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Job Opening: Seabird Ecologist (CA)

Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge is seeking a field ecologist who is passionate about seabird conservation and community to work with our project at Año Nuevo Island, on the central California coast. Deadline to apply: 12/31/2021.

Agency: Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge is a non-profit organization with the mission of studying and protecting imperiled ecosystems by engaging diverse communities through innovative scientific and artistic collaborations.

Location: Field work at Año Nuevo Island/Santa Cruz, CA and office work at Santa Cruz, CA.

Description: We are seeking a field ecologist who is passionate about seabird conservation and community to work with our project at Año Nuevo Island, on the central California coast (http://oikonos.org/ano-nuevoisland). This Ecologist position would co-lead fieldwork and student mentoring, and lead day-to-day coordination of the project.

Job Responsibilities:

  • Co-lead weekly 1-2 day field trips to Año Nuevo Island – duties include:
    • Collecting standardized and rigorous data contributing to a 30-year time series on seabird breeding and diet metrics from March – August
    • Restoring seabird habitat from September – November
    • Training and working with seasonal staff and early career ecologists
    • Banding and measuring seabirds
    • Capturing seabirds with mist nets
    • Field station maintenance and upkeep
  • Project administration (WFH or at Oikonos office in Santa Cruz):
    • Data management including entering, proofing, and managing databases
    • Co-managing and supporting early career ecologists outside of time in the field
    • Summarizing data and report writing
    • Supporting fundraising efforts and grant writing
    • Preparing for field operations
    • Budget management
    • Assisting with social media and relevant organization administration
    • Creating outreach materials

Who you are (the basics):

  • Passionate about seabird conservation
  • A strong leader with excellent collaborative, communication, and mentoring skills
  • Well organized and able to calmly juggle and achieve multiple responsibilities
  • Sustain a strong culture of health, safety, and inclusion in the project
  • Experienced handling birds
  • Experienced with collection of clear, legible, and rigorous biological data in a field setting
  • Able to lift up to 50lbs
  • Comfortable working long days and nights outdoors in challenging field conditions
  • Comfortable in small zodiacs and confident ability to swim
  • Able to work in groups and independently
  • Competent with Microsoft Office programs
  • Bachelor’s degree (preferably in biological sciences or related field)
  • Able to legally work in the United States
  • On the job, candidates will be expected to become proficient at data analysis and report writing; and driving small boats in challenging ocean conditions
  • For the safety of our team (which conducts fieldwork in-person), we require all employees to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 infections.

Who you are (bonus points):

  • Experienced mentoring students or early career individuals, and creating inclusive educational experiences to support students from diverse backgrounds
  • Skills in critical thinking; and flexible, adaptive, and wise judgment in decision-making and problem solving
  • Ability to identify problems and to develop and implement effective solutions
  • Experienced with driving small boats and basic outboard motor maintenance
  • Experienced working around marine mammals and seabirds
  • In possession of a good sense of humor
  • Reside locally
  • First aid certified
  • Experience working in R and GIS
  • Proficient Spanish speaker to effectively communicate with our Oikonos team in Chile
  • Interested in working on the project for multiple years, with room to grow into larger leadership
    positions
  • M.S. degree or equivalent (preferably in biological sciences or related field)

Application Requirements:

  • Cover letter – briefly summarizes your qualifications and interest in the position
  • C.V. – most recently updated, including a list of two professional references and their contact information. Oikonos will contact the references of applicants under serious consideration.
  • Application packet should be emailed to Jessie Beck (jessie@oikonos.org), with “Año Nuevo Ecologist Application” included in the email subject. The application period ends Dec. 31, 2021.

To read the full job description and for more information, click here.