Wildlife Biologist/Assistant Project Biologist

Wage: Range $25.00 to $28.00 per hour depending on experience and responsibilities. This is a full-time, year-round position based in Fremont CA. This position offers a competitive benefits package including group health, dental, and vision. Housing is not provided.

Project Name: Common Murre Restoration Project

Supervisor: Richard Golightly, Ph.D.

Background and duties: The Common Murre Restoration Project is seeking an Assistant Project Biologist to assist the Lead Biologist with aspects of a long-term monitoring study of breeding seabirds including Common Murre, Brandt’s Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Western Gull, Black Oystercatcher, and Pigeon Guillemot along the central California coast. This project is conducted cooperatively by Cal Poly Humboldt and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex). The purpose of the project is to aid in the recovery of Common Murre colonies that were depleted because of oil spills, human disturbance, and other anthropogenic factors.
Primary duties will include field season logistics (e.g. arranging housing for technicians, coordinating with project partners to ensure access to field sites, preparing and re-stocking field supplies, coordinating routine vehicle and equipment maintenance), assisting with field staff training, data entry and proofing, approximately 1-2 days/week assisting with bird surveys during the field season (documenting human disturbances to seabirds, bird counts, productivity monitoring, , organizing long-term data and project files), or other duties assigned by the Lead Biologist or Principal Investigator. Other duties may include database maintenance, statistical analysis, and assistance in preparation of an annual report.

Successful applicants must demonstrate specific evidence of excellent organizational and communication skills, ability to work independently, and ability to make good decisions. Preference may be given to applicants with prior field experience with seabird or other wildlife monitoring or census techniques and experience working with large datasets. Additional evaluation will be based on the applicant’s knowledge and experience with computer use, databases, and report preparation, and leadership or supervisory skills.

Duration: Desired start date on or about March 1, 2024.

Minimum Qualifications:

1) Bachelor’s degree in wildlife, biological sciences, or related discipline with an emphasis in wildlife biology, restoration or behavior;

2) current driver’s license with a good driving record;

3) specific and demonstrable organizational skills;

4) specific and demonstrable database entry and proofing skills;

5) specific and demonstrable communication skills;

6) specific and demonstrable problem solving and leadership skills

7) ability to sufficiently move and lift equipment up to 50 lbs;

8) ability to regularly hike up to 3 miles in steep/narrow/uneven terrain while carrying up to 50 lbs of gear; and 9) ability to work at the tops of high, steep cliffs.

Preferred Qualifications:

1) experience with seabird colony monitoring,

2) ability to perform sedentary behavioral observations for multiple hours uninterrupted,

3) experience using spotting scopes,

4) experience entering and proofing data in databases,

5) experience managing and manipulating large datasets,

6) knowledge of SQL and database design in MS Access,

7) experience with statistical analysis and scientific writing,

8) experience with project administration.