Wildlife Field Technician I (Marsh and Wading Birds)

Job description: This position requires extensive boating experience. Please do not apply unless you have significant boating experience already, as we need to boat at night occasionally. This is an 11-month recurring position with the option to return for subsequent years.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work on the conservation of two federally listed species and with a variety of field equipment and techniques, in coastal North Carolina. The position will assist the Wildlife Diversity Biologist (coastal waterbirds) with data analysis and surveys for Black Rail, other marsh birds, and wading birds in the coastal region of North Carolina. The primary responsibilities of the technician will be related to field work and data analysis for the Black Rail conservation and monitoring project. Outside of the field season, work will mostly consist of analysis of sound files from Autonomous Recording Units (ARUs). During the field season Black Rail field work will last from April until the end of October and consists of call-response surveys conducted two to three times per week from May through July (this requires waking by 3 am to get to sites), testing, setting, and maintaining field cameras and ARUs, and using various methods to collect water depth data in salt marsh. We will be walking up to 3 miles through salt marsh on many days. Many surveys will involve the use of motorized boats and kayaks and will include pre-dawn hours. Ten days of heron nest colony surveys will take place by plane in the early spring. There will also be approximately five days of Wood Stork surveys by airplane and kayak.  Some overnight travel is expected. Occasional work on other coastal waterbird projects will be required such as data entry, nesting bird sign posting, and nest counting.  Office work is done from a home office. The work location is in or south of New Bern, NC in order to access boats in New Bern and Black Rail survey sites in the very early morning.

Compensation: Dependent on final budget approval and upon education and experience. May be up to $18.60 per hour and perhaps more. Position will be 40 hours per week for 48 weeks, with the chance for renewal in subsequent years. Schedule is variable, depending on field activities and weather. Housing is not provided. During travel for field work, a vehicle is provided, lodging is paid for any overnight travel, and subsistence (meals) is provided according to the State of North Carolina policies for employees, during travel. Internet service charges are compensated. Health insurance is available through the state’s High Deductible Health Plan.

Qualifications: Applicants must have extensive boat driving experience in coastal waters. Please include the level of boat driving experience in your resume. Please detail your boating experience in coastal waters in your cover letter, including how many times you have driven, trailered, launched, recovered, and towed boats. Associate’s degree in Wildlife Ecology, Management, or Biology; Ecology; Zoology; Marine Biology; or similar field is required; a Bachelor’s degree is desired. A minimum of one season of prior fieldwork experience is preferred. Demonstrated ability to conduct bird surveys by ear is preferred and ability to identify marsh birds and wading birds by sight and sound is preferred. Must be comfortable driving a boat and a four-wheel drive vehicle, walking several miles per day in challenging field conditions (salt marsh), and carrying ≥30 lbs. Must be able to start work promptly at various times, including well before sunrise. Competency with Microsoft Office software is required and GIS proficiency is preferred. Excellent organizational skills, conscientious data entry and management, and good interpersonal and communication skills are required.

Duration: Position starts on February 17, 2025. Duration is 11 months with the possibility of continuation for a subsequent 11 months the next year, depending on availability of funding. Please indicate the dates of your availability in your application.