Wildlife Crew Lead (Tahoe National Forest)

GREAT BASIN INSTITUTE • Sierraville, CA

1d • $26 - $26 • Onsite

About The Position

The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the US Forest Service, is recruiting a wildlife crew lead to support planning and implementation of vegetation management projects on the Tahoe National Forest in the Sierra Nevada, California. The crew leader will be responsible for coordinating and supervising a small team of technicians (1-3 personnel) to ensure safe, efficient, and scientifically sound data collection in support of US Forest Service resource management objectives. The crew leader will oversee daily field operations, mentor and train crew members, and serve as the primary point of contact between the field crew and US Forest Service/GBI staff. The crew lead will provide technical advice and leadership for wildlife management programs including: Planning and leading of surveys for TES (threatened, endangered, and sensitive) wildlife species Gathering, compiling, and analyzing data to determine wildlife habitat requirements and management needs Ensuring data quality and integrity Assessing habitat quality and quantity Interpreting biological requirements for focal wildlife species and their habitat Inventorying and monitoring habitat populations. Surveys will occur for both terrestrial and aquatic wildlife with a focus on California spotted owl, American goshawk, and Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog. Surveys may also occur for Lahontan cutthroat trout, bald eagle, sandhill crane, a variety of aquatic species, and forest carnivores, among other taxa. Frequent duties will include broadcast acoustical and reproductive (e.g., nesting and reproductive status) surveys for spotted owls, broadcast acoustical and reproductive surveys for goshawks, and survey and identification of aquatic species. Most spotted owl surveying will occur during evening or night hours, with the possibility of some early-morning surveys. The crew lead will gain exposure to US Forest Service processes, procedures, compliance measures and reporting, and technical experience. Opportunities to assist with other disciplines (e.g., archaeology, forestry, hydrology, range, etc.) and projects may exist. This is principally a field-based position (minimum 80% of time) with surveys often occurring in remote backcountry locations. Work will be physically demanding and will involve extensive hiking in steep terrain at high altitudes (5000 to 9000 ft.) on a daily basis, potentially during inclement weather conditions such as heat, snow, or rain. Camping near a work site for several days may be required to meet survey objectives. This position is based out of the Truckee Ranger District of the Tahoe National Forest (TNF). Field work will be conducted in various locations across the Sierraville and Truckee Ranger Districts, which comprise the east zone of the TNF. Field work will typically require traveling to remote sites, with occasional office work for data entry and reporting. The Tahoe National Forest is located in the northern Sierra Nevada (east of Sacramento) and extends from the foothills across the Sierra Crest to the California state line. It includes over 850,000 acres of public land interspersed with 350,000 acres of private land. Rivers, snow-capped peaks and dense forests offer outstanding recreation year-round. A complex set of ecosystems are found as the terrain ascends from 1,500 feet along the western boundary to over 9,000 feet along the crest. The wildlife crew lead position begins in early April 2026 and ends in late September 2026. Extension of the position past late September is possible. Wildlife crew lead position(s) follow a 10-hour day, 4 days a week schedule. Crews will work a varied daily schedule that includes nighttime surveys during much of the season. Temporary Special Assignment employees are eligible to receive holiday pay, if partner approved. TSAs holiday schedule will comply with the project partner holiday schedule, unless otherwise specified in their employment offer. TSAs working five (5) eight (8) hour days per workweek will be paid eight (8) hours for all holidays. TSAs working four (4) ten (10) hour days per workweek will be paid ten (10) hours for all holidays. Same with other approved/allowable workweek configurations; these can be accommodated accordingly with Banked Holiday(s).

Requirements

• Experience in conducting wildlife surveys; preferred experience with California spotted owl, American goshawk, and Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog, or some combination of the above
• Previous crew lead experience of at least one field season
• Experience in standard field methods for wildlife surveys, status assessments, and habitat characterization
• Experience with visual and/or auditory species identification
• Ability to understand, implement, and adhere to established data collection, inventory, assessment, and monitoring protocols
• Willingness to work a variable schedule in response to project needs, including nighttime and early morning surveys
• Skills in GPS navigation and map reading
• Ability to complete physically demanding field work in remote locations
• Effective communication skills for coordination with multidisciplinary teams
• Possess a clean, valid, state-issued driver’s license with the ability to safely operate and maintain a 4WD vehicle on and off paved roads
• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Ecology, Natural Resource Management, or related field, with fieldwork experience OR two seasons of wildlife fieldwork experience.

Responsibilities

• Coordinating and supervising a small team of technicians (1-3 personnel) to ensure safe, efficient, and scientifically sound data collection in support of US Forest Service resource management objectives.
• Overseeing daily field operations
• Mentoring and training crew members
• Serving as the primary point of contact between the field crew and US Forest Service/GBI staff.
• Planning and leading of surveys for TES (threatened, endangered, and sensitive) wildlife species
• Gathering, compiling, and analyzing data to determine wildlife habitat requirements and management needs
• Ensuring data quality and integrity
• Assessing habitat quality and quantity
• Interpreting biological requirements for focal wildlife species and their habitat
• Inventorying and monitoring habitat populations.

Benefits

• Wage: $26/hour with overtime at 1.5x hourly rate.
• Full time, average 40 hours per week.
• Paid holidays.
• Shared housing is provided.
• In addition to a competitive base salary, this full-time, onsite position includes company-paid comprehensive medical, dental (with option to upgrade in coverage), and vision insurance, as well as $25,000 Life/AD&D policy.
• Voluntary short-term and long-term disability policies are available, and voluntary Life/AD&D policies for family members.
• Mental health support resources are employer provided, competitive PTO accrual, and paid holidays.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level