Wildlife Field Technician (NPS, Sequoia & Kings National Parks)

The Research Associate Program at GBI, in cooperation with the National Park Service, is recruiting a winter-spring Wildlife Field Technician to support conservation, management and restoration of natural resources / ecosystems in and around Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (SEKI) to help promote stewardship of public lands during a period of landscape change. The Wildlife Field Technician will use survey and monitoring methods to learn more about wildlife occurrence and habitat use in a landscape altered by tree mortality and fire to better inform fuel and forest management and wildlife conservation in this region. For the winter/spring position specifically, the Technician will work cooperatively with GBI wildlife crew and agency staff to:

Winter:

• As part of an established project, use safe trapping methods to catch fishers;
• Support trained staff to safely handle fishers to attach radio collars, monitor vitals, and collect samples;
• Track individual fishers to obtain location data (e.g., remote downloads from GPS collars, locate rest / den sites via triangulation and walk-ins), and monitor survival;
• Collect and compile location and sample data from fishers and other species according to established protocols.

Winter/Spring:

• Follow established protocols to conduct non-invasive surveys for wildlife (e.g., remote cameras, track plates, hair snares);
• Collect basic information at survey sites (e.g., vegetation type);
• Organize photos for species verification and long-term storage;
• Enter detection and other data from survey sites into a database; and
• Maintain datasheets. Species of focus include forest carnivores such as fisher and marten. 
• As weather/access permits, the technician will also assist with surveys in more remote areas for subalpine/alpine species, including SN red fox.
• As needed, support initiation of a new project focused on marten and squirrel species (expected to include remote cameras, trapping, and monitoring via telemetry).

Spring:

• Support surveys for a variety of wildlife species to support park management, compliance, and species conservation including audio visual surveys for California spotted owls and other bird species;
• Den monitoring/occurrence of fishers and other mammal species;
• Work collaboratively with other NPS staff, GBI staff, other federal partners, and other researchers to conduct additional pre-prescribed fire and/or post-fire surveys and monitoring efforts for wildlife in the parks to determine occurrence and habitat use.
• As time allows, use additional monitoring techniques to those described above (e.g., ARUs, bat detectors).

In addition to providing professional experience in natural resource management, this position provides opportunities to support stewardship of public lands and to contribute to the conservation, management and restoration of natural ecosystems and native wildlife in the southern Sierra Nevada.

Timeline:

• October 20, 2025 – May 30, 2026; 32 weeks, must commit to stay until May 15, prefer May 30 (Additional work may be available in summer 2026 depending on work performance and funding)
• Full time (40 hours/week);
• Schedule: Typically, 4/10’s schedule, but with flexibility for occasional longer days or 5th day to accommodate priority field work.  Weekends as needed, some overtime, paid at 1.5 times regular wage, may be required.

Location:

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Three Rivers, CA.

Compensation and Benefits:

Compensation: $19 - $20 hourly depending on experience;

Benefits:

• Company-paid comprehensive medical, dental (with option to upgrade in coverage), and vision insurance premiums;
• $25,000 Basic Life & AD&D insurance at no cost;
• Personal leave and holidays; and
• Access to Pro Deals.

Housing: Shared NPS housing is expected to be available for those without local accommodations. Rent will be the responsibility of individual crew members, and residents must adhere to all housing guidelines. Housing is anticipated to be located in Ash Mountain. A housing stipend of $200 per month will be provided.

Per diem: Camping per diem provided per night in the field of $42.

Uniform Stipend: $400 for the season.

• B.S. in biology, wildlife ecology, natural resource management, or related discipline;
• Willingness and ability to work/hike in steep terrain both on and off-trail in areas with lots of down logs, shrubs, etc.
• Willingness and ability to carry moderate to heavy backpack (~40 lbs), and carry heavy traps (e.g., medium sized wire cage trap with attached wooden cubby);
• Willingness to work in snowy conditions (e.g., using snowshoes, digging out trap sites, etc.);
• Ability to navigate in the field with GPS and maps;
• Familiarity with driving safely in mountainous terrain, particularly in winter, and using 4WD;
• Willingness and ability to collaborate and communicate positively with others;
• Familiarity with the mission, goals and operations of the National Park Service;
• Willingness and ability to consistently enact high performance standards and a strong work and team ethic in support of the mission of GBI and the goals and objectives of the NPS;
• Experience following protocols in collecting and organizing field data and field samples;
• Familiarity with identifying trees and shrubs in North American forests;
• Strongly preferred: Experience using telemetry to locate animals, especially in mountainous terrain; including triangulation, homing to find resting animals, or remote downloads of data;
• Strongly preferred: Experience setting and checking remote cameras;
• Strongly preferred: Trapping experience with fishers, martens, squirrels, or other mammals;
• Preferred: Animal trapping and handling skills, especially experience handling mammals;
• Preferred: For spring, experience surveying for owls (e.g., spotted owls) or other bird species;
• Preferred: Familiarity with identification of western fauna and flora, particularly identification of native trees / shrubs in the Sierra Nevada;
• Preferred: GIS experience (FieldMaps, ArcGIS) and/or database experience (MS Access);
• Preferred: Current rabies vaccine (at minimum, willingness to be vaccinated for rabies with cost covered by project);
• Required: Current covid vaccine (due to animal handling protocol; no exceptions);
• Required: Must meet Public Land Corps (PLC) Authority requirements;
• Required: Possess valid driver’s license.

The successful applicant must complete a Department of Interior (DOI) Background Investigation (BI) or submit paperwork to NPS human resources indicating an active and fully adjudicated BI has already been completed prior to beginning position. If you already have a fully adjudicated BI, please let us know in your application.

Physical Demands:

The Field Technician will be required to hike and navigate rugged, steep terrain for extended periods, often carrying up to 50 lbs. of gear. The position involves working in varying weather conditions, including temperatures ranging from 30°F to 40°F in the winter with snow. The technician will need to stand, kneel, crouch, or bend for long periods during surveys and equipment setup, as well as camp overnight in rustic conditions. The role also involves working in remote, high-altitude environments (regularly up to 7,000 ft, infrequently up to 11,000 ft for backcountry work). The technician must be adaptable to physically demanding field conditions and be capable of working both independently and as part of a team, requiring flexibility, stamina, and focus.

How to Apply:

Please apply online through this application link by submitting an up-to-date resume, one-page cover letter that details your interest in the position, and any qualifications not fully described in your resume, contact information for three professional and/or academic references. Be sure to complete any preliminary questions prompted in the application and sign your application.

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority:

This project is federally funded through the Public Land Corps Hiring Authority. Participants serving under this authority may be eligible for the PLC non-competitive hiring status and certificate. The PLC Authority requires all applicants meet the age and US Citizen requirements. Additional information regarding the PLC can be found on the GBI website under the Research Associate Programs FAQ.

Notes:

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the organization's ongoing needs.

All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment background check.

Disclaimer:

Although the organization has attempted to accurately and thoroughly describe this position, GBI reserves the right to change the same, including to change, add to or subtract from the duties outlined, within the sole discretion of the organization, at any time, with or without advance notice.