Wildlife Technician (Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit)

USFS, CA

The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the US Forest Service, is recruiting a Wildlife Crew position to support the study and review of proposed actions in the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.

Description:

This position is equivalent to the USFS Biological Science Technician at the GS-05 level. 

Wildlife Crew members will participate fully in planned wildlife surveys including gathering, compiling, and analyzing data. Duties include, but may not be limited to:

• Learn the necessary protocols, proper use of field equipment, safety measures, general field skills, and data entry procedures;
• Anticipate hiking off trail on uneven, steep, sometimes brushy terrain for 8-10 hours/day
• Ensure your work and that of your coworkers is conducted in a safe and productive manner;
• Participate in non-field duties such as vehicle maintenance and cleaning, office care, animal care, and mandatory training;
• Ensure data collected is adequate, reliable, verifiable, and useful;
• Ensure collected data is stored safely;
• Participate in data analysis and reporting;
• Collaborate with partner agencies and consultants as well as within the Forest Service

Planned 2026 surveys include^* (in rough order of anticipated effort): 

• California spotted owl passive acoustic surveys, nest checks, and reproductive surveys
• American goshawk surveys and nest checks 
• Butterfly surveys
• Willow flycatcher surveys
• Carnivore camera surveys
• Bat acoustic surveys
• Willow mapping
• Bald eagle nest checks
• Sandhill crane surveys
• Peregrine falcon surveys

^*Field season planning is ongoing and anticipated effort and surveys included are subject to change.

Location:

The position will be stationed at the Meyers Workstation in South Lake Tahoe, CA.

Timeline:

• Start date: July
• End Date: September 30th
• This is a full time, 40 hours/week position.  Schedule needs to be flexible;
• The field crew generally tries to maintain a Monday-Thursday 4/10s schedule but due to the nature of the work, hours will vary;
• We try very hard to avoid working on Saturdays and do not work on Sundays (except for special holiday events);
• Daily schedule is flexible: surveys will require some early morning starts (5:00 AM or earlier) and some nighttime work; 
• The beginning of the season field work will be over-the-snow while mid-summer work will be hot (80-90°F).

Compensation and Benefits:

• Wage: $21.64/hour with overtime at 1.5x hourly rate. Full time, average 40 hours per week
• Housing provided 

In addition to a competitive base salary, this full-time,onsite position includes company-paid premium 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 GBI’s 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). Employees serving a term under 90 days are not eligible for paid holidays or sick leave time. 

Qualifications:

• Experience with GIS – ArcPro and AGOL;
• Skills in GPS and using a map and compass;
• Strong work ethic;
• Strong written and verbal communication skills;
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills;
• Possess a clean, valid, state-issued driver’s license with the ability to safely operate and maintain a 4WD vehicle on and off paved roads;
• Experience with a variety of wildlife survey techniques, especially those listed above;
• Willingness to work a variable schedule in response to project needs, including nighttime surveys and possibly including some weekends and holidays;
• Physical ability for fieldwork in remote areas, including overnight camping if necessary.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Ecology, Natural Resource Management, or related field, with fieldwork experience OR one season of wildlife fieldwork experience.

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. Qualified applicants will be contacted to schedule an interview. For questions regarding this position, please contact:

bcarlile@thegreatbasininstitute.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 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.

Salary : $22