Biological Field Technician

Western EcoSystems Technology, Inc. (WEST), a dynamic environmental and statistical consulting firm with offices across the United States and Canada, is looking for a temporary, part-time, Biological Field Technician. 

WEST has a permanent core of professionals with broad experience in basic and applied ecological studies and the sophisticated analysis of natural resource data. Since its founding in 1990, the WEST team has shaped the foundation of what we do, and what we believe in through our core values and key principles. Our work matters to our clients, communities, and the environment. Join WEST and discover a company of passionate, committed, and highly motivated individuals.

Please click here to see what benefits WEST offers!

Key Details:

• Compensation: $19.25 – 22.50/hour, DOE; eligible for overtime pay.
• Housing: Not provided
• Start Date: ASAP, field work starts August 3^rd
• End Date: October 30, 2026
• Location: Wind energy facility in Chowan County, North Carolina. Candidate should live within a 1.5-hour drive of Edenton NC (Norfolk VA, Nags Head NC, Greenville NC, etc.).
• Additional Details:

• Expect 16–36-hour work weeks comprising: 2 back-to-back 8-hour workdays weekly, with some weeks requiring additional shorter visits to the project (2–6-hour workdays).
• Travel to and from site and on site will be required; a rental vehicle with gas reimbursements will be provided for work-related travel. Company vehicles are equipped with telematics systems for safety, operational efficiency, and compliance purposes. However, the Employee may choose upon hire to use their personal vehicle with mileage reimbursed at $0.725/mile.

Job Summary:

The primary responsibilities of this position are:

• To conduct standardized searches for bird and bat carcasses beneath wind turbines.
• Successful candidates must be able to primarily work alone and unsupervised in a rural field setting, while also working well with others, and following field and data entry protocols.
• Previous experience conducting carcass searches is preferred but not required.
• On-site training will be provided by project management team.
• An average workweek will be approximately 16-36 hours, though there may be weeks requiring shorter or longer hours depending on seasonal objectives and logistics.

Responsibilities include:

• Standardized carcass searches
• Standardized protocols to measure sources of bias in fatality surveys
• Potential opportunities to conduct additional local and regional biological surveys such as eagle biomonitoring, if experience and availability align.

This is a general description of the functions for this position and is not inclusive of all the duties which may be associated with this position.

Requirements:

• Must be organized and able to collect, manage, and quality check data.
• Experience with eastern bat and/or bird identification is preferred, ability to identify species using guides/keys is required.
• Skilled use of communication technology and software that will be utilized in this job such as mobile GIS/mapping apps, mobile data collection forms, text messaging, email, and Microsoft Teams is strongly preferred.
• Use of GPS units, topographic maps, compass, and other field equipment is required and will be provided.
• Must accurately follow study plans, safety protocols, and other instructions from the management team.
• Must be able to work independently and interact professionally and respectfully with project managers, biologists, technicians, clients, and landowners
• Must be able to appear for work on time; start times may be as early as sunrise

Physical Requirements:

• Applicants must be in good physical condition; surveys will require extensive walking and repetitively getting in and out of their vehicle for entire shifts in locations where temperatures and conditions can be extreme.
• Technicians must be equipped with and provide own suitable safety toed footwear (steel or composite-toe), clothing suitable for outdoor work in all elements.

After an offer of employment is made, the candidate must successfully pass a pre-employment background check, drug screening, and a DMV records check that meets WEST’s minimum criteria to operate a motor vehicle on behalf of the company.  A valid driver’s license will be required. Candidates must adhere to all health and safety requirements. 

WEST provides equal employment opportunities to all individuals regardless of their race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, genetics, and any protected veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.  Further, WEST takes affirmative action to ensure that all individuals are treated fairly, and without discrimination, for recruitment, selection, advancement and every other term and privilege associated with employment.