One technician is needed to assist with research on the response of Greater sage-grouse to large-scale juniper removal in the Warner Mountains of Oregon and the Vya of Nevada and California from March through July/August of 2021.

Duties will include, but are not limited to, sage-grouse capturing, lek counts, VHF/UHF telemetry, nest monitoring, brood monitoring, transmitter recovery, invertebrate sampling, and vegetation sampling to assess forage quality in the study area. The primary work focus will be collecting sage-grouse demographic data under the supervision of a senior technician. Depending on the needs of the project, you may also be asked to help with invertebrate sampling and vegetation sampling in the study area. Working hours are variable (some nights/weekends) but average 40 hours per week. Early morning work is typical throughout the brood-rearing period and during the peak of the summer to avoid heat. Strenuous hiking (up to ~8 miles per day) in inclement conditions (rain, snow, mud, 0-95 degrees F) can be expected. Technicians must be capable of hiking with 85 L packs containing sampling/monitoring equipment in rugged terrain. Occasional camping during the work week in a remote field setting should be expected. Employees must be able to work under the supervision of a graduate student, but conduct data collection independently in an isolated environment following established protocols with excellent attention to detail. Previous ATV experience is preferred, and technicians must be capable of demonstrating proficiency in loading ATVs into a truck bed. Housing and work vehicles are provided.

Salary: $12.50 per hour + housing + work vehicle

Start Date: ~March 15, 2021 (somewhat flexible)

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or working toward a degree in wildlife, range ecology, or a related field
• Previous field research experience
• ATV and 4WD experience
• Navigation experience using GPS, map, and compass
• Strong work ethic, drive, and efficiency
• Flexibility in work schedule and duties
• Ability to work both alone and as part of a team in remote settings
• Ability to calmly handle difficult situations (e.g., flat tires, broken ATVs, stuck vehicles)
• Physically fit and able to lift 50 pounds
• US Citizenship

Preference will be given to candidates with experience in the following areas:

• Professional, off-road ATV driving
• Radio telemetry
• Gamebird research (e.g., trapping, nest checks, brood surveys, mortality recovery, etc.)
• Vegetation sampling (e.g. baseline line-intercept, Daubenmire frame surveys, etc.)
• Botany experience and familiarity with sagebrush steppe plant community
• Invertebrate sampling and/or entomology (e.g. pitfall traps, etc.)
• Avian spotlighting
• Ability to work in inclement weather and live/work in remote conditions