Job Announcement: Wildlife Diversity Technician, Idaho Fish and Game, $12.31 per hour
Interested in climate change and its effect on various species? Come to the mountainous Idaho panhandle and join an effort to collect climate data and conduct surveys for a variety of species that no one has looked for in years. Spend your days hiking and exploring coniferous forests, spruce bogs and alpine lakes. Spend your nights camping under the stars. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) is seeking 2 field technicians for the Multi-species Baseline Initiative (MBI) 2014 summer field season.
Technicians will conduct surveys for amphibians and collect climate data loggers. Duties will include (but are not limited to): dip netting for amphibians, collecting amphibian samples (tissue and chytrid), collecting climate loggers and recording all observations of other species of interest. Many amphibian surveys will occur on private land and technicians will contact private landowners to coordinate wetland visits. There may also be opportunities to conduct waterbird and bald eagle surveys, identify gastropod specimens, and take down forest carnivore bait stations. The majority of the plots are accessed by driving 4x4 trucks on unimproved mountain roads and hiking with a heavy pack (≥30lbs) off-trail through dense brush and rough terrain. However, there will also be surveys that occur in a suburban/urban environment where driving 4x4 trucks on busy streets and interacting with the public will be required.
Technicians will work as part of a small crew. Usually work is conducted alone during the day and the crew camps together at night. Self-sufficiency and comfort working as a small team are key. Employees must be willing to happily work long hours in variable weather conditions (rain, snow, wind) and biting animals (mosquitoes, black flies, grizzly bears). Primitive camping will be required. When not in the field, technicians will organize samples and enter data. Work schedule initially will be 8 days on and 6 days off. Pay will be $12.31/hour. Positions will start in late-May and will continue through October.
Minimum qualifications are the ability to:
1) camp and work alone in grizzly bear country, 2) navigate primitive dirt roads and hike cross country with map, compass, and GPS unit, 3) accurately collect data, 4) interact with landowners, and 5) hike 10 miles per day cross country with 30 pound pack.
Preference will be given to candidates with taxonomic knowledge of northwest amphibians. Your application will score extra points for each of the four north Idaho amphibians pictured in this announcement you identify in your cover letter. One season of field experience and college level natural resource course work is required.
To apply: no later than April 20, email a resume (2 page maximum length), contact information for 3 professional references and a cover letter. For your cover letter: In 500 words or less address the qualifications and describe your worst day in the field. Your application will score extra points for each of the four north Idaho amphibian species pictured in this announcement that you identify correctly (just identify them in your cover letter). Please save all of your documents as ONE file, use the subject header of “Summer MBI Technician” and email to:
Shannon Ehlers
Wildlife Research Biologist
Idaho Department of Fish and Game
baselinembi@gmail.com
We expect employees to produce large amounts of high quality data. Please do not apply for this job if you do not wish your work to be held to a very high standard.
