The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the US Forest Service, is recruiting a wildlife crew lead to support planning and implementation of vegetation management projects on the Tahoe National Forest in the Sierra Nevada, California. The crew lead will be responsible for coordinating and supervising 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 lead will oversee daily field operations, mentor and train crew members, and serve as the primary point of contact between the field crew and US Forest Service/GBI staff. The crew lead will provide technical advice and leadership for wildlife management programs including: planning and leading of 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; and inventorying and monitoring habitat populations. 

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 crew lead 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.

Qualifications/Requirements

• Experience in conducting wildlife surveys; preferred experience with California spotted owl and American goshawk
• Previous crew lead 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 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.