JOB OPENINGS: 

Santa Cruz Island Seasonal Invasive Technician - Invasive Plant Management (up to 3), Channel Islands National Park, Ventura, California 

Santa Catalina Seasonal Island Invasive Technician - Invasive Plant Management (up to 3), Catalina Island, Los Angeles County, California

EMPLOYER: California Institute of Environmental Studies (CIES; www.ciesresearch.org)

Position Background: Up to six invasive technician positions to support invasive plant species control and habitat restoration are available. Project location will be on Santa Cruz Island (SCI) OR Santa Catalina Island (CAT). These are full time, field-based positions with all work conducted on Santa Cruz OR Santa Catalina Islands. These projects are in cooperation with the National Park Service (NPS), Catalina Island Conservancy (CIC), and/or The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and successful applicants will work closely with staff from these organizations.

Invasive Technician Position Description: As part of a team of 2-4 people, successful candidates will work to suppress emergent non-native plants on Santa Cruz or Santa Catalina Islands. The position advertised is for employment as a seasonal invasive technician with CIES. The Santa Cruz and Santa Catalina positions have a duration of approximately 5 months beginning late February, 2026 and continuing through June, 2026. Full durations and start dates of these positions are contingent on funding.

Primary job duties will include handling/mixing/applying herbicide to non-native plant populations using  4 gallon backpack-style spray applicators, vehicle mounted spray rigs, and/or handheld bottle-style applicators; while recording progress and coverage on GPS units/ArcGIS Field Maps and field notebooks. Additional duties will be required, such as data entry and proofing, vehicle and equipment maintenance, equipment troubleshooting, and aiding project leads in writing progress updates.  

Work Schedule and Logistics: Successful applicants will be required to work an “8 days on, 6 days off” schedule (pending schedule changes due to weather) with 10-hour work days. Technicians will live in provided housing during field stays on Santa Cruz and Santa Catalina Islands. As such, technicians will be required to live in close quarters within a small community of coworkers and island staff. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to maintain a positive and respectful attitude while living and working in a small group are required aspects of the job. All food, clothing, bedding, and personal supplies will need to be brought back and forth to the island. Transportation to the islands is provided via boat. Housing is not provided on the mainland between workweeks.

Field staff will be expected to work a minimum of 160 hours per month (two approximately 80-hour work weeks per  month.) Opportunities to perform office tasks such as data entry and trip report writing to reach 160  hours/month (should field work fall short of 160 hours per month) may be provided, however not promised. Island field schedule will be either Wednesday to Wednesday, with the first and last day of each tour including travel time to and from the mainland aboard either the NPS vessel Ocean Ranger, Concessionaire Island Packers, or Catalina Island Express.

Qualifications: Applicants should have a strong interest in island ecology and a desire to work on habitat  restoration projects. Enthusiasm for fieldwork and for working in a variety of weather conditions is a must. The ability to carry a 50lb backpack sprayer on steep slopes and uneven terrain is essential.  Having a good work ethic, the ability to work independently and as a team member, being a motivated self-starter, and a willingness to learn are a must. Successful candidates must be willing to work long hours hiking in the field, maintain accurate field notes/data collection, and possess excellent balance and agility. Applicants must be comfortable with the use of chemical herbicide, and be willing to apply herbicide to non-native plants. 

Preference may be given to those who possess: 1) Bachelor’s degree in biological sciences or related  discipline; 2) prior experience with habitat restoration work, herbicide application, and vegetation  surveys; 3) knowledge of native and non-native California flora, 4) ability to move and lift equipment and  materials up to 50 lbs; 5) ability to hike in steep, unstable terrain; 6) desire to work in a remote field  setting both independently and as part of a field crew; 7) superior observational and data collection skills;  8) excellent written and verbal communication skills; 9) proficiency in Word, Excel, and ArcGIS Field Maps; 10) a valid driver’s license with clean driving record; dirt road and 4WD experience preferred. 

Compensation: The position will pay a minimum of $21.85 per hour. Compensation is negotiable based on experience and ability to perform additional job responsibilities. In addition, a field per diem of $30 per day will be provided through reimbursements for multi-day trips (on average totaling $480 per month). Sick and annual leave benefits are also provided depending on employment length. Health insurance is not provided.

Additional considerations: These positions are based out of Ventura, CA and Long Beach, CA with regular travel via boat to Santa Cruz Island from Ventura Harbor or Catalina Island from Long Beach Harbor. Successful applicants will be required to arrive at the transportation dock to start work at the beginning of their scheduled tours; reliable personal transportation is needed to arrive on time, typically 7am (SCI) or 8am (CAT). Additionally, applicants will need to be comfortable with boat travel for approximately 2-5 hours (pending destination and stops) each direction during the employment period. Island work and scheduling is dependent on many factors, so flexibility to schedule changes is preferred. Island housing is provided during work tours. Island housing consists of a shared bunkhouse with amenities (bathroom/hot showers, living room, kitchen, and internet). Cell phone service is limited, internet service may not be reliable. Housing on the mainland is not provided. Successful Santa Cruz Island applicants will receive a stipend for field clothes and boots of $300, while Catalina Island Conservancy will provide work boots and coveralls for the Catalina crew, and no stipend. All applicants will also receive field shirts, buffs, and hats. All other personal items including food, bedding, and additional clothing will be provided by the applicant. Herbicide application requires the use of closed toed, waterproof boots with thick socks, long sleeve shirts, long pants, gloves, and eye protection. CIES will provide data collection devices, spray equipment, and proper PPE for work tasks (gloves, eye protection, hand washing stations, rags, etc.). 

Application Submission: Please email a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references (include names, email addresses, and phone numbers) to: jobs@ciesresearch.org. Please include which position(s) you are most interested in. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The job application window will be open until positions are filled.