Eastern Box Turtle Tracking Technician

Description

Eastern box turtle populations in the Mid Atlantic appear to be in steep decline and it seems that mortality from cutting hay and mowing fields is an important, yet little studied, contributor to declines in rural areas. We will track box turtles with GPS and VHF tags and conduct population abundance surveys to learn about the effects of mowing on box turtles.

This is a 9-month position beginning March 1, 2026 and ending December 1, 2026. The selected applicant will assist with tagging turtles, tracking tagged turtles, surveying for turtles, and enter and analyze data. Properties included in the study will be located in Fauquier and Rappahannock counties, Virginia. We expect about 90% of this position to be field-based.

Required Skills/Experience

• Strong interest in wildlife and applied conservation
• Experience with radio telemetry or GPS tracking of animals
• Demonstrated ability to work in challenging field conditions. The job will involve long days, 90+ degree heat, high humidity, thick thorny undergrowth, ticks and chiggers, and miles of hiking off trail.
• Experience with visual surveys of animals (e.g., transect surveys of reptiles/amphibians, searching for bird nests)
• Comfort with Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets which will be used for data entry.
• Excellent communication skills, and professionalism when working with people from different backgrounds. Fieldwork will include interactions with landowners who are granting access to their property.
• Ability to work independently but an interest in collaborating with team members.
• Valid US Driver’s License and ability to use personal vehicle for travel among study sites. Well-maintained personal vehicle that can travel 800 miles per month.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Preferred Skills/Experience

• Research experience with turtles (searching for turtles, notching shells, attaching radio tags)
• Data analysis in R
• GIS skills

Compensation

• $1,654 per month
• Free housing and utilities
• Reimbursement for mileage driven on their personal vehicle for fieldwork ($0.70 per mile/current federal rate)

To apply: Please send the following materials in an email to jobs@cliftoninstitute.org. Send your materials as a single PDF, with your last name and “Box Turtle Tech” in the subject line and file name (very important). Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The deadline for applications is February 1, 2026.

1. A 1-page cover letter describing your interest in the job. We much prefer to read a cover letter about how this position fits in with your interests and goals rather than a letter trying to convince us of your qualifications.
2. A brief resume/CV.

In the administration of its employment policies and practices, The Clifton Institute does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship, age, personal appearance, family responsibilities, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, veteran status, matriculation, political affiliation or genetic information.

Updated 4 February 2026.