Job Description: A field technician is needed to conduct a variety of animal surveys as part of a long-term food web and climate change study in the Carrizo Plain National Monument. The Carrizo is the largest remnant of the San Joaquin grassland ecosystem and contains many endangered plants and animals. Employee will work on a team of 2-4 people and will conduct a variety of surveys, focusing especially on mark-recapture of endangered kangaroo rats. Vegetation sampling, mark-recapture surveys of threatened squirrels, seed cache monitoring, visual line transects for reptiles, pitfall trapping for invertebrates, and spotlight surveys for predators and lagomorphs will also be conducted. Technicians will assist in the removal of rainout shelter and irrigation equipment at the start of the field season and technicians may be involved in repairs and maintenance of the rainout shelters and irrigation plots as needed. Additional duties may include bird point counts, diet trials, soil and precipitation monitoring and educational displays and field trips.
Requirements: Applicants should have a strong interest in natural history, conservation, and/or management and a high level of responsibility, organization, and motivation. Applicants should have the ability to be flexible and live and work well with others in an isolated setting while maintaining work quality and a positive attitude during challenging field conditions. Applicants should be in good physical condition and experienced with or able to tolerate hot and cold field conditions. Applicants should be able to work long hours in the field and at night. Applicants should have a strong interest in deserts and arid regions or in the species being studied. Applicants should be knowledgeable in Microsoft Office applications. At least two years of college including courses in the natural, physical or social sciences and at least one season of field experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and knowledge and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position. Preferred applicants will have familiarity with the plants and animals of California and previous pit tagging and small mammal experience. Experience with the following field techniques is also helpful: bird point counts, small mammal live trapping and handling, distance sampling, and pitfall trapping To Apply: Please send a cover letter, resume and 2-3 references as one word or PDF document to [email protected] by 2/6/2015. Hiring Organization: University of Alaska Fairbanks/UC Berkeley Location: Carrizo Plain National Monument, CA Dates: late March through August 2015 Work Schedule: Approximately 40 hours/week, variable throughout season Salary: $12.77/hour Last Date To Apply: 2/6/2015 -- Rachel Endicott Program Manager Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management 8 Mulford Hall University of California Berkeley, CA 94720 Phone: 510-643-3918
