Job Openings: Wildlife Biologist/Site Leaders (2-3) for Seabird Project (CA)
The Common Murre Restoration Project is seeking up to three (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. Deadline to apply: 1/10/2022.
Wage: Range $24.00 to $25.50 per hour depending on experience and responsibilities. Housing at the field site will be provided. This is a full-time position. Job 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 three (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 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex) and Humboldt State University. 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 conducting seabird population and productivity surveys, documenting human disturbances to seabirds, 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 at a distance from the primary duty station may be required. 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 seabird or other wildlife monitoring or census techniques. Additional evaluation may be based on the applicant’s knowledge and experience with computer use, databases, and report preparation. 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.
COVID-19: Due to the ongoing global pandemic we have implemented procedures for conducting work by staff of the Humboldt State University Sponsored Programs Foundation related to the Common Murre Restoration Project (hereafter, Project). These are intended to minimize risk of exposure and transmission of novel coronavirus COVID-19 and enhance safety for staff of the Project. Employees of the Project will be required to review and be familiar with the Project’s protocols, the current orders from the federal government and the State of California, relevant county orders, and any other applicable health ordinances. These procedures include, but are not limited to, social distancing, appropriate hygiene, and wearing face coverings. Due to the dynamic situation, all employees will be expected to participate in a remotely conducted pre-season meeting to discuss employee status and any updated procedures relating to COVID-19.
Because staff will be living in shared quarters, prior to employment, employees may be required to quarantine separately for up to two weeks. Although wages cannot be paid during any pre-employment quarantine, housing may be available for the period. COVID-19 testing and/or a COVID-19 vaccine will be strongly encouraged and may be required at some sites. Successful applicants will be required to complete a federal Vaccine Attestation Form regarding their vaccination status.
Duration: Approximately 1 April through end of August 2022.
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 sufficiently 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 entry and proofing skills; and 8) specific and demonstrable communication skills.
Applicants with experience in the following may also be given preference: 1) seabird colony monitoring, 2) extensive usage of spotting scopes, and 3) data entry and databases.
Applicants who are citizens of countries outside of North America, or who are otherwise not eligible for work under existing treaties, must have valid documentation to work in the United States at the time of appointment; applicants for whom this applies must include their visa status in the application.
Application must include:
1) A SIGNED cover letter, which includes the exact job title: Wildlife Biologist/Site Leader
2) Résumé
3) Names, affiliations, and phone numbers of two professional references
4) Completed and signed HSU SPF Self-Identification Form for Job Applicants (https://forms.humboldt.edu/spf-self-identification-form-job-applicants-eif-pre-offer)
For questions, please contact Lauren Scopel (Lauren.Scopel@humboldt.edu).
Closing Date: Applications must be received by 5pm (PST) on January 10, 2022 and must be complete to receive full consideration. Applications that arrive after January 10 may or may not be considered.
Email completed application to: Lauren.Scopel@humboldt.edu
Humboldt State University Sponsored Programs Foundation is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, disability, marital status, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected status. More information about HSU SPF’s Equal Employment Opportunity hiring can be found at https://research.humboldt.edu/employment/hiring/recruitment.
For assistance with the application process, please submit an Accommodation Request Form (https://forms.humboldt.edu/spf-accomodation-request-form), or contact ADA Coordinator at 707.826.3626 or confidential fax at 707.826.3625. For more information regarding accommodation, you may also visit the HSU Human Resources website at http://www.humboldt.edu/hsuhr. Individuals in need of a telecommunications relay service may contact the California Relay Service at 877.735.2929 TTY.
A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered this position within HSU SPF. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current HSU SPF employees who apply for this position.
