Wildlife Project Manager_San Diego

About Wildlife Innovations Inc.:

Wildlife Innovations, Inc. is a biological consulting firm that specializes in wildlife management and conservation to support the recovery of threatened and endangered species, promote habitat restoration/maintenance, and reduce human/wildlife conflict. We utilize the latest technology to support our objectives, and those of our clients, and have extensive experience working on city, state, and federal lands, including in areas requiring a higher level of operational awareness, such as on military installations, State Parks, busy construction sites, and airports. Wildlife Innovations is certified by the State of California as a Small Business and Micro Business and by the City of San Diego as a SLBE. Our biologists are certified and permitted to employ a variety of techniques to support conservation initiatives (including environmental compliance) and mitigate wildlife conflicts in both urban and rural environments. 

Job Summary:

The Wildlife Project Manager will be responsible for assisting in multiple programs, including predator management for Threatened and Endangered species, environmental compliance, human/wildlife conflict, and damage management in San Diego and Orange Counties. This position is for a duration of approximately one year, beginning in March or April; however, promotion to permanent status may be possible, pending employee performance and experience. 

Compliance Obligations:

• Maintain compliance with Federal, State, and Local laws.

Duties and Responsibilities:

It is anticipated that this job will require approximately 70-80% fieldwork and 20-30% Office between April and September, and 60-70% office work between October and March. The Biologist may perform the following duties:

• Preparation of proposals, project scopes, and wildlife management plans;
• Project Procurement and development;
• Permit applications and amendments;
• Preparation of technical reports (monthly, quarterly, and annual), including data analysis, and peer review manuscripts;
• Support Quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC);
• Predator and prey surveys and surveillance, including diurnal and nocturnal mammalian and avian predator surveys by sight, sign, and remote sensing equipment, to support predator management programs;
• Avian surveys and monitoring to support environmental compliance projects;
• Scheduling and training of personnel;
• Recovery and transport of injured wildlife;
• Management of avian and mammalian predators;
• Raptor banding and translocation;
• GIS mapping and analysis;
• Attending meetings and/or conferences;
• Research for new technologies to incorporate into wildlife management programs;
• Digitally collect/record data and maintain database(s);
• Investigate predation sites;
• Construct, set, and maintain predator traps; and
• Place and maintain cellular trail cameras

Other Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• A MS degree or higher in Wildlife Science, at an accredited University, or a closely related field AND a minimum of two (2) years professional experience is required; note, a minimum of five (5) years of applicable professional experience may be substituted in lieu of a MS degree;
• California Driver’s License or ability to obtain one once hired;
• Project Management and Development Experience;
• Work Plan and Scope Preparation Experience;
• Experience in animal tracking;
• Substantial experience trapping avian and/or mammalian species using a variety of traps;
• Ability to safely handle a various species of wildlife, as-needed;
• Ability to accurately identify predators (more specifically birds of prey), corvids, and mammals, in Southern and Central California, by sight, sound, and track, and down to species, age, and sex (when applicable);
• Experience conducting wildlife surveys, collecting/logging detailed data, and preparing technical reports (quarterly and/or annual);
• Extensive Four-wheel drive experience, including operating in steep, muddy, or sandy environments;
• Experience with digital camera deployment, operation, maintenance, and care (i.e. proper placement, changing and reviewing footage via cellular networks or SD cards, changing/recharging batteries, and maintaining solar power systems for cameras);
• Experience with using and maintaining optics, including binoculars, spotting scopes, night vision goggles, thermal scopes, firearms sights/scopes;
• Extensive experience/proficiency in MS Office, including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and SharePoint;
• Working knowledge of all standard office equipment;
• Ability to adapt to a variable work schedule;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Strong organizational, time-management, and problem-solving skills and ability to meet tight deadlines;
• Ability to operate as a team player;
• A positive attitude;
• Enthusiasm for learning new skills and techniques;
• Strong safety consciousness;
• Patience;
• High level of confidentiality;
• Willingness to travel to various project sites in a single day;
• Ability to conduct surveys for sometimes long and continuous periods of time, including daytime and nighttime hours;
• Ability to use a keyboard to communicate and perform research, through written means, for sometimes long and continuous periods of time;
• Ability to shift between standing, walking, reaching, and stooping throughout the day;
• Ability to lift or carry up to 50lbs (while hiking) and over uneven terrain, possibly while wearing waders or mud boots, or in sand;
• Willingness to work in inclement weather, including heat, rain, fog, etc.;
• Ability to hike up to ten (10) miles per day, but more commonly one (1) to two (2) miles; and
• Tolerance for exposure to various noise levels;

Desired Experience, Licenses, and Experience:

• Environmental Consulting Experience;
• Experience preparing CEQA and/or NEPA documents;
• Budget Preparation and management experience;
• Hold and/or maintain a federal or state permit;
• Experience operating in sensitive species habitat;
• Experience conducting predator management;
• Experience conducting predation investigations;
• NRA Firearms Instructor Certification;
• Hunting Experience, Hunters Safety Certificate, and Hunting License;
• California Trapper’s License;
• Primary author on peer-reviewed publication(s);
• Proficiency in the safe handling, transport, and maintenance of firearms;
• Banding, tagging, and/or other wildlife marking experience;
• ArcGIS or mapping software certifications; and
• Wilderness First Aid (dependent on project)

Job Type: Salary, Full-time

Salary: $70-85K, PTO, Sick Pay, Eligible for Company Retirement Plan after minimum employment period met