Upper Peninsula Lead Field Technician

Trout Unlimited • Marquette, MI

1d • $17 • Remote

About The Position

Trout Unlimited Great Lakes Program - Upper Peninsula of Michigan is seeking a Lead Seasonal Technician to join our team. This position will help fulfill the organization’s mission to bring together diverse interests to care for and recover rivers and streams, so our children can experience the joy of wild and native trout and salmon. The Lead Seasonal Technician will report directly to the Great Lakes Project Coordinator and the Great Lakes Stream Restoration Manager and will assist TU staff with projects aimed to restore aquatic connectivity, in-stream and riparian habitat, and promote the long-term values associated with aquatic restoration.

The selected candidate's duties will primarily include overseeing the completion of road-stream crossing inventories to identify aquatic organism passage barriers, leading and assisting TU staff with fishery and habitat surveys and monitoring recently completed aquatic connectivity project sites. The Lead Seasonal Technician will also assist TU staff in planning outreach activities such as plantings and community events, data entry and organization, and weekly fieldwork planning and reporting. Additional duties may include assisting with deploying water monitoring stations, PIT tagging, in-stream temperature monitoring through temperature logger maintenance and retrieval, and other brook trout studies with project partners.

This position will require frequent overnight travel (camping in rustic camp settings throughout Michigan’s Upper Peninsula) and will work four-five days per week, not to exceed 40 hours per week. The anticipated employment date range is May through October 2026, with potential for re-hire for future field seasons. The position is remote, but candidates must be based near Marquette, Michigan and be prepared to travel for work around the UP region. This position is paid at a rate of $17 per hour and includes per diem pay while camping. A rental work vehicle will be provided.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree in a field related to fisheries management, aquatic ecology, watershed management, geomorphology, or biological sciences.
• A working knowledge of principles and practices of fisheries and aquatic resource management.
• Demonstrated experience with safe and responsible field operations.
• Demonstrated experience leading a field crew or team.
• Outstanding interpersonal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively both independently and as a team.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office programs, experience with Esri Applications (Survey123, Esri Field Maps, etc.) preferred.
• Ability to solve problems and think creatively to achieve a conservation mission.
• Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to travel (frequently overnight)
• Ability to work in rugged terrain, walk and wade long distances while carrying heavy equipment (up to or exceeding 50lbs).
• Experience and comfort camping in remote locations with limited cell reception.
• Experience with fisheries survey techniques and equipment required.
• Valid driver’s license and a reliable vehicle.
• Comfortable navigating remote roads and trails in varying conditions.
• Passion for protecting and restoring trout populations and their watersheds.
• Self-motivated and highly energetic, with excellent time-management skills.
• Satisfactory completion of state and federal background checks.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the Lead Technician for TU’s seasonal crew in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (expected 1 full-time lead technician and 3 full-time seasonal technicians), ensuring that field work is completed in a safe and timely manner.
• Oversee and assist (3) Seasonal Technicians as they complete road-stream crossing inventories across the Upper Peninsula region. This will include coordinating field logistics, regular data QA/QC, and regular check-ins with USDA Forest Service and TU staff.
• Lead and assist TU staff with a variety of field-based stream and aquatic surveys including fisheries assessments using and maintaining backpack electrofishing equipment, conducting habitat assessments and macroinvertebrate sampling.
• Ensure data is recorded and organized with scientific integrity, assist with entry and database management, complete and share project reporting.
• Assist with field gear set up, maintenance and storage.
• Assist Great Lakes Project Coordinator with education and outreach efforts with project partners and the public.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Mid Level