Wildlife Crew Lead (New Meadows Ranger District, Payette National Forest

GREAT BASIN INSTITUTE • New Meadows, ID

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 the study and review of proposed actions on the Council and New Meadows Ranger Districts of the Payette National Forest. Crew Lead will support Wildlife Technicians in performing field surveys, collecting data, and providing technical assistance to assess wildlife habitat for various species. Fieldwork will consider federally listed species, candidate species, those proposed for listing, and regional sensitive species while assessing the ecosystems upon which they depend. Crew Lead will assist agency personnel and crew members with applied management objectives for sensitive, threatened and endangered species. The majority of surveys will focus on northern Idaho ground squirrel but the surveys may include other sensitive and management indicator species such as American goshawk, flammulated owl, great grey owl, white-headed woodpecker and Columbia spotted frog. Work will focus on monitoring populations and surveying habitats used by these species to 1) support population data on specific species; and 2) ensure adequate protections are in place for areas undergoing vegetation management and restoration projects. These positions support legally mandated compliance measures and obligations and will help serve USFS vegetation management and fuels reduction efforts, supporting initiatives for healthy, productive, and resilient forest landscapes and resources. This work provides professional development and leadership opportunities including: The Wildlife Crew Lead will perform a wide variety of activities to support all stages of project work. The Lead will be responsible for crew safety and oversight, including coordination of daily tasks and affiliated project and crew needs, provide or assist in training, converse frequently with agency staff to plan and assess crew accomplishments, and converse with GBI staff as needed. Crew size will range between 3-4 people. Duties may include: Essential Job Functions may include the following: Increased exposure and responsibility enacting USFS processes, procedures, and compliance measures; Assisting in reporting and data entry/quality assurance and control; Increased technical experience and expanded opportunities and exposure to additional disciplines (e.g. archaeology, forestry, hydrology, etc.). Surveys for northern Idaho ground squirrel (~70% of season); Broadcast acoustical surveys for American goshawks and white-headed woodpecker; Nesting and reproductive status monitoring; Frog surveys; Maintaining passive and baited camera stations; Setting up bat survey stations LOCATION New Meadows Ranger Districts of the Payette National Forest WORK SCHEDULE 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

• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Ecology, Natural Resource Management or related discipline, including field-based coursework AND one year of wildlife related field work
• Three years of professional fieldwork experience
• Experience in conducting surveys for call play-back surveys for American goshawk or other raptors
• Experience in standard field methods for wildlife surveys, status assessments, and habitat characterization
• Proficiency in navigation using GPS, topographic map and compass
• 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
• Ability to work effectively in a team setting with USFS staff, GBI staff, interns, volunteers, academic, state, and federal partners
• Ability to work safely and productively in remote field settings under adverse conditions. This includes occasionally overnight camping in remote areas for consecutive nights
• Ability to understand, implement and adhere to established data collection, inventory, assessment, and monitoring protocols
• Capacity to collect and maintain field data in an organized manner that is easily understood and accessible to other resource staff
• Strong organizational skills and ability to work cooperatively as well as independently
• Strong communication skills with diverse audiences, both written and oral
• Physically fit to work outdoors, carry up to 50 pounds of personal and/or field equipment, and withstand the rigors of a forested and/or high desert environment in all seasons.

Nice To Haves

• Experience surveying for and/or identifying small mammals
• Experience leading crews in the field, including oversight of crew safety, communication, fidelity to methods and data quality
• Familiarity with, and interest in, resource management issues of western states and the ecology of the western Idaho
• Experience using ArcGIS to create maps
• Advanced skill using other specialized software
• Experience identifying hydrologic concerns, recognizing forest entomology/pathology issues, identifying heritage sites and experience with fire/fuels assessments or related field tasks.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for crew safety and oversight
• Coordination of daily tasks and affiliated project and crew needs
• Provide or assist in training
• Converse frequently with agency staff to plan and assess crew accomplishments
• Converse with GBI staff as needed
• Assisting in reporting and data entry/quality assurance and control
• Surveys for northern Idaho ground squirrel (~70% of season)
• Broadcast acoustical surveys for American goshawks and white-headed woodpecker
• Nesting and reproductive status monitoring
• Frog surveys
• Maintaining passive and baited camera stations
• Setting up bat survey stations

Benefits

• Wage: $26/hour with overtime at 1.5x hourly rate
• Full time, average 40 hours per week
• 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