Wildlife Biologist/Site Leader

Wage: Range $25.00 to $27.00 per hour depending on experience and responsibilities. Housing at the field site will be provided. This is a full-time, non-exempt position. This position offers a competitive benefits package including group health, dental, and vision.

Project Name: Common Murre Restoration Project

Supervisor: Richard Golightly, Ph.D.

Background and duties: The Common Murre Restoration Project is seeking up to two (pending available funding) Site Leader positions to conduct monitoring 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 documenting human disturbances to seabirds, conducting seabird population and productivity surveys, database entry and proofing, training and supervising up to two Wildlife Technicians, scheduling and managing daily field work, ensuring accurate data recording and entry, summarizing field data, report writing, coordinating with project partners, and interacting with the public. Other duties may include counting seabirds from aerial photographs, or other related tasks as assigned. Multi-day travel between multiple sites away from the primary duty station may be required. Site Leaders will be expected to assist with pre-season preparation of field equipment and supplies, post-season data analysis and preparation of an annual report.

Successful applicants must demonstrate specific evidence of leadership and good communication skills, ability to work independently, and ability to make good decisions in the field. Preference may be given to applicants with prior field experience with seabirds. Additional preference may be given to experience with wildlife monitoring or census techniques as well as the applicant’s knowledge and experience with computer use, databases, and report preparation.

Duration: Approximately 1 April through end of August 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) ability to move and lift equipment up to 50 lbs;

4) ability to regularly hike up to 3 miles in steep/narrow/uneven terrain while carrying up to 50 lbs of gear;

5) ability to work at the tops of high, steep cliffs,

6) specific and demonstrable leadership skills;

7) specific and demonstrable database data entry and proofing skills; and 8) specific and demonstrable communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

1) good wildlife observation skills,

2) experience with seabird colony monitoring,

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

4) experience using spotting scopes,

5) attention to detail,

6) ability to work effectively as a team member, and

7) experience coordinating complex field work and managing a small staff.