Field Crew Leader for Hawai’i VINE Project

Agency: Hawaiʻi VINE Project - University of Wyoming

Salary: $46,800 per annum, and full benefits (https://www.uwyo.edu/hr/_files/docs/employee-benefits/benefit-summary.pdf).

Start date: Flexible, but ideally between early July to mid-August, 2026.

We are seeking an experienced biologist to be the field crew leader for project on Oʻahu, Hawai’i as part of the Hawaiʻi VINE (Vertebrate Introductions and Novel Ecosystems) Project. The project is a multi-disciplinary effort between University of Hawaiʻi-Mānoa, Northern Arizona University, University of Wyoming, and US Army Natural Resources Program. The VINE project has been running since 2014 and has involved over 70 field technicians, 20 undergraduate students, and 6 graduate students. The project has also been involved in over 150 outreach events on Oʻahu, an essential part of our mission. The VINE project investigates seed dispersal networks comprised of interacting native and non-native plant and vertebrate species in mesic and wet forest ecosystems. Specifically, the project will focus on (1) quantifying vertebrate seed dispersers and their interactions across space and time, (2) conducting an experiment to remove non-native plant species and evaluate the impacts on bird behavior and seed dispersal of the remaining plants, and (3) evaluating the factors that influence temporal variation in seed dispersal. Field work will include invasive plant removal, behavioral observations, point counts, game cameras on plants, identification of and surveys of plants, and plant experiments. The candidate selected for this position will work closely with the graduate students on the project. The candidate will train field technicians, help hire field technicians, conduct field work, oversee monthly reports to funding agency, help organize monthly outreach, and oversee equipment maintenance.  

Qualifications: Required is a B.S. degree in biology, natural resources management, wildlife biology or related field, at least 1 year of field experience, and supervisory experience of field crews. Preference will be given to applicants with experience in plant identification and previous work experience in Hawaiʻi, particularly on plants.

Contact:  Any questions about the position, please contact Corey Tarwater (corey.tarwater@uwyo.edu ), VINE graduate students (vine.hawaii@gmail.com), Jeff Foster (jeff.foster@nau.edu , or Don Drake (dondrake@hawaii.edu