166 hours for the year
Starts: February 26, 2024
Ends: December 20, 2024

REVISION DATE:

The Atlanta Botanical Garden’s (ABG) Conservation & Research Department is seeking a Field Technician to assist with fieldwork and data entry related to several projects located throughout the Florida panhandle (Escambia to Jefferson Counties). The Field Technician will report directly to ABG’s Gulf Coast Project Manager and will conduct a variety of fieldwork, including; floristic monitoring, rare plant surveys, plant demography and seed collection. This position is a field-based position with limited ability to work from home - this will depend. Hoursposition with flexible hours depending on project needs and plant phenology.

PRINCIPAL FUNCTION:
This position assists the Gulf Coast Project Manager with fieldwork in the Florida panhandle, including;
Rare plant monitoring
Searches for new populations of rare species
Initiation of new and data collection for existing plant demography studies
Seed / leaf tissue collection
Field map creation

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Assist field staff with inventorying and monitoring of rare, threatened, endangered, and culturally significant in-situ plant populations across the Florida panhandle
Assist with field collection of seed, leaf tissue, cuttings, herbarium vouchers, and other plant materials using methods consistent with department protocols.
Support field-related operations in and out of the field, including preparation for fieldwork, driving ABG or personal vehicles to and from field sites, and ensuring that all equipment, data and samples are organized at the end of fieldwork.
Maintain and prepare data for reporting
Track work by updating “project diaries” to document daily and weekly work accomplished to meet objectives for multiple grant-funded projects
Maintain volunteer forms and records of hours worked
Safely and efficiently drive ABG Gulf Projects field vehicles on rough terrain
Follow established field and safety protocols
Utilize iPads, Survey123, FieldMaps, and GaiaGPS in the field to collect data
Apply for research and collection permits as needed

QUALIFICATIONS:
Must be organized, detail-oriented, and adaptable.
Associate or Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, Botany, Biotechnology, Horticulture, or related field preferred.
Prior experience with seed and pollen collection is highly desired.
Prior experience or skills in field data collection, plant identification, use of GPS and mapping tools, and navigation in challenging terrain is highly desired.
Ability to work occasional independent field days and overnight trips during peak field season.
Ability to maintain a positive attitude in adverse conditions required.
Must have a valid Driver’s License.
Must be able to lift and carry up to 25 lb.
Excellent organizational and time management skills.
The ability to effectively respond to multiple, changing and often conflicting priorities is essential.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Ability to spend long periods of time in the field in various conditions including the presence of extreme heat and humidity, thick vegetation, biting insects, and venomous snakes.

The above job duties and responsibilities describe the general nature and level of work for employees in this position, but this is not intended as an exclusive or all-inclusive inventory of all duties required of employees in this job.

It is the policy of the Atlanta Botanical Garden to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, reasonable accommodations will be made for qualified individuals with disabilities.