The Great Basin Institute, in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), is seeking Wildlife Technicians to conduct wildlife, aquatic, and habitat surveys within USFS Region 5 locations in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. These positions directly contribute to management efforts for sensitive, threatened, and endangered species, such as the Northern goshawk, Spotted Owl, and Sierra Nevada red fox.

A Temporary Special Assignment (TSA) employee is hired for a specific temporary assignment external to the institute’s administrative operations with one of GBI’s partners. Assignments may be 52 weeks or greater or less than 52 weeks and may be full-time (30 or more hours per week) or part-time (less than 30 hours per week).

Essential Job Functions may include the following:

• Support population monitoring and habitat surveys.
• Ensure adequate protections during vegetation management and restoration projects.
• Contribute to legally mandated compliance measures that support forest resilience.
• Gain exposure to USFS procedures, compliance obligations, and multidisciplinary technical opportunities, which may include archaeology, forestry, and hydrology.
• Conduct broadcast acoustical surveys for Northern goshawks.
• Perform nocturnal surveys for Spotted Owls.
• Monitor nesting and reproductive status.
• Survey and identify aquatic species.
• Gather, compile, and analyze data to assess wildlife habitat requirements and population management needs.
• Inventory and monitor habitats, assessing quality and biological suitability.
• Interpret and apply biological requirements for target wildlife species.

These efforts contribute to the long-term resilience of forest ecosystems, helping adapt to climate change impacts, mitigate wildfire risks, and ensure forest health for future generations.

Location

Stanislaus National Forest – Mi-Wuk Ranger District

This position is based on the Mi-Wuk Ranger District of the Stanislaus National Forest in California. The district is located along the Highway 108 corridor on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada and encompasses a wide range of elevations, habitats, and forest types. The area includes mixed conifer forests, montane meadows, riparian corridors, and alpine environments that support diverse wildlife species.

The Mi-Wuk Ranger District provides access to extensive public lands used for wildlife monitoring, habitat management, and conservation efforts. Nearby communities include Mi-Wuk Village, Pinecrest, and Twain Harte, with the San Francisco Bay Area located approximately three hours west. The region offers abundant recreational opportunities, including hiking, camping, fishing, and winter sports.

WORK SCHEDULE

Project work may start as early as late March and continue until October.

The Wildlife Crew follow 10-hour days, four days per week  schedule

Temporary Special Assignment employees are eligible to receive holiday pay, if approved by the partner. 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 Holidays.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Wage: $21/hour with overtime at 1.5× hourly rate. Full-time, average 40 hours per week.

Housing/Barrack: Free shared housing provided for the crew members.

In addition to a competitive base salary, this full-time, on-site position includes company-paid premium comprehensive medical, dental (with option to upgrade in coverage), and vision insurance, as well as $25,000 Life/AD&D policy. Voluntary short-term and long-term disability policies are available, along with voluntary Life/AD&D policies for family members. Mental health support resources are employer provided, competitive PTO accrual, and paid holidays. This role contributes to GBI’s significant positive impacts within the fields of environmental research, education, and conservation.

TSA employees who serve a term under 52 weeks in duration, and have a thirty (30) day or less break between terms, and then sign a second term that (cumulatively) becomes greater than 52 weeks of employment, will be eligible for the >1-year TSA benefits (equivalent to Regular full-time employees). Employees serving a term under 90 days are not eligible for paid holidays or sick leave time. 

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, employees must be able to satisfactorily carry out each essential duty. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Technician - Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Proficiency in wildlife species identification.
• Navigation skills: Experience with GIS, GPS, map reading, and compass use.
• Knowledge and experience with survey protocols for California wildlife species, especially California Spotted Owls, Northern Goshawks, carnivores.
• Ability to work well with others
• Ability to accommodate a flexible schedule (evening work for owl surveys and day work for goshawks; we prioritize sleep, so we typically do not have morning shifts after working an evening shift)
• Ability to conduct strenuous field work in varying weather conditions
• The ability to stay positive about this challenging, but awesome work
• Valid state-issued driver’s license.
• Ability to hear and identify owl and goshawk calls.
• Excellent to good physical condition: Capable of carrying a 40–50 lb. pack across steep terrain at high elevations.
• Self-motivated with a desire to work independently or in small groups in remote locations.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Ecology, Natural Resource Management, or related field, with fieldwork experience OR one season of wildlife fieldwork experience.

TO APPLY

Please submit an up-to-date resume, a one-page cover letter that details your interest in the position, and any qualifications not fully outlined in your resume, and contact information for three professional references..

PHYSICAL DEMANDS  

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands, stand, walk, bend, and have specific vision abilities to include close and distance vision, and ability to adjust focus working with job/industry specific equipment. The noise level in the work environment is usually low.

NOTE:  This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the organization's ongoing needs.

Disclaimer: Although the organization has attempted to accurately and thoroughly describe this position, GBI reserves the right to change the same, including to change, add to or subtract from the duties outlined, within the sole discretion of the organization, at any time, with or without advance notice.