Natural Resources Technician - Early Career Development Program - Yokota Air Base, Tokyo, Japan

Colorado State University•Fort Collins, CO

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands (CEMML) Early Career Development Program (ECDP) at Colorado State University is hiring a Natural Resources Technician to support natural resource (NR) management activities at Yokota Air Base (AB), a U.S. Air Force installation in Tokyo, Japan. The NR technician will provide support to the environmental staff at Yokota AB, and 100% of the work will be conducted on U.S. military lands. They will be responsible for implementing and coordinating conservation and habitat management projects in support of US Air Force environmental stewardship goals. The Natural Resources Technician will assist with avian monitoring/surveys, species assessments, vegetation surveys, bat monitoring, environmental education events, GIS, and data management and QA/QC. Overall, this role requires a strong desire to expand field skills (biology, botany, forestry, rangeland, etc.). A successful candidate will have the ability to work both independently, and collaboratively with military personnel, contractors, and conservation partners. This position is part of CEMMLs Early-career Development Program (ECDP) which bridges academic training and professional practice by providing hands‑on, mentored internships and early‑career positions supporting federal lands management.

Requirements

Must be eligible to work in the host country or region (Japan) under the Status of Forces Agreement.
Must be stationed at duty location for entire duration of position.
Must be able to comply with all applicable regulations to obtain a Department of Defense Common Access Card (CAC) and public trust clearance.
Candidates are required at a minimum to complete a NACI/SF85 and successfully pass a federal background check to remain eligible for employment by CSU.
Must have a valid driver’s license or the ability to obtain a driver’s license by the proposed start date.
Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. by proposed start date; CEMML will not provide visa sponsorship for this position.
ELIGIBLE FOR EMPLOYMENT UNDER THE US AND JAPAN STATUS OF FORCES AGREEMENT
Pursuing or completed bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology, ecology, botany, ecosystem sciences, or a related field.
Minimum of 3 months of related experience (Biology, Ecology, Botany, Rangeland, Forestry,…,).
Familiarity with US military customs and courtesies.
Professional experience conducting avian and/or mammalian field surveys.

Nice To Haves

Completed bachelor’s degree or higher in wildlife biology, ecology, botany, ecosystem sciences, or a related field.
Proficiency speaking and/or understanding Japanese.
Basic geoprocessing and cartography using GIS software (e.g. ArcGIS) and database management tools.
Experience working or living on US military installations.
Experience working with state or federal environmental agencies (USFWS, USDA, NOAA, etc.).
Experience reviewing and understanding compliance documents for federal environmental regulations (e.g., ESA, NEPA, Sikes Act).

Responsibilities

Natural Resources – Avian surveys, vegetation surveys, vegetation management, species assessments, invasive species management (red-necked longhorn beetle), sensitive species management, outdoor recreation area management.
Outreach activities – planning education events, nuisance wildlife management, other environmental education opportunities.
Document management – data QA/QC, folder organization, public document search/retrieval, document scanning, document shredding.