Wildlife Technician (Tahoe National Forest)

GREAT BASIN INSTITUTE•Truckee, CA

6d•$21 - $21•Onsite

About The Position

The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the US Forest Service, is recruiting wildlife crew members (2) to support planning and implementation of vegetation management projects on the Tahoe National Forest in the Sierra Nevada mountains, California. The crew member will be responsible for working alongside 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 member will participate in daily field operations and will provide sound technical data collection for wildlife management programs. 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 members 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.

Requirements

Experience in conducting wildlife surveys
Previous remote field 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 on 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.
Regularly required to sit, use hands, stand, walk, bend, and have specific vision abilities to include close and distance vision, and ability to adjust focus working with computer business equipment and other job/industry specific equipment.

Nice To Haves

Preferred experience with California spotted owl, American goshawk, and Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog, or some combination of the above

Responsibilities

Performing 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
Broadcast acoustical and reproductive surveys for spotted owls
Broadcast acoustical and reproductive surveys for goshawks
Survey and identification of aquatic species