JOB TITLE: Junior Wildlife Biologist – Seasonal Positions

LOCATION: Yakima Training Center, Yakima, WA.

DURATION: 6-8 months; anticipated start date: 4 March 2019

SALARY: DOE

LAST DATE TO APPLY: 30 January, 2019

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Three Junior Wildlife Biologists are being recruited to work for either Stell (One 8-month position only) or Whitetail Environmental (Two 6-month positions) on a joint contract in support of the Wildlife Program at the Yakima Training Center for the U.S. Army. The Yakima Training Center is an active military training facility that provides versatile training support and services to enable Joint Fore readiness. Its area comprises one of the largest parcels of shrub-steppe ecosystem (327,000 acres) remaining in Washington State, representing a critical area for the conservation of biodiversity.

The Wildlife Program contract staff consists of 5 seasonal and 3 year-round staff that provide field based and technical support to the Wildlife Program Manager, our customer. The seasonal positions are field-based with a small office component. Field work will begin in March for all positions. Initially the work schedule will be 5-8hr days (7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.), switching to a 4-10hr day work schedule in April or May (5:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.). Fluctuating work schedules (including working at night) and extremely early start times occur frequently throughout the field season. The candidates will be exposed to a diversity of shrub-steppe flora and fauna. The seasonal work varies annually depending on customer needs and priorities, but typically includes: sage-grouse lek counts, surveys, captures and radio-tracking, raptor nest monitoring, burrowing owl surveys, captures and banding, sagebrush restoration monitoring, rare plant surveys, West-Nile virus monitoring, and stream temperature monitoring.

To successfully perform the job tasks for the positions above, candidates must be organized, detail oriented, with excellent interpersonal skills to provide strong focus and high-quality customer service. Positions require effective communication skills and the ability to complete all delegated tasks within a specified timeline as required by the customer and supervisor. Ultimately, we are seeking candidates that are enthusiastic, adaptable, and can work independently and as part of a team.

Housing is not provided for these positions.

JOB DUTIES MAY INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

Sage-Grouse

  • Work alone to count males on leks and search new areas for undiscovered leks.
  • Assist in captures and subsequent radio-tracking.
  • Work with a team to measure habitat characteristics at nests.

Raptor Surveys

  • Work alone to locate raptor and raven nests, identify species, check for occupancy, and monitor nest statuses.
  • Conduct burrowing owl broadcast calling and walking surveys to locate new nests.
  • Assist with burrowing owl, American kestrel, and raven captures and banding.

Sagebrush Restoration Monitoring

  • Work with a team to measure vegetation characteristics and species composition in established planted or seeded monitoring areas.

Rare and Sensitive Plant Surveys

  • Search proposed ground disturbance project sites for rare and sensitive plants.
  • Monitor existing populations and locate new populations of rare and sensitive plants.

West-Nile Virus Monitoring

  • Deploy light-traps at established sampling locations to capture mosquitoes. Retrieve traps, sort and identify catch, and process for mailing to lab for virus testing.

Stream Temperature Monitoring

  • Locate stream temperature loggers and retrieve data. Move and reinstall loggers when necessary.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required:

  • An associate’s degree or higher in wildlife management, wildlife biology, wildlife ecology, botany, or another related natural resource field.
  • A minimum 6 months field experience conducting wildlife or vegetative surveys/monitoring, research or management related to natural resources.
  • Candidate must be a U.S. Citizen, have a current driver’s license, and be able to pass a background security investigation.
  • Must be able to drive 4×4 vehicles on unimproved roads.
  • Must have experience with orientation and be able to use a GPS and compass to find locations on a map.

Preferred:

  • Knowledge, experience, and/or fluency with biological monitoring, wildlife habitat requirements, standard field methods for vegetative and avian surveys within shrub-steppe habitat.
  • Experience with tracking wildlife using radio-telemetry.
  • Experience with avian captures and banding.
  • Experience in identifying raptor species.
  • Experience in identifying native plants; knowledge of local shrub-steppe and riparian species is preferable.

COMPETENCIES:

The candidate must be prepared to work alone or as part of a team in a variety of conditions, including rain and extreme heat or cold and be comfortable working on an active Army training facility. The candidate must be able to adapt to sudden changes in work schedules. Candidates should be enthusiastic and willing to learn new field techniques and species identification to improve their skill sets. Applicants should be able to carry a heavy pack with survey and safety equipment on long hikes often on uneven terrain. The ability to record legible and complete field notes and perform occasional data entry in standard Excel spreadsheet format is required.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

**To Apply: Please submit a cover letter and resume in PDF or WORD format to Kevin White at: kevin.r.white81.ctr@mail.mil and indicate either in the cover letter or via e-mail if you are
choosing to only be considered for a 6-month or an 8-month position, otherwise you will be considered for both**