POSITION 1: Biological Technician, Field-Crew Leader (amphibians), GS-
0404-7, approx. 26 March 3 September 2007 (seeking 1 individual)
POSITION 2: Biological Science Technician (amphibians), GS-0404-5,
approx. 28 March late July 2007 (seeking 1 individual)
LOCATIONS: Fieldwork will primarily occur in Sleeping Bear Dunes
National Lakeshore (lower peninsula MI) and Pictured Rocks National
Lakeshore (upper peninsula MI, near Munising), with limited additional
work at Isle Royale National Park (an island in Lake Superior). Office
base (and location returned to for days off) will be the Great Lakes I&M
Network Office, Ashland, WI.
DESCRIPTION: Crew Leader will be in charge of (and GS-5 Technician will
be part of) a two- to four-person team responsible for implementation of
pilot work monitoring amphibians in two national parks in the western
Great Lakes region. The crew will be accompanied initially and
periodically during the field season by the amphibian Program Manager, but
the team will often work with high levels of independence. Work will
involve anuran call surveys each night after sundown at a number of stops
along roads that are near to wetlands, as well as daytime searches, esp.
at parks where nighttime travel is unsafe or inefficient (e.g., Isle
Royale NP). In addition to recording amphibian species at each location,
crew will also record data on other factors (such as air temp, water temp,
moon phase) that may influence the presence or detectability of species.
Additionally, the crew will investigate the effectiveness of remote call
recorders, to increase effective sampling effort to detect species. Crew
members will thus hike into remote locations to install, maintain, and
download data from these stations. We will also examine the utility of
egg-mass surveys for daytime searches and parabolic microphones to record
calls. In addition to the above, Crew Leader will also: a) be responsible
for ensuring that all data are collected and recorded properly in the
field, following established methods, b) ensure that logistical
arrangements (e.g., vehicle condition, liaison with parks) are in place,
and c) ensure that all field equipment is properly functioning (e.g., re-
calibration, replacements).
REQUIREMENTS: Both the Crew Leader and the other Technician must possess
familiarity with herpetofauna (ideally with species of the upper Midwest),
good physical condition (for backcountry travel), and be willing to work
in remote locations for extended time periods, after sundown, in inclement
conditions, with biting insects, etc. B.S. required, and M.S. preferred
for Crew Leader position. For GS-5 Technician position, a B.S. in biology
is preferred. A valid drivers license is required for both positions.
DESIRED SKILLS: Positive attitude and disposition, especially as it
relates to maintaining positive working relationships with the parks, are
highly desired. Familiarity with remote call recorders, the NAAMP (North
American Amphibian Monitoring Program) and ARMI (Amphibian Research and
Monitoring Initiative), field data entry on paper forms and PDAs, and
QA/QC of data into MS Access database (via Excel) once returned from the
field are also useful.
COMPENSATION: Federal GS-7 and GS-5 salary rates, plus night-time and
Sunday premium pay.
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: a) opportunity to learn the quantitative
rationale behind the monitoring effort, and the factors driving the
questions; b) a chance to experience high-integrity natural areas of the
region; and c) opportunity to present the approach, methods, and results
in park interpretive programs or at University of Minnesota, Duluth
classes.
SEE ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THIS POSITION ON USAJOBS (WILL BE OPEN FOR 2 WEEKS,
IN LATE JANUARY OR DURING FEBRUARY). FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONACT: Erik
Beever, (715) 682-0631 ext 31, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
See http://www1.nature.nps.gov/im/units/glkn/index.htm for program info.
