Biological Field Technician (Restoration) Job Details

Nisqually Delta Restoration Partners

have a 1.5 year non-federal position opening for a

Biological Field Technician (Restoration)

The Nisqually Delta is located in South Puget Sound, approximately 8 miles northeast of Olympia, Washington.  The Nisqually has been the focus of the largest estuary protection and restoration effort in Puget Sound and represents an exciting opportunity for ecological monitoring and research in support of the restoration.  Ducks Unlimited, in cooperation with the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, the Nisqually Indian Tribe, and USGS Western Ecological Research Center is seeking a biological science technician to assist in the monitoring and applied science at the Nisqually delta for one and a half years.  The incumbent will be based at Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge near Olympia, Washington and work with a USGS Biologist and other partners.

Biological field technician will assist in data collection for applied wetland restoration and monitoring science in support of the restoration project.  Field duties will include: 1) bird surveys; 2) invertebrate collection (benthic cores, neuston net tows, and fall-out traps) and sieving; 3) vegetation surveys; 4) installation and maintenance of water level and water quality loggers; 5) sedimentation surveys; 6) channel cross-sections; 7) field mapping; and 8) other field work as assigned.  Office duties include: 1) data entry; 2) summarizing spreadsheets; 3) descriptive statistics; 4) troubleshooting and maintaining equipment and gear; and 5) other duties as assigned, including assistance with fish monitoring or other needs. 

Requirements

• Possess a solid science foundation in estuaries, Puget Sound, wetlands, and monitoring
• Experience with monitoring and/or research in a field setting
• Strong work ethic, scientific integrity, and a strong sense of responsibility
• Excellent organizational and file management skills and attention to detail
• Good communication skills and able to work as a cohesive member of a multi-disciplinary team as well as independently
• Excellent computer and descriptive statistic skills
• A positive attitude, quick learner, and a desire to gain experience in a variety of data collection techniques
• Comfortable working near, on, or in the water, traveling in small watercraft (canoe/kayak) to large boats
• Experience with the operation of 4WD vehicles, all terrain vehicles, and boats, desirable but not mandatory
• Current driver’s license, and a good driving record
• Ability to lift heavy loads repeatedly under adverse conditions such as cold rain, wind, and deep mud
• Technician may be asked to work long or unusual hours (including early morning or evening hours and some weekend days) and under strenuous field conditions to accomplish fieldwork

Details

• Salary: $16.01/hr
• Duration: 1.5 yr, full time
• Employee will be hired by Ducks Unlimited as a contract employee
• Deadline for applications: February 8, 2010

Interested?

Please direct all questions about the announcement to

Isa Woo, iwoo@usgs.gov.  For additional information about the project, please visit:

www.nisquallydeltarestoration.org

Email cover letter, resume, and 3 references in 1 document to:

Jean Takekawa, Jean_Takekawa@fws.gov

subject line: Biological Field Technician (Restoration)

Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

100 Brown Farm Rd.  Olympia, WA 98516