Beaver Restoration Technician

Description

Trout Unlimited is a national organization with 300,000 members and supporters organized into over 400 chapters and councils nationwide. These dedicated grassroots volunteers are matched by a respected staff of organizers, lawyers, policy experts, and scientists, who work out of more than 45 offices across the country.  Our mission is to conserve, protect, and restore North America's cold-water fisheries and their watersheds.

The Wenatchee-Entiat Beaver Project was established in 2018 to provide technical assistance, education, and support to the communities of Washington’s Chelan and Douglas counties to help resolve human-beaver conflicts through coexistence and relocation. We “partner” with beavers to harness their restorative potential by relocating them to vital streams so that they can enhance the aquatic zone and adjacent floodplain while providing habitat for a host of fish and wildlife species, including threatened and endangered salmonids. Learning from beavers, the project applies beaver-mimicking restoration to degraded streams. Called low-tech process-based restoration, we install structures such as beaver dam analogs and post assisted log structures to kickstart natural processes to allow streams to heal themselves. We have become a leader in installing low-tech process-based restoration projects throughout these same geographies. Through giving presentations, tabling at events, attending community meetings, and offering volunteer opportunities, we strive for local involvement in our work.

Position Summary

The Wenatchee-Entiat Beaver Project is seeking motivated individuals excited about stream restoration work to apply for our Beaver Restoration Technician position. The Beaver Restoration Technician will report directly to the Restoration Program Director and will be responsible for helping implement TU’s beaver restoration program in the Upper Columbia River region. This includes implementation of low-tech process-based restoration, installation of beaver coexistence devices, and relocation of beavers, among other duties, to restore and enhance the landscapes of Central Washington. The Beaver Restoration Technician will share the Wenatchee-Entiat Beaver Project’s mission through public outreach.  

A successful candidate will complete assigned duties safely and efficiently, conduct work professionally as a public representative for TU, and work collaboratively with the Beaver Restoration Project Manager. The primary duty station will be the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery in Leavenworth, WA. 

Duties and Responsibilities

· Restoration (Beaver Dam Analogues, etc.) site preparation, construction, and maintenance (45%). 

· Trapping, handling, acclimating, and releasing beavers (20%). 

· Field site evaluation, preparation, and monitoring (10%). 

· Acclimation facility and equipment preparation, maintenance, and cleaning (10%). 

· Construction and maintenance of drip irrigation system and maintenance of riparian planting site (5%)

· Public outreach, and education/interpretation (5%). 

· Administrative, collecting/analyzing field data, grant writing, reporting (5%). 

· Other duties as assigned. 

· This is a non-supervisory position and does not have budget management responsibilities. 

This is not an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities.

Requirements

· Field experience in fisheries, wildlife, or other natural resources discipline (gained through education and/or employment). 

· Enthusiasm for natural resources conservation.  

·  Ability to work well independently and in a group setting with people of different ages and backgrounds.  

· Ability to problem-solve, think creatively, and handle conflict and contentious situations to achieve a conservation mission.  

· Must be adaptable to challenging field conditions and changing schedules. 

· Ability to write and speak about complex or controversial information in a way that is both understandable and non-confrontational to different audiences. 

· Ability to take interest in and understand the perspective of others. 

· Strong organizational skills and attention to detail. 

· Must have a valid driver’s license and willingness to drive unimproved roads; no special certifications required. 

· Ability to walk several miles on/off trail in remote forested, mountain, range, and stream settings. 

· Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience conducting restoration projects.
• Experience handling/trapping fish/wildlife, particularly mammals.
• Experience collecting/analyzing field data. 
• Knowledge of culture, language, customs and traditions of Colville, Yakama, or other tribes. 
• Experience with hand tools and power equipment. 
• Experience using Microsoft Office applications, ArcGIS software (including Field Maps and Survey123 applications), and GPS units. 
• College-level coursework or degree in fisheries, wildlife, natural resources, water, parks and recreation management, landscape architecture, watershed planning, geography, land use planning, biology, forestry, environmental studies, or a related field. 
• Experience communicating with resource professionals and the public. 

Working Conditions and Hazards 

• Works primarily in a field setting, with minimal time in an office setting. Beaver trapping and acclimation will occur in parks, agricultural settings, a fish hatchery, and on both public and private properties. Beaver relocations will occur in mountain streams within public and/or private forest and range lands. Applicants will work in swift streams, thick brush, heat/cold, and may be exposed to biting insects, thorny plants, and other challenging field conditions. Flexibility, good humor, and a positive attitude are imperative.?  
• Health, Safety, or Administrative Requirements: Capable of walking over rough terrain for short distances (<1 mile) regularly or occasionally over long distances (several miles). Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations. 
• Position duration: April 14th - October 16, 23, or 30, end date flexible depending on needs of the program. 
• Schedule: The primary work schedule will be Monday-Thursday, 7:00 am – 5:30 pm, but will vary depending on program activities and will occasionally include weekends. Beaver trapping will require an early morning and evening schedule. Overnight travel will be infrequent but may be required for training or work purposes. 
• Tools and Equipment: Hydraulic post pounder, grip hoist, powered winch, shovel, saw, loppers, and other hand tools, laptop computer, tablet, and cellphone.

Safety and Training

Trout Unlimited is committed to a safe working environment. The field crew will receive training in procedures, best practices, and standard protocols for conducting program activities safely and efficiently.

Salary and Benefits

Staff and leadership at TU understand that life outside of work is important to personal health, and we strive to create a healthy and family-friendly atmosphere. This is a temporary, full-time position with a pay range of $20-$22 (DOQ). Technicians accrue sick leave biweekly. A personal vehicle may sometimes be required, and mileage will be reimbursed at the current federal rate. These positions are not eligible for other benefits and the program is not able to offer housing. 

At TU, we value a diverse representation of staff, and we actively seek candidates for this position who come from communities that have been historically under-represented in conservation and those who have been most impacted by degraded rivers and streams. We are committed to building space for all people to participate in our work to care for trout and salmon and clean our shared waters. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and welcome you to read more about TU’s equity practice and values https://www.tu.org/equity/.

How to Apply

Please upload a resume and cover letter using TU's Paylocity application system linked below. Applications will be accepted through 6:00 am on March 17, 2025. 

Salary : $20 - $22