ACE: Advanced Wildlife Technician, Tahoe National Forest
ACE EPIC USFS CA: Tahoe National Forest, Advanced Wildlife Technicians
Summary: American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the Tahoe National Forest is seeking 2 Wildlife Technicians. This opportunity is intended for enthusiastic professionals, with a deep interest in advancing their career goals in natural resource management and conservation.
Advanced Wildlife Technicians will be expected to perform extensive field work. Field work will include a considerable amount of backpacking, with morning, daytime and night surveys. The Advanced Wildlife Technicians will conduct California spotted owl, northern goshawk and Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog surveys. Additional survey work may include Bald Eagle, carnivore cameras, California red-legged frog, bat outflight, peregrine falcon and pika. This position will require close coordination with the project leader, but most duties will be performed independently and in pairs, in the backcountry, which at times will require the member to take initiative and problem solve to determine priorities of their crew.
Start Date: March 2, 2020 or March 9, 2020
End Date: August 31, 2020
* A minimum 25-week commitment, with the possibility for a longer term *
Location: Yuba River Ranger District - Camptonville, CA
The Tahoe National Forest is located in the northern Sierra Nevada (east of Sacramento) and extends from the foothills across the Sierra crest to the California state line. It includes over 850,000 acres of public land interspersed with 350,000 acres of private land in a checkerboard ownership pattern. Rivers, snow-capped peaks and dense forests offer outstanding recreation year-round. A complex set of ecosystems are found as the terrain ascends from 1,500 feet along the western boundary to over 9,000 feet along the crest. The forest provides a variety of resources and opportunities and is managed by the Forest Service.
For more information about Tahoe National Forest, visit their website here.
Living Allowance: The member should anticipate serving 40 hrs/wk and will receive a living allowance of $865.00 /wk for food and incidentals, dispersed bi-weekly.
Per diem is provided for camping.
Housing: Accommodations may be available through the US Forest Service at a cost of $9-12/day in a typical FS bunkhouse setting.
Training Provided:
- GIS Class at candidates current knowledge level
- Red Card Refresher (if candidate holds current Red Card)
- CPR/First Aid
- Avenza and Collector field data collection systems
- Additionally training may include the following based on project needs/availability/ candidate skill level : ATV, Trailer driving, chainsaw, boat operation, and cross-training with other departments.
Project Objectives:
- Conduct California spotted owl, northern goshawk and Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog surveys alongside a 5-6 member crew. A large portion of the surveys will be done by backpacking for 2-5 day trips, on trails, with a partner. Additional species surveys may include: Bald Eagle, carnivore cameras, California red-legged frog, bat outflight, peregrine falcon and pika.
- Complete surveys to protocol and providing accurate and timely documentation. This position will require close coordination with the project leader, but most duties will be performed independently, which at times will require the member to take initiative and problem solve to determine priorities of their crew.
- Support other projects and responsibilities; including children's educational days, OHV impact monitoring, bird box placement and monitoring, making GIS maps and writing survey reports, quality control of data.
Qualifications:
Applicants will hold a bachelor's degree in a natural resource field, and have experience with wildlife in the field. Individuals with Master's degrees are highly encouraged to apply. This is a highly demanding outdoor job that requires substantial physical fitness and mobility, and a tolerance for extreme weather and demanding conditions.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience driving 4x4 and/or all-wheel drive vehicles safely in off-road conditions
- Experience hiking over remote, steep, and rocky terrain in adverse weather conditions
- The work is performed primarily in a field environment. Field work often requires moderate to strenuous physical exertion, including walking, bending, and climbing under adverse conditions for long periods of time
- Experience with amphibian and/or raptor field work
- Office duties include data entry, summarizing and compiling data
Required:
- Ability to hike steep terrain in challenging field conditions (biting insects, poison oak, thick vegetation, snow). Ability to backpack and camp for work.
- Experience and/or training in ArcGIS
- Experience conducting field work and biological surveys with established protocols
- Knowledge of the basic theories and practices of biological science sufficient to analyze findings
- Knowledge of the technical processes, procedures and techniques related to biological science samples, measurements, and analysis
- Proven ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group
- Ability to work independently at day or night including hiking, driving, following survey protocol
- Ability to navigate in remote areas using GPS, mobile devices, and paper maps
- Flexibility in switching between day and night survey work (maintaining appropriate work/rest ratio)
- Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation
- Ability to work as part of a team to meet project goals, as well as independently to complete survey tasks
- Must be able to communicate clearly and concisely with resource professionals
- Familiarity with Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft products
- Proficient in English
- U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
- A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request)
- Ability to pass a federal criminal background check
- ACE is a drug free workplace and reserves the right to drug test at any time
- Members must be at least 21 to apply for any ACE position that requires or anticipates operation of agency or ACE vehicles for duties.
The member must be willing to represent ACE and the Forest Service in a professional, positive and enthusiastic manner.
To Apply:
Please submit a resume with 3 professional references and cover letter using the APPLY NOW on our external application system, which Handshake will redirect you to.
Note:
Early consideration will be given as applications are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position, please feel free to contact ACE USFS Recruitment Specialist, Caroline Canter at ccanter@usaconservation.org or 385-249-4740.
EEO:
American Conservation Experience provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, American Conservation Experience complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.