Job Type: Temporary
Salary Details: $15.74/hour
Deadline: Jun 20, 2023
The Mammal Spatial Ecology and Conservation (MSEC) Lab at Washington State University is hiring two (2) field technician positions to assist a graduate student in studying snowshoe hare ecology in the Loomis State Forest, located in the eastern Cascades foothills of north-central Washington. The project focuses on how hare density, movement, habitat selection, and survival are influenced by pre-commercial thinning treatments. Pay is $15.74/hour, 40 hours per week. Successful applicants will start on 1 Aug 2023 and work through (approximately) 15 Oct 2023, although there is a likelihood that excellent and interested technicians may be extended into and through the winter for continued hare monitoring and trapping efforts.
The technicians will work both independently and as a crew member with other WSU and Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) personnel and will collect data in the field involving a combination of live trapping, hare handling/processing, VHF radio telemetry, and investigating hare mortalities. In addition, there will be many opportunities to assist with camera trap deployment, vegetation sampling, and fecal pellet counts.
The project field sites are located in dense montane forest where the weather is unpredictable both daily and seasonally. Terrain is often rugged, and sites are located away from electricity, running water, and cell service. Thus, we expect that competitive applicants will have substantial field experience in all types of environments and weather conditions. For applicants interested in staying on into the winter, we expect that they have considerable experience driving and working in snowy and icy conditions – experience operating a snowmobile is a plus!
Technicians must be able to work in a fast-paced environment while maintaining a positive outlook and working effectively with a cohesive team, including a PhD student and other seasonal technicians. Housing is provided at an apartment in nearby Tonasket, WA (~20-minute drive from the state forest) but camping in the state forest for short periods is likely. The technician will be responsible for providing their food and personal camping and hiking gear suitable for working in the area. The technician can expect to work upwards of 12 hours on busy days, with a typical schedule of Monday through Friday.
Required Qualifications and Skills:
- Eagerness to work outdoors in often harsh weather conditions (e.g., extreme heat/cold, deep snow)
- Flexibility to work varying day lengths and adjust to changing schedules and weather
- Ability to carry up to 50 lbs over rough terrain and hike up to 10 miles per day
- Strong interpersonal skills and a positive attitude towards difficult field work
- Skilled using basic hand tools
- Valid driver’s license
- Progress towards an undergraduate degree in wildlife ecology, natural resources, biology, environmental science, or a related field
- Navigation skills (Avenza, handheld GPS, compass)
- Comfortable driving four-wheel drive trucks safely on unmaintained forest roads
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience driving snowmobiles and working in cold, deep-snow conditions
- Experience trapping and handling wild animals (especially small mammals)
- Substantial experience with VHF telemetry and field mortality investigations
HOW TO APPLY
Please send a cover letter, resumé/CV, and contact information for three references (email and phone number) in a single PDF document to Nate Hooven (nathan.hooven@wsu.edu).