Amphibian Surveyor (Extended Temporary Employment) (Multiple Positions)

The University of Arizona•Tucson, AZ

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The School of Natural and Environmental Sciences within the College of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences seeks a Research Technician II (Temporary Amphibian Survey Technician) to support research and restoration projects for imperiled native wildlife in riparian and aquatic systems. Projects include American bullfrog eradication, monitoring federally threatened Chiricahua leopard frogs, and implementing Chiricahua leopard frog recovery actions. The position includes daytime and nighttime field surveys, bullfrog control, frog translocation and mark-recapture work, sample collection, other research and monitoring, and some data entry. The job requires repeated overnight travel and camping in remote areas, as well as hiking and working in hot, rugged field conditions while carrying packs up to 40 pounds and operating a 4x4 vehicle. Applicants must have attended the Chiricahua leopard frog workshop offered by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and possess the necessary state and federal permits. Applicants must provide their own camping gear. Visa sponsorship is not available. This is an extended temporary, full-time position scheduled for 40 hours per week. The target hire date is April 12, 2027, and the expected end date is October 31, 2027. The posted hourly pay range is $16.50–$20.63. The University of Arizona offers health, dental, and vision insurance; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; tuition reduction for employees and qualified family members; retirement plans; and access to university recreation and cultural activities.

Requirements

High school diploma or high school diploma equivalency.
At least 3 years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and work experience.
Valid driver’s license and ability to drive according to the University Fleet Safety Policy.
Ability to reliably identify native and non-native amphibians in southeast Arizona, including at night and under field conditions.
Ability to conduct standardized amphibian surveys and record data on standardized data sheets.
Ability to implement bullfrog control methods.
Knowledge of southeast Arizona field conditions, including extreme heat, thunderstorms, and thick vegetation.
Ability to provide own camping gear.
Ability to perform physically demanding fieldwork, including lifting, carrying, and transporting up to 40 pounds over uneven terrain.
Ability to work outdoors in extreme weather, including high temperatures, while maintaining safety and productivity.
Attendance at the Chiricahua leopard frog workshop training offered by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Possession of the necessary state and federal permits.

Responsibilities

Survey wetland habitats for native and non-native amphibians using standardized daytime and nighttime area-constrained visual encounter surveys and dipnetting.
Record amphibian observations and additional survey information, such as start and end times, weather conditions, and vegetation levels, on standardized data sheets.
Remove bullfrogs encountered during surveys using hand capture, nets, or lethal removal with firearms.
Assist with research on native herpetofauna responses to bullfrog eradication.
Assist with Chiricahua leopard frog translocations and other management and research projects.
Capture, measure, and mark Chiricahua leopard frogs for mark-recapture research.
Use aquatic traps to sample Chiricahua leopard frogs, conduct PIT-tag telemetry surveys, and maintain passive PIT-tag arrays.
Collect genetic and disease samples from native and non-native amphibians.
Perform some data entry and assist with other research and monitoring projects as needed.