Dates of Employment: Mid-April, 2021 through August 31, 2021

Job Description:

Turnstone is a small, locally-owned environmental consulting firm. We help our clients protect and manage shared natural resources with solutions that are practical, forward thinking, and built on a foundation of good science. We are passionate, motivated, and team-oriented professionals who all started as seasonal field technicians ourselves and now strive to be leaders in the wildlife field. Turnstone is currently seeking to fill multiple northern spotted owl surveyor positions throughout Oregon. We are also looking for several crew leaders to help manage small crews throughout the state. These are full-time, temporary-seasonal positions. Surveyor duties include, but not limited to:

• Conduct broadcast surveys for northern spotted owls; identify, record, and map locations of spotted owls and other owl and raptor species including barred owls, great horned owls, northern pygmy owls, and northern goshawks
• Conduct daytime surveys after spotted owl detections in order to locate nests and determine nesting status
• Significant job-related travel, including nighttime travel on unpaved forest roads
• Record clear, concise, and accurate field data
• Communicate clearly with crew leader, project manager, and landowners

Surveys will be on federal, state, and private forested lands. Exact work locations are yet to be determined but will be throughout western and southern Oregon. Employment dates are approximate and project-dependent. Housing will be provided for some positions/locations; a field vehicle will be provided unless the employee chooses to use a personal vehicle for reimbursement. CDC recommended COVID safety guidelines will be observed. Salary range is roughly equivalent to $14-20/hour. Salary will be based on position, location, and experience.

Most positions will start in mid-April depending on environmental conditions and specific location. Survey locations are distributed throughout Oregon and some positions will require significant travel. Please indicate your willingness to travel, and any limits or strong preference for general location in your cover letter. There may also be opportunities to work on a variety of other interesting and collaborative field projects related to special-status wildlife species for the right candidate.

Highlighted areas for full season positions are the northwest Oregon coast and Medford area with housing. Full season Medford position will involve surveying around the area with expected travel to surrounding areas of Corvallis at regular intervals. Another exciting position near Medford is short-term from mid-April to June 30th with housing included. Southern Oregon positions require precious spotted owl survey experience. 

Interviews are currently underway and will continue until all positions are filled. Once positions are filled, this application will remain as an open continuous announcement for applicants interested in any future openings that may occur with increased workloads.

Minimum Requirements:

A minimum of one year of field survey experience is required. Spotted owl experience is strongly preferred but may not be required if applicant has avian or other relevant field experience. Having a B.S. degree in wildlife biology or related field is preferred (but not required) for spotted owl surveyors and required for crew leads. The successful applicant will possess the following characteristics:

• Strong data collection skills
• Comfortable with a schedule that may include night, day or split shifts which typically range between 9-12 hours per shift
• Flexible, detail-oriented, resourceful, and comfortable working independently or as part of a team of peers
• Integrity, quality and accuracy in adhering to scientific protocols
• Consistent record of working in a safe and efficient manner
• Good physical fitness and the ability to hike off trail in steep and/or brushy conditions, sometimes in the dark and/or in inclement weather
• Excellent field skills: orienteering, GPS, map reading skills
• Ability to operate 4WD vehicles and navigate forest roads of various conditions
• Good vision and hearing
• Comfortable using electronic (PDF) data forms and Adobe Reader
• A solid sense of humor and joy of working in an outdoor setting

Successful candidates will gain outstanding experience in field ornithology, endangered species surveys, advanced field skills, and get a chance to see what a lifelong career in environmental consulting could look like, all while working closely with a diverse team of other motivated folks in the beautiful Pacific Northwest!