Sage-grouse Technicians – Northern Wyoming

Minimum Education Level: Some Undergraduate

Minimum Years of Experience: 1

Hours per Week: 30-50

Salary: $18.06

Position duration: 3/30/26 – 8/15/26 (start and end dates somewhat flexible)

Location: Cody, WY and Lovell, WY

Website: https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/sagehabitatteam/

Job Description:

The Bighorn Basin Sage-Grouse Movement Project is hiring 4 seasonal technicians to assist a master’s student in conducting research on Greater Sage-Grouse in northern Wyoming. Sage-grouse are a species of management and conservation concern and face numerous threats including habitat loss and degradation. This project aims to better understand how Sage-Grouse move between and within seasonal habitats and evaluate movement responses to different perceived or physical barriers. This project also involves data collection on broader sagebrush community components, such as point counts for raptors and songbirds, camera trapping, and the use of autonomous recording units (ARUs). This data collection supports long-term research conducted in collaboration with local, state, and federal agencies.

Field efforts are conducted across the northern portion of the Bighorn basin, with most work being based out of Cody, Wyoming. Shared housing will be provided in either Cody or Powell, WY. Crew members may be expected to camp in a camp trailer for 1-4 nights at a time occasionally, or in a tent 1-2 nights occasionally.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Commuting long distances to study sites and driving 4WD trucks and/or UTVs on gravel roads and 2-tracks.
• Navigating to sites using Field Maps and OnX Hunt mobile apps; recording data in Survey123.
• Capturing sage-grouse at night using a spotlight and hoop net (dependent on start date).
• VHF radio tracking greater sage-grouse hens to monitor their nests and broods.
• Conducting brood surveys on sage-grouse at night.
• Conducting raptor, corvid, and sagebrush obligate songbird point counts.
• Deploying Trail Cameras and ARUs.
• Vegetation sampling (time permitting).

Working Conditions:

Study areas are located in remote areas of the Bighorn Basin largely without cellphone service. Driving 4WD and OHV vehicles and towing trailers is required (work trucks are provided). Technicians can expect to hike 3-10 miles per day off trail in steep and rocky terrain. Weather conditions range from snow/freezing conditions in early spring to 100°F+ temperatures by late summer. Work hours will vary depending on the weather and time of year but will average out to 40 hours per week. 2-4 weeks of night work at the start of the season will be required if assisting with sage-grouse captures. Housing in a central location will be provided, but long commutes (in work provided vehicle) or camping will be required to complete data collection in especially remote sites. Technicians will work under the supervision of a master’s student but primarily conduct surveys by themselves, therefore qualified candidates will be self-motivated, capable of working with little supervision, and have excellent navigation skills.

Qualifications:

Required:

• 2 years of college level coursework in wildlife biology, rangeland ecology, or related field -OR- an equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Must be highly organized, detail oriented, and possess a strong work ethic.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team in a remote setting.
• Ability to work in inclement weather and live/work in a remote setting.
• Ability to safely navigate in backcountry areas using topographic maps, compass, and GPS/phone navigation apps.
• Experience safely operating 4WD vehicles on dirt and gravel roads.
• Capable of hiking up to 10 miles/day off trail in steep and rocky terrain carrying up to 25lbs of equipment.
• Capable of lifting 50lbs (e.g. loading large water jugs into truck beds). 
• Willingness to camp up to 3 nights a week to complete data collection in remote areas.
• Flexibility in work schedule and duties.
• Successfully complete a criminal history check and be determined to be position qualified as per OSU Standard 576-055-0000 et seq.
• Successfully complete a motor vehicle history check, possess and maintain a current, valid driver’s license in your state of residence, be determined to be position qualified and self-report convictions as per Oregon State University Policy 05-030.

Preferred:

• Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Biology, Rangeland Ecology, or related field
• Previous field research experience
• Ability to identify western birds by sight and sound, particularly corvids and raptors
• Experience using radio telemetry to track wildlife
• Experience deploying Trail Cameras and/or ARUs
• Experience working in the sagebrush steppe
• Experience with bird capture and handling
• Experience driving 4WD vehicles and UTVs and/or ATVs
• Experience working in grizzly bear country
• Experience towing and backing up trailers/campers
• CPR/First Aid Certified
• Demonstrable commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity

Applicants with previous radio telemetry and point count/bird ID experience are highly preferred, however less experienced, highly motivated individuals are still encouraged to apply. This position provides an opportunity to work with a variety of study species using a wide range of field sampling techniques. The Bighorn Basin affords ample opportunities for recreation, with the Absaroka mountains within minutes, and the east entrance to Yellowstone about an hour away.