The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the US Forest Service, is recruiting a wildlife technician to support planning and implementation of vegetation management projects on the Tahoe National Forest in the Sierra Nevada, California. The technician will perform field surveys for TES (threatened, endangered, and sensitive) wildlife species, collect data, and provide technical assistance to assess wildlife habitat. 

The majority of surveys will focus on California spotted owl and American goshawk. Surveys may also occur for Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog, Lahontan cutthroat trout, bald eagle, sandhill crane, and various forest carnivores, among other species. 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 technician 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 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.

Work Schedule
Wildlife technician positions begin early June 2025 and end in late October 2025. 

Wildlife technician positions follow 10 hour days, 4 days a week schedule. Crews will work a varied schedule including nighttime surveys during the majority of the season. Some crews may work 8 days on 4 days off schedules. 

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).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Experience in conducting wildlife surveys; preferred experience with California spotted owl and American goshawk
• 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 surveys and possibly some weekends and holidays
• 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

Education: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Ecology, Natural Resource Management, or related field, with fieldwork experience OR two seasons of wildlife fieldwork experience.