The Institute for Wildlife Studies (IWS) is seeking highly motivated applicants the Project Leader position working with island foxes on San Clemente Island, California. This is a full-time position beginning June 2019.  Primary duties include:

1) Collecting and analyzing mark-recapture data to produce population size and apparent survival estimates.

2) Radio-collaring ~60 foxes and monitoring them from fixed wing aircraft and via ground telemetry to collect known-fate survival data, monitor for disease introduction, recover mortalities, and produce associated survival estimates.

3) Assisting in veterinary care of injured or sick foxes.

4) Duties will also include scheduling, supervising field personnel, data entry and analysis, report writing, attending meetings, coordinating with federal agency personnel, and working cooperatively with other IWS projects/personnel on the island.

Employees work 10 days on island, and then take 4 off (off island).  Additional information regarding IWS research and SCI is available on the IWS website (www.iws.org).  Note: No pets are allowed on SCI.

Location: San Clemente Island, near San Diego, California, is owned and operated by the U.S. Navy as a training facility and personnel will be required to follow established military protocols and rules, including keeping a clean and organized work and living space.

Qualifications: The Project Leader should have a M.Sc. in Wildlife Management, Conservation Biology, or a related field.  Candidates with a B.Sc. and extensive, demonstrable, post-graduate experience in project management, data analysis, and technical writing may also be considered.  The Project Leader should have skills and experience safely handing mammals, conducting radio telemetry, administering basic veterinary care, and with data entry and database management. In addition, applicants for the Project Leader position should have substantial experience with capture-recapture analyses, known-fates analyses, preparing scientific publications and presentations, producing reports and GIS maps, and staff supervision.  Experience operating ATV’s and full-sized, 4-wheel-drive trucks over rocky and muddy roads is preferred. Employment is conditional upon insurability with IWS, so a clean driving record is essential. This position requires considerable hiking, including hauling materials and equipment to and from remote sites. Applicants should be sure-footed, safe, and be prepared to hike long distances in steep, rocky, cactus-covered terrain. Applicants should enjoy living as part of a small research community in a busy field station, interacting with biologists working on other projects, and working with military personnel and members of other organizations who may have varying missions, opinions, and personalities.  Additionally, applicants must be willing to participate in the day-to-day upkeep of a busy field station, including cleaning work vehicles and shared kitchen and office spaces.

Compensation: Hourly rate of $17.25/hr, however; scheduled overtime results in average gross earnings of approximately $3,750/month or $45,000/year.

In addition, room and board will be provided while working on the island; off-island housing during days off is not provided. Flights on and off the island are provided at no cost. Benefits include employer-paid health insurance, sick leave, paid vacation, paid holidays, and an optional 403(b) retirement plan.