Wildlife Crew Lead (Basin and Range Forestry)

USFS, California

The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the US Forest Service, is recruiting Wildlife Crew Leads to support the study and review of proposed actions in National Forests in the Sierra Nevada. Crew Leads will support Wildlife Technicians in performing field surveys, collecting data, and providing technical assistance to assess wildlife habitat for various species. Fieldwork will consider federally listed species, candidate species, and those proposed for listing while assessing the ecosystems upon which they depend. This work is in furtherance of ESA goals that seek the best available scientific information to inform forest restoration planning.

This evergreen posting is designed to establish a talent pool for upcoming roles typically active from early spring to fall each year (typically March - October). Each position involves working on varied projects with potential assignments focused on specific species, such as raptors, amphibians, or carnivores, based on project needs. Successful applicants will be hired for specific projects as they arise, with responsibilities tailored to particular species and habitat at various forest locations.

A Temporary Special Assignment (TSA) employee is one who is hired for a specific temporary assignment external from the institutes administrative operations with one of GBIs partners for 52 weeks or greater or less than 52 weeks and may work full-time (30 or more hours per week) or part-time (less than 30 hours per week).

Essential Job Functions may include the following:

• Lead field crews in conducting species-specific wildlife surveys and habitat assessments (e.g., California Spotted-Owl, Northern Goshawk, Pacific Fisher, Sierra Nevada Yellow-Legged Frog).
• Manage crew safety, coordinate daily tasks, and ensure data collection adheres to USFS management protocols.
• Perform species monitoring, habitat assessments, and maintain field survey stations (e.g., acoustics, baited camera stations).
• Collaborate with USFS and GBI staff to support vegetation management and environmental compliance measures.
• Administrative duties such as meeting with GBI staff, leading report writing, receipt management, managing crew members and team dynamics.
• Additional tasks may include survey equipment setup, data quality assurance, and training.

Requirements/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.

• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Experience in conducting wildlife surveys; preferred experience with California Spotted-Owl, Northern Goshawk, Pacific Fisher, or Sierra Nevada Yellow-Legged Frog
• Experience in standard field methods for wildlife surveys, status assessments, and habitat characterization
• 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, possibly including some weekends, nights, holidays
• Skills in GPS navigation and map reading
• Physical ability for fieldwork in remote areas, including overnight camping if necessary
• Effective communication skills for coordination with multidisciplinary teams
• Possess a clean, valid, state-issued drivers license with the ability to safely operate and maintain a 4WD vehicle on and off paved roads
• Experience leading crews in the field preferred

• Education: Bachelors degree in Biology, Ecology, Natural Resource Management, or related field, with fieldwork experience OR three years of wildlife fieldwork experience.

WORK SCHEDULE

Projects begin as early as March and end as late as November. Season schedules are project specific.

Most Wildlife Crew Lead positions follow 10 hour days, 4 days a week schedule. Many crews will work a varied schedule including nighttime surveys. Some crews may work 8 days on 4 days off schedules.

Temporary Special Assignment employees are eligible to receive holiday pay, if partner approved. 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 Holiday(s).

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Wage: $26/hour with overtime at 1.5x hourly rate. Full time, average 40 hours per week

BENEFITS WILL NEED REVIEW EVERY TIME POSTED ( 1 YR OR <1 YR OR <90 DAYS)

>1YR duration In addition to a competitive base salary, this full-time,onsite position includes company-paid 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, and voluntary Life/AD&D policies for family members. Mental health support resources are employer provided, competitive PTO accrual, and paid holidays. This exciting role contributes to GBIs 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).

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 to the unique application link. Qualified applicants will be contacted to schedule an interview. For questions regarding this position, please contact

kmckinnon@gbinstitute.org

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 computer business equipment and other 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.